iexplore.exe starts but window does not open

[pete]

When I attempt to start IE 6 in Windows XP Pro SP 2, frequently, no window
opens but task manager shows the process running. I often have iexplore.exe
listed several times until a window finally opens. I have the same result if
I click on the IE desktop icon or type ixplore.exe in the Start > Run box.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Post by pete
When I attempt to start IE 6 in Windows XP Pro SP 2, frequently, no window
opens but task manager shows the process running. I often have iexplore.exe
listed several times until a window finally opens. I have the same result
if I click on the IE desktop icon or type ixplore.exe in the Start > Run
box.

[pete]

Hi PA Bear,

I ran the MSRT, it found nothing.

I then ran the scan in step 2 and it found a problem in a Java cache zip
file: Gimsh.A. However it was unable to fix. So I removed that outdated
version of Java and installed the latest. I still had to remove the old Java
folder manually afterward.

The same scan also found trojan:win32/murdak.A. It also was unable to fix
this. I searched for Murdak.A on Google and got zero results. It's in an
executable file which is actually a malware utility. I can delete the file
and try the scan again.

My hijackthis log doesn't have anything new in there that I can't identify.

Meanwhile, IE 6 has not misbehaved since I did the MSRT even though it found
nothing (?).

Thanks
Pete

Post by PA Bear [MS MVP]
Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.
Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**
If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Post by pete
When I attempt to start IE 6 in Windows XP Pro SP 2, frequently, no window
opens but task manager shows the process running. I often have iexplore.exe
listed several times until a window finally opens. I have the same result
if I click on the IE desktop icon or type ixplore.exe in the Start > Run
box.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Post by pete

...Post your [HijackThis] log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for
review by an expert in such matters...

You're not out of the woods yet, despite how well IE6 is working right now.

Post by pete
Hi PA Bear,
I ran the MSRT, it found nothing.
I then ran the scan in step 2 and it found a problem in a Java cache zip
file: Gimsh.A. However it was unable to fix. So I removed that outdated
version of Java and installed the latest. I still had to remove the old
Java folder manually afterward.
The same scan also found trojan:win32/murdak.A. It also was unable to fix
this. I searched for Murdak.A on Google and got zero results. It's in an
executable file which is actually a malware utility. I can delete the file
and try the scan again.
My hijackthis log doesn't have anything new in there that I can't identify.
Meanwhile, IE 6 has not misbehaved since I did the MSRT even though it found
nothing (?).
Thanks
Pete

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.
Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use
(in conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix
anything on its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for
review by an expert in such matters, not here.**
If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Post by pete
When I attempt to start IE 6 in Windows XP Pro SP 2, frequently, no window
opens but task manager shows the process running. I often have iexplore.exe
listed several times until a window finally opens. I have the same result
if I click on the IE desktop icon or type ixplore.exe in the Start > Run
box.