Firefox won't open, and other internet issues

Cambion

I have un-installed and re-installed Firefox recently, and for some reason the aplication will not open. When I attempt to start Firefox, I see the hourglass 'waiting' icon, and then nothing happens. I have read that some firewalls and anti-spyware programs can cause Firefox to not work, but I don't tihnk this is the issue here. My Windows Firewall is off in such a way that I cannot turn it on or off, and I have added Firefox to all the exceptions lists on the anti-malware software I have on here. And yet, the program will stil not open.

Another lovely thing that my internet has been doing lately is redirecting me when I reach certain sites. For example, if I go to any WikiPedia page, I get a pop-up telling me my system is infected with spyware and I get redirected to a site for anti-spyware software.

The other thing is I cannot access earch engine results. If I search for anything on any search engine and click on any of the results, I will either get redirected to a site called http://asiuoqgusdbaksd.com/go.php? (the address is usually followed by about a hundred other characters) and I am further redirected to other search engines, financial help sites, shopping sites, and a bunch of other random stuff....or I simply get a page that says "Error". I can't actually access the links to the site I was looking for.

The last thing my internet has been doing is not allowing me to download certain files. Whether it's downloading a component for a game or uploading an image someone sent me via email, I am refused access to these files. I can't get images from my email, and for some reason I cannot download files from StepMania.com.

Don't know if this is relevant or not, but Notepad also doesn't open anymore. I don't really use it, but that is yet another application that will not work.

I have run Malware Sweeper a few time and with each scan, it finds these files called 'Feebs' that present a severe risk. I don't know if these file aren't being removed or they re-infect my system constantly. Could these be the problem? Has anyone ever had any of this stuff happen before? I am totally clueless about what to do next.

bakuryu

Download Adaware and SpybotS&D, update their definition files, disable System restore, boot in safe mode and run a full scan with those utilities. Fix anything found. Reboot in safe mode, Enable Windows Firewall, connect to the internet, install all available Windows updates (reboot if necessary), then see if you can open Firefox and browse and search normally.

As for Firefox, open TaskManager and see whether it is running there.
Which anti-virus do you use ? have you ran a virus scan ? Turning off firewall is not a good thing. You should turn on Firewall. Firefox issue is not due to firewall.

If you still have issues, download and post a HijackThis log file.

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Cambion

Bakuryu,

I will attempt what you suggested. I used to have both those applications on here (AdAware and SpyBot), but I found they were not actually removing most of the files they found. Also, as far as the firewall, I cannot turn it on. Here's a shot of the firewall on/off options screen:



As you can see, I cannot alter the activity of Windows Firewall; I did not make the choice of turning it off. I have no idea why I can't do this. As far as anti-virus software, I use Windows Live OneCare and Malware Sweeper. I have run at least one scan a day in Malware Sweeper and every time it finishes, the same files are always being removed - these files being the "Feebs" files. So, either my computer has been getting repeatedly infected, or those files aren't actually being removed. And Firefox was not a running application in the Task Manager.

Strider

Ok you still have infections left in your computer. You need a good antivirus + Firewall.

Use ESET Smart Security which includes the best antivirus and a good firewall.

http://www.eset.com/download/free_tr...wnload_int.php

Install and update to the latest definitions. Let's see if it's able to catch anything.

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Hatrix

Start-> Run
and write msconfig.. go to startup tab.... check if there is a RunDLL.exe line....
u may c a DLL file in tht line...it is located in C:\windows\System 32\

and you can download kaspersky 2009 here http://www.kaspersky.com/kis_latest_...link=206909625 or NOD 32 from the link above... they are both good..
Source

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Ccleaner
KillBox

bakuryu

To enable Windows Firewall : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/872769

Also run the scans in Safe mode, and if it cannot remove, note down the name of the malware/spyware it detects.

Cambion

I will try these methods in a few days. Unfortunately, something is up with my system that doesn't allow me to download anything, and I will have access to another (non-infected) computer around the time of this coming Monday.

The Chosen One, I ran msconfig and the RunDLL.exe was listed along with something called "NvCpl". I have no idea what that means. Also, I had NOD32 on here at one point and it was freezing up my computer to the point where I couldn't even log in at times.

Bakuryu, the link you provided for Windows firewall information gives me an error mesage (saying the site cannot be displayed). My connection is just fine; I find I cannot access anything from support.microsoft.com.

But thank you all very much for your help. I appreciate it very much.

bakuryu

NvCpl and rundll most probably are for your NVidia control panel and the NVidia service for your display driver. It's not a essential item.

btw -- did you install XP SP3 ?

anyways to enable the Firewall, open regedit.exe and go to :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dowsFirewall\DomainProfile
find the key EnableFirewall and set it's value to 1. Or create a new DWORD value with the name EnableFirewall and set it's data to 1.

do the same in this location also :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Win dowsFirewall\StandardProfile
find the key EnableFirewall and set it's value to 1.

Reboot and your Firewall should be enabled.

Hatrix

yea nvcpl.exe
but rundll32.exe wth nvcpl means nvcpl.dll :S

Cambion

Bakuryu,

I tried your suggestion re: regedit.exe, but the values will not stay at "1" - I rebooted and they went back to zero, and when I went back and altered them again, they still went back to zero after I clicked out of their respective folders. When I changed the value of DomainProfile to 1 and went to change the value of StandardProfile, the value of DomainProfile had gone back to 0. And vice versa. And I have not installed XP SP3 (I have no clue what that is).