Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and must close
Daryl Dorsey
Every time I try to open a windows program or Internet
Explorer I get an error message " Internet or Windows
Explorer has encountered a problem and must close. Error
report has (mfc42.dll). Please help. I would also like to
find out how to get rid of Xupiter if anyone can help.
Thanks Again. Daryl
cara
Unfortunately all I can offer is empathy. I had Xupiter on
my computer, and just got rid of it using ad-ware from
lavasoft. But, it still didn't help IE any. I'm getting
the same exact error message as you are. Does anyone know
what it is??
Thanks,
Cara
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Jim Byrd
Hi Daryl - for Xupiter, start here:
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/Xupiter.html
It sounds like you've been hijacked.
For the general hijack case, the best way to start is to get Ad-Aware
5.83 and the associated Reference Updater 2.01 here:
http://www.lavasoft.nu/ or http://www.lavasoftusa.com or here:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com.
Update and run this regularly to get rid of most "spyware/hijackware" on
your machine. When you install the Reference Updater, be sure to go to
'Options|Preferences' and change the download folder to point to the
folder where you have Ad-aware installed. (Otherwise, the latest
reference file won't be used unless you copy it there manually).
Another excellent program for this purpose is SpyBot Search and Destroy
available here: http://security.kolla.de/ I recommend using both.
Next, download and install StartUp CPL here:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
This will allow you to easily examine from your Control Panel which
programs are being started automatically when you boot. Look for
programs that don't seem like they belong. There are further
explanations of the StartUp process here:
http://www.forrestandassociates.co.uk/pcforrest/startups.html and here:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm. You may have to try
disabling things one-at-a time and re-booting to find the culprit. A
somewhat more difficult to use but more extensive program to do the same
thing is StartupList from here:
http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html. Be very careful about
doing any Registry modifications directly unless you're comfortable with
this, and be sure that you BACKUP your Registry before making any
changes, so that you can recover if something goes wrong. Changes made
with StartUpCPL are less likely to cause problems, and are usually a
matter of just re-enabling the particular program. You can look up and
investigate suspect programs in your StartUp lists here:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm
(Recommended) and here:
http://www.forrestandassociates.co.uk/pcforrest/startups.html
Some hijackers install themselves as Browser Helper Objects. Get BHOCop
here: BHO Cop http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,270,00.asp (You may
have to register first, but it's free and no spam) and take a look at
what BHO's are currently installed. Some things like AdShield and
Acrobat are normal, but if you see something that doesn't make any
sense, try disabling it and see if that helps. Another excellent
program for this same purpose is BHODemon, here:
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/ I would recommend using both.
There's good information about hijacking and fixes available here:
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ (Highly recommended)
http://www.spywareinfo.com/hijacked.html
http://gmpservicesinc.com/Articles/hijack.asp (links here for .reg files
to lock and unlock your homepage, BTW)
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers.htm#home_page
Also, there's a new class of hijacker using Window's Messenger Service
(not Instant Messaging, BTW). Unless you have very good reasons to
keep this active, it should be turned off in Win2k and XP. Go here and
do what it says: http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/
Also, see: Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet
Advertisement Appears http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904
Once you get this cleaned up, you might want to consider installing the
Browser Hijack Blaster here to help prevent this kind of thing from
happening in the future: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/bhblaster.html
See if any of this helps and post back with your results. Regards, Jim
Byrd
In 259c01c2b882$4bf76940$d3f82ecf@TK2MSFTNGXA10, Daryl Dorsey typed:
Daryl
Thanks Jim and all who replied, I used Spybot Search and
Destroy and it solved all my problems.
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cara
Thank you, thank you! Even though I ran ad-aware I guess
it wasn't enough, but Spybot cleared away Xupiter and IE is
working again. I am so glad I found this newsgroup after
searching through microsoft's website. Note to self: Do
not d/l any more free file-sharing software.
Thanks again,
Cara
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