Hello
An acquaintance of mine, when she turns on her computer, immediately has
up to 30 popups rat-a-tat-tat pile into her computer. She cannot do
anything until she closes them all.

At one point I asked if 'something--I forget' and it came to light that
as long as she doesn't close the first one, the rest remain unopened. I
told her to just drag the window of the first out of her way and
continue with her computering.

I first thought it had to do with Windows Messenger?--maybe? maybe not.
We removed it and she still receives the popups. Included in these
popups are ads to go to certain sites to BUY a popup stopper--www.kill
Messemger.com is the only one I remember of the ones I saw.

I have cleaned up her computer, scan it, everything (but not the right
thing) and they still come in.

Anyone else have this problem?

I personally use Google toolbar and it blocks my popups, so I had her
download it, but "no go". Her popups appear to not have anything to do
with Explorer.

any advice?
Thanks
Mae

Try running a spyware/adware scan. Good scanners can be found at:

www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/ 0,fid,22262,00.asp

Both pieces of software are free. I use AdAware myself, but SpyBot is a
good one, too.

"Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:3FBD8B42.8E3A58AC@shaw.ca...
> Hello
> An acquaintance of mine, when she turns on her computer, immediately has
> up to 30 popups rat-a-tat-tat pile into her computer. She cannot do
> anything until she closes them all.
>
> At one point I asked if 'something--I forget' and it came to light that
> as long as she doesn't close the first one, the rest remain unopened. I
> told her to just drag the window of the first out of her way and
> continue with her computering.
>
> I first thought it had to do with Windows Messenger?--maybe? maybe not.
> We removed it and she still receives the popups. Included in these
> popups are ads to go to certain sites to BUY a popup stopper--www.kill
> Messemger.com is the only one I remember of the ones I saw.
>
> I have cleaned up her computer, scan it, everything (but not the right
> thing) and they still come in.
>
> Anyone else have this problem?
>
> I personally use Google toolbar and it blocks my popups, so I had her
> download it, but "no go". Her popups appear to not have anything to do
> with Explorer.
>
> any advice?
> Thanks
> Mae
>

> Included in these
> popups are ads to go to certain sites to BUY a popup stopper--www.kill
> Messemger.com is the only one I remember of the ones I saw.

Has she installed software to block pop-up ads? The reason I ask is because
I would get 2-3 pop-ups (not 30) every time I started my computer, so I
bought "AD SUBTRACT" pop-up blocker. It stopped most pop-ups except for the
ones like you just mentioned above. Funny thing is I never received these
pop-ups before. Then after a couple days I was getting 20-30 pop-ups and
they were all from pop-up stopper software. I was recieving more ads with
the software then I have ever had without the blocker. You spend good money
to buy pop-up blockers and they in turn generate their own pop-ups that
require different software. It fealt like a scam.

So ask your friend if she loaded this kind of software because after I took
it off my computer things went back to normal.

I have "PopUpCop installed on my computer and have NEVER had a pop up
had since appear, plenty have been blocked but never appear. Also I
would download a program called " Hijack this" as you will most likely
find the problem you have has been caused by something that has been
added to the registry.

Thanks for all your advice.
She never installed anything. I installed google toobar for her and
spybot---no good results--the popups start before opening Explorer.

"Also I would download a program called " Hijack this" as you will most
likely
find the problem you have has been caused by something that has been
added to the registry."

Thanks Micky--I will look up this one.

Mae

>"Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> >wrote in message
>news:3FBF9418.B8EB5739@shaw.ca...
>Thanks for all your advice.
>She never installed anything. I installed >google toobar for her and
spybot---no >good results--the popups start before >opening Explorer.
>"Also I would download a program >called " Hijack this" as you will most
>likely
>find the problem you have has been >caused by something that has been
>added to the registry."
>Thanks Micky--I will look up this one.
>Mae


As you may know the Windows Messenger Service is built into Windows 2000 and XP
is intended for administrators to send messages to network PC users; for some
reason it is enabled by default and has proved a heaven sent opportunity for
spammers who have the system to deluge XP users with unwanted adverts.

You can switch it off using the following simple procedure.
Go to Start > Control Panel and double-click Administrative Tools. Double-click
on Services and scroll down to Messenger, double-click Messenger, under Service
Status select Stop and in the Startup Type drop-down menu select Disabled.

If that doesn't work, you should check here but do not fiddle around unless you
have made a
backup first and are confident of your abilities. Click Start then Run and
type in 'regedit'. Click on the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then
work your way down the directory tree clicking on the plus signs next to:
SOFTWARE, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion and Run and Runonce. Look for
rogue entries which can be removed by right-clicking on the relevant icon
and selecting Delete.

Thanks Larry,
I tried your first suggestion already--no go!

Now a question--once I get to Run and Runonce-- Run has a plus sign, with 3 files
on dropdown (IMAIL, MAPI, and MSFS) on my computer and Runonce has no plus to drop
down

How do I know then what are rogue entries---if HER computer is not like mine?
then what would I back up--just the registry?

Thanks
Mae

> If that doesn't work, you should check here but do not fiddle around unless you
> have made a
> backup first and are confident of your abilities. Click Start then Run and
> type in 'regedit'. Click on the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then
> work your way down the directory tree clicking on the plus signs next to:
> SOFTWARE, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion and Run and Runonce. Look for
> rogue entries which can be removed by right-clicking on the relevant icon
> and selecting Delete.

"Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:3FBFEDBC.A13BEF70@shaw.ca...
Thanks Larry,
I tried your first suggestion already--no go!
Now a question--once I get to Run and Runonce-- Run has a plus sign, with 3
files on dropdown (IMAIL, MAPI, and MSFS) on my computer and Runonce has no plus
to drop down
How do I know then what are rogue entries---if HER computer is not like mine?
then what would I back up--just the registry?
Thanks
Mae


Mae, you should first back up the Registry - to a safe place you can easily
find, if you need to restore it - prior to each time you make any changes to it,
in case anything goes wrong.

I use Win ME and don't have anything
after Run and Runonce.

I think you would find an odd named entry relating to a porn site. You could
copy the entry into a search engine like Google.

I don't use XP so don't know if these three programs are important to it.

MAPI = Messaging Application Programming Interface?

Okay Larry,

That was my computer--I wonder what I will find on hers when I go tomorrow?
I gather what I wrote meant it didn't look as though I had rogue files but I made a
note of mine and will compare with hers. I have XP; she has XP professional
"I think you would find an odd named entry relating to a porn site. You could copy
the entry into a search engine like Google."
Lazy me, asking you. I usually do that!

I will admit though I have never had to back up the Registry. How do I do that?

Thanks
Mae
LarryLamb wrote:

> "Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:3FBFEDBC.A13BEF70@shaw.ca...
> Thanks Larry,
> I tried your first suggestion already--no go!
> Now a question--once I get to Run and Runonce-- Run has a plus sign, with 3
> files on dropdown (IMAIL, MAPI, and MSFS) on my computer and Runonce has no plus
> to drop down
> How do I know then what are rogue entries---if HER computer is not like mine?
> then what would I back up--just the registry?
> Thanks
> Mae
>
> Mae, you should first back up the Registry - to a safe place you can easily
> find, if you need to restore it - prior to each time you make any changes to it,
> in case anything goes wrong.
>
> I use Win ME and don't have anything
> after Run and Runonce.
>
> I think you would find an odd named entry relating to a porn site. You could
> copy the entry into a search engine like Google.
>
> I don't use XP so don't know if these three programs are important to it.
>
> MAPI = Messaging Application Programming Interface?

"Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:3FC026A4.6A6D7D15@shaw.ca...
Okay Larry,
That was my computer--I wonder what I will find on hers when I go tomorrow?
I gather what I wrote meant it didn't look as though I had rogue files but I made a note of mine and will compare with hers. I have XP; she has XP professional
"I think you would find an odd named entry relating to a porn site. You could copy the entry into a search engine like Google."
Lazy me, asking you. I usually do that!

I will admit though I have never had to back up the Registry. How do I do that?

Thanks
Mae


Hi Mae

It's easy to backup the Registry in Win 98 and ME... but seems a bit more involved in XP. This link will explain the procedure:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...EN-US;322756#2

hi Larry
Thank you for the info page.
I am reading it now, will print and see her this afternoon---
Fingers are crossed (eyes too)
Mae

LarryLamb wrote:

>
> "Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:3FC026A4.6A6D7D15@shaw.ca...
>
> Okay Larry,
>
> That was my computer--I wonder what I will find on hers when
> I go tomorrow?
> I gather what I wrote meant it didn't look as though I had
> rogue files but I made a note of mine and will compare with
> hers. I have XP; she has XP professional
> "I think you would find an odd named entry relating to a
> porn site. You could copy the entry into a search engine
> like Google."
> Lazy me, asking you. I usually do that!
>
> I will admit though I have never had to back up the
> Registry. How do I do that?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mae
>
> Hi Mae
>
> It's easy to backup the Registry in Win 98 and ME... but seems a bit
> more involved in XP. This link will explain the procedure:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...EN-US;322756#2

Hi Larry the Lamb

All worked out fine. I had given her instructions over the phone about
Stopping Messenger through C. Panel/Admin Tools. She hadn't done it
right. I was there today and I did it------no more popups--so I didn't
need to backup the registry. Hers read like mine.

thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Nice chatting with you
Mae

"Mae T" <silver_streak@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:3FC2AB5D.B4C98BB7@shaw.ca...
> Hi Larry the Lamb
>
> All worked out fine. I had given her instructions over the phone about
> Stopping Messenger through C. Panel/Admin Tools. She hadn't done it
> right. I was there today and I did it------no more popups--so I didn't
> need to backup the registry. Hers read like mine.
>
> thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
>
> Nice chatting with you
> Mae
>
Nice talking with you too, Mae. Hope everthing goes fine for her now.