Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from system
tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task manager. XP Pro
SP2 fully patched.

Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work but
task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because can't
click.

Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?

TIA
-- Len

"Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>
> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work but
> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because can't
> click.
>
> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>
> TIA
> -- Len
>
>

And what if you uninstall Norton?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Answer in newsgroup. Don't expect an answer to email.

1. Does this behavior persist if you start IE7 in No Add-ons mode?

To start IE7 in No Add-ons mode:

Right-click on the blue IE desktop icon and select Start without Add-ons; or

Start > (All) Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (No
add-ons).

More:

Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer’s (No Add-ons) Mode:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx

2. Does the problem persist if you Reset IE7 Settings (RIES)?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737

3. If you uninstall IE7 (which automatically returns you to IE6), does this
behavior persist?

Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

How to uninstall Internet Explorer 7:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927177

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org


Len B wrote:
> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
> system
> tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task manager. XP
> Pro
> SP2 fully patched.
>
> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work but
> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because can't
> click.
>
> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>
> TIA
> -- Len

It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE. Should
I start a new post in another ng?

A full virus scan found nothing.

While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
himself.
Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.

While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now and
then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer found
only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
..
I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll see
what that shows.

-- Len

"Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>
> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work but
> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because can't
> click.
>
> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>
> TIA
> -- Len
>
>

Have you read my reply to your original post?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Len B wrote:
> It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE.
> Should
> I start a new post in another ng?
>
> A full virus scan found nothing.
>
> While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
> himself.
> Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
> Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.
>
> While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now and
> then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer
> found
> only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
> .
> I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll see
> what that shows.
>
> -- Len
>
> "Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
> news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
>> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
>> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
>> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>>
>> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
>> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work but
>> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because can't
>> click.
>>
>> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>>
>> TIA
>> -- Len

Yes Robear I've read your reply. I've given him instructions to use no
add-ons mode and to reinstall NAV etc. I'm waiting for his answer.

-- Len


"PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
news:uDjlfdIgHHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Have you read my reply to your original post?
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Len B wrote:
>> It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE.
>> Should
>> I start a new post in another ng?
>>
>> A full virus scan found nothing.
>>
>> While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
>> himself.
>> Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
>> Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.
>>
>> While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now and
>> then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer
>> found
>> only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
>> .
>> I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll
>> see
>> what that shows.
>>
>> -- Len
>>
>> "Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
>> news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
>>> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
>>> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
>>> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>>>
>>> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
>>> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work
>>> but
>>> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because
>>> can't
>>> click.
>>>
>>> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>> -- Len
>

He tried to launch in no add-ons mode but none of the methods you mentioned
worked. Right clicking showed menu but that option missing. System Tools did
not have the option either. I took him to IE properties > Programs > Manage
Add-ons , disabled the lot and screen draw became more responsive but clicks
take about 45-50sec to respond.

He still hasn't touched nav except for the full scan.

The fact that other things like power settings and defrag are unresponsive
and that it appears not to be an add-on issue tend to lead me away from
blaming IE. What do you think?

-- Len

"PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
news:uDjlfdIgHHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Have you read my reply to your original post?
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Len B wrote:
>> It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE.
>> Should
>> I start a new post in another ng?
>>
>> A full virus scan found nothing.
>>
>> While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
>> himself.
>> Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
>> Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.
>>
>> While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now and
>> then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer
>> found
>> only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
>> .
>> I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll
>> see
>> what that shows.
>>
>> -- Len
>>
>> "Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
>> news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
>>> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
>>> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
>>> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>>>
>>> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
>>> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work
>>> but
>>> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because
>>> can't
>>> click.
>>>
>>> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>> -- Len
>

You may have a horked install of IE7. I suggest reading the following
link...

http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html#pre-install

....and then uninstalling and reinstalling IE7 per Sandi's tips, and using
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx as the installation source,
not Automatic/Windows Update.

Also see:

IEBlog : IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx

What's New in Internet Explorer 7
http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/e...asp?frame=true

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear), working offline
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Len B wrote:
> He tried to launch in no add-ons mode but none of the methods you
> mentioned
> worked. Right clicking showed menu but that option missing. System Tools
> did
> not have the option either. I took him to IE properties > Programs >
> Manage
> Add-ons , disabled the lot and screen draw became more responsive but
> clicks
> take about 45-50sec to respond.
>
> He still hasn't touched nav except for the full scan.
>
> The fact that other things like power settings and defrag are unresponsive
> and that it appears not to be an add-on issue tend to lead me away from
> blaming IE. What do you think?
>
> -- Len
>
> "PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
> news:uDjlfdIgHHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Have you read my reply to your original post?
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>
>> Len B wrote:
>>> It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE.
>>> Should
>>> I start a new post in another ng?
>>>
>>> A full virus scan found nothing.
>>>
>>> While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
>>> himself.
>>> Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
>>> Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.
>>>
>>> While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now
>>> and
>>> then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer
>>> found
>>> only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
>>> .
>>> I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll
>>> see
>>> what that shows.
>>>
>>> -- Len
>>>
>>> "Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
>>> news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
>>>> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
>>>> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
>>>> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>>>>
>>>> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click in
>>>> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work
>>>> but
>>>> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because
>>>> can't
>>>> click.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>> -- Len

Thanks. I guess that the next step IS to blow IE7 away and put it back. Will
advise progress.

For the sake of completeness, reinstall of nav has restored icon to system
tray. Subsequent scan found nothing. Online scan from McAfee found nothing.
However, later in the day, on two occasions, a virus (=Downloader) was
detected and quarantined. Unrelated, I hope, to current problem which
continues to hobble only IE. Ad-aware found and removed plenty - possibly a
windows file too he thinks.

I asked how he was able to do the online scan. His reply - you can do it if
you wait long enough. He also said that once you are on a site you can move
around it ok but leaving it for another site triggers the deeelaaaay.

-- Len

"PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
news:e3pkhMUgHHA.4708@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> You may have a horked install of IE7. I suggest reading the following
> link...
>
> http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html#pre-install
>
> ...and then uninstalling and reinstalling IE7 per Sandi's tips, and using
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx as the installation
> source, not Automatic/Windows Update.
>
> Also see:
>
> IEBlog : IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications
> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx
>
> What's New in Internet Explorer 7
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/e...asp?frame=true
>
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear), working offline
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Len B wrote:
>> He tried to launch in no add-ons mode but none of the methods you
>> mentioned
>> worked. Right clicking showed menu but that option missing. System Tools
>> did
>> not have the option either. I took him to IE properties > Programs >
>> Manage
>> Add-ons , disabled the lot and screen draw became more responsive but
>> clicks
>> take about 45-50sec to respond.
>>
>> He still hasn't touched nav except for the full scan.
>>
>> The fact that other things like power settings and defrag are
>> unresponsive
>> and that it appears not to be an add-on issue tend to lead me away from
>> blaming IE. What do you think?
>>
>> -- Len
>>
>> "PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
>> news:uDjlfdIgHHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Have you read my reply to your original post?
>>> --
>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>>
>>> Len B wrote:
>>>> It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE.
>>>> Should
>>>> I start a new post in another ng?
>>>>
>>>> A full virus scan found nothing.
>>>>
>>>> While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
>>>> himself.
>>>> Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
>>>> Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.
>>>>
>>>> While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now
>>>> and
>>>> then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer
>>>> found
>>>> only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
>>>> .
>>>> I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll
>>>> see
>>>> what that shows.
>>>>
>>>> -- Len
>>>>
>>>> "Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
>>>> news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
>>>>> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
>>>>> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
>>>>> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>>>>>
>>>>> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click
>>>>> in
>>>>> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work
>>>>> but
>>>>> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because
>>>>> can't
>>>>> click.
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA
>>>>> -- Len
>

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum, BEFORE attempting to reinstall IE7:

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://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
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://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with
assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for expert
analysis, 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-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Len B wrote:
> Thanks. I guess that the next step IS to blow IE7 away and put it back.
> Will
> advise progress.
>
> For the sake of completeness, reinstall of nav has restored icon to system
> tray. Subsequent scan found nothing. Online scan from McAfee found
> nothing.
> However, later in the day, on two occasions, a virus (=Downloader) was
> detected and quarantined. Unrelated, I hope, to current problem which
> continues to hobble only IE. Ad-aware found and removed plenty - possibly
> a
> windows file too he thinks.
>
> I asked how he was able to do the online scan. His reply - you can do it
> if
> you wait long enough. He also said that once you are on a site you can
> move
> around it ok but leaving it for another site triggers the deeelaaaay.
>
> -- Len
>
> "PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
> news:e3pkhMUgHHA.4708@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> You may have a horked install of IE7. I suggest reading the following
>> link...
>>
>> http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html#pre-install
>>
>> ...and then uninstalling and reinstalling IE7 per Sandi's tips, and using
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx as the installation
>> source, not Automatic/Windows Update.
>>
>> Also see:
>>
>> IEBlog : IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications
>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx
>>
>> What's New in Internet Explorer 7
>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/e...asp?frame=true
>>
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear), working offline
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>
>> Len B wrote:
>>> He tried to launch in no add-ons mode but none of the methods you
>>> mentioned
>>> worked. Right clicking showed menu but that option missing. System Tools
>>> did
>>> not have the option either. I took him to IE properties > Programs >
>>> Manage
>>> Add-ons , disabled the lot and screen draw became more responsive but
>>> clicks
>>> take about 45-50sec to respond.
>>>
>>> He still hasn't touched nav except for the full scan.
>>>
>>> The fact that other things like power settings and defrag are
>>> unresponsive
>>> and that it appears not to be an add-on issue tend to lead me away from
>>> blaming IE. What do you think?
>>>
>>> -- Len
>>>
>>> "PA Bear" <PABearMVP******.com> wrote in message
>>> news:uDjlfdIgHHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Have you read my reply to your original post?
>>>> --
>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>>>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>>>
>>>> Len B wrote:
>>>>> It is looking more like this is a Windows problem now rather than IE.
>>>>> Should
>>>>> I start a new post in another ng?
>>>>>
>>>>> A full virus scan found nothing.
>>>>>
>>>>> While he was waiting for me to get back to him, he tried some things
>>>>> himself.
>>>>> Defrag, he thought. The 26GB partition C: didn't complete overnight.
>>>>> Can't access Power settings for the laptop. Click on it, no response.
>>>>>
>>>>> While defragging, the HDD (it isn't hot, just warm.) only flashed now
>>>>> and
>>>>> then and there were still plenty of CPU cycles left. Rootkit revealer
>>>>> found
>>>>> only a prefetch and HKLM\Policy\Secrets\SAC* and ...\SAI*
>>>>> .
>>>>> I have asked him to reinstall nav and to try IE without add-ons. We'll
>>>>> see
>>>>> what that shows.
>>>>>
>>>>> -- Len
>>>>>
>>>>> "Len B" <gonehome@optusnet:con:au> wrote in message
>>>>> news:e3D9JgCgHHA.4156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Friend rang regarding wife's notebook.
>>>>>> Not sure if this is relevant but Norton's antivirus icon missing from
>>>>>> system tray but real-time monitoring is happening according to task
>>>>>> manager. XP Pro SP2 fully patched.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Launch IE (looks like v7 he says) with home page set to blank. Click
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> address bar - freeze, no keystrokes accepted, no clicks on menus work
>>>>>> but
>>>>>> task manager shows Idle Time in the 90s. Can't verify ver 7 because
>>>>>> can't
>>>>>> click.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyone have any idea what might be happening; what to check for?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> TIA
>>>>>> -- Len