[Resolved] Internet URL re-directions

[jamie1]

Hopefully I have done this zip file ok.  Downloaded Power Archiver and opened up PA and  saved the zip but when I uploaded I discovered that it had saved as a .zipx and was not accepted.   So I clicked on the 2 files in question and asked it to zip with Power Archiver and it saved as a .zip file which I was able to upload.

Anyway I was doing some computer housekeeping last week and I have made a mistake.  I was uninstalling programmes that I rarely use and I deleted a folder called Protexis instead of a photo programme called Photodex. Is this a big mistake or can it be sorted?  I only realised it when I looked in the event viewer/system log.

On the good side I was not able to view the options in the wireless connections.  I changed my ISP recently and with my old ISP Orange when I clicked on the open wireless connection icon I could see BT and Orange.  This disappeared when I changed my ISP.  When I read the new ISP documentation it said that this was disabled for security reasons.  Now I can view BT and Zytel (my new ISP).

[Hoov]

You uploaded them right. I have them. About the other question, let me look at the log, because Protexis isn't something I am familiar with.

[Hoov]

Forgot to mention, it might be a couple hours before I get to the logs. I am getting ready to fix supper.

[jamie1]

No problem Hoov I am just grateful for your help.  You enjoy your supper.  Will pick up your reply and instructions when you have time to post.  It is 11pm here in Scotland so I am off to bed.  Oh by the way you were right the zip option should be in the drop down context menu.  I checked and it is in the c:/user/send to ...folder but the folder is empty.

[Hoov]

Two questions.

Do you have your windows XP disk and a computer that is clean with a CD burner?

Are you having any problems with the computer (you mentioned Spybot is updating now), are you still being redirected?

[jamie1]

Yes I have Windows XP installation disc.
Yes I have a CD/DVD burner
No serious problems with the computer but still getting re-directions  and still getting the IE "do you want to restore your last session" or "start a new session".  If you click on "restore" then it opens a loads of pages trying to connect.  This only happens though when you first open IE.  If you close it and open again then it opens normally with no problems.
I get the odd jam when opening a programmes and a bit of stutter but the real problem is re-directions.

[jamie1]

Yes Spybot is working fine and updating.  I have 3 discs that came with the computer. 
1. Microsoft WorksSuite which has the software etc.
2.Application & Support-Disc (which I have written on it Set Up Windows)
3.Medion Operating System Installation CD (which I have written on it restore Factory Settings)
Are you thinking that I will have to re-install windows.  The cd is sp2 and I am now sp3.

[jamie1]

When I load Firefox the Google Home Page comes up ok but it opens a new tab as well and tries to load another page.  McAfee site advisor overrides it and blocks it.

serving.adsrevenue.clicksor.net/newS
erving/links.php?t=network may cause a breach of browser security.

[Hoov]

When we get more fixed, I think you will need to do a repair of your OS. And the SP2 is no big thing, there is a way around that, that is why you need a CD burner.

Download and scan with CCleaner
1. Starting with v1.27.260, CCleaner installs the Yahoo Toolbar as an option which IS checkmarked by default during the installation. IF you do NOT want it, REMOVE the checkmark when provided with the option OR download the toolbar-free or Slim versions instead of the Standard Build.
2. Before first use, select Options > Advanced and UNCHECK "Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours"
3. Then select the items you wish to clean up.
In the Windows Tab:

• Clean all entries in the "Internet Explorer" section except Cookies if you want to keep those.
• Clean all the entries in the "Windows Explorer" section.
• Clean all entries in the "System" section.
• Clean all entries in the "Advanced" section.
• Clean any others that you choose.[/COLOR]

In the Applications Tab:

• Clean all except cookies in the Firefox/Mozilla section if you use it.
• Clean all in the Opera section if you use it.
• Clean Sun Java in the Internet Section.
• Clean any others that you choose.[/COLOR]

4. Click the "Run Cleaner" button.
5. A pop up box will appear advising this process will permanently delete files from your system.
6. Click "OK" and it will scan and clean your system.
7. Click "exit" when done.

go to the run command and type ipconfig /flushdns and hit enter. You will get a black box open and then close. Don't worry about it.

Then open Spybot Search and Destroy and do an update. Then do an immunization, and then a full scan, remove anything it finds. Let me know if it finds anything.

Test both browsers. If they still act as above, try running ATF-Cleaner and then try again. Let me know what happens.

Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune.

This program is for Windows 98/ME/2K/XP and Vista

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
• Under Main choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox browser

• Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
• NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click
• No at the prompt.

If you use Opera browser

• Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
• NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program. For Technical Support, double-click the e-mail address located at the bottom of each menu.

[jamie1]

Yep will do.  I have had an e-mail supposedly from SpyHammer.  This is the second one that I have had with sender unspecified recently.  The first e-mail was supposed to be from the Holiday Inn which I had asked to send me my account password ( just so I could log onto see my loyalty club points) and the second from SpyHammer.  All it said was kind regards from SpyHammer and it had a series of numbers included in the e-mail:

SMF-78f859f46a57c1e68b2af323e9a77504--

Real strange!!!

[Hoov]

SpyHammer or SpywareHammer?

[jamie1]

Sorry wasn't paying attention it is SpywareHammer.com Team

completed all tasks and nothing found.  tested browsers both still re-directing.

[Hoov]

Try resetting IE. The first set of instructions is for IE7, the second is for IE8. Also I am sending you a PM in a couple minutes.

   1. In Internet Explorer 7, click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options.
   2. On the Advanced tab, click Reset.
   3. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
   4. When Internet Explorer 7 finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, and then click OK two times.
   5. Close Internet Explorer 7. The changes take effect the next time that you open Internet Explorer 7.

The Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature restores the following items to their default settings:

    * Home pages
    * Search scopes
    * Browsing history
    * Form data
    * Passwords
    * Appearance settings
    * Toolbars
    * ActiveX controls

Additionally, the Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature disables all add-ins. However, it does not remove the add-ins.



1. Close any Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer windows that are currently open.
   2. Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Internet Explorer.
   3. Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
   4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
   5. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would like to remove browsing history, search providers, Accelerators, home pages, and InPrivate Filtering data.
   6. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
   7. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
   8. Close Internet Explorer.

      Your changes will take effect the next time you open Internet Explorer.

[jamie1]

Did as you said and what is happening now with IE is that when I open it and the Google tab loads it comes up with a error message about Google tab and asks me to send a message to Microsoft.  Closing and opening again it is usually ok.  The restore last session or start new session  messages have gone though.  Searches in both Firefox and IE are much better though.  I have clicked on searches for a variety of subjects and only 4 or 5 times have I been redirected out of about 40 searches. 

[jamie1]

Things are looking a lot better now Hoov.  I uninstalled the Vista Start Menu that I had on my XP system and also uninstalled Stardock which gave me a different logon picture.  I was a bit tired of them.  Anyway I have been in and out of IE and so far no problems no messages coming up when I open it now and so far very few re-directions.  It is the same with Firefox it does give me the odd re-direction and sometimes jumps and opens another tab with some shopping site.  In the main though it is ok.