Internet browsers (IE & Chrome) close immediately after opening ???

Hi,

Since three days both internet browsers installed on my PC won't start (IE and Chrome). Or rather close immediately after I start them. (I am entering this thread from my office PC)
I didn't install any programs in between when they worked and stopped working (did copy files from a CD-ROM).

Some things I tried:
- logging in as my wife (we have got two users installed) - same problem
- clearing the user settings of Chrome (i.e. deleting the folder). After doing this the browser works for about 30 secs. and then the same problem occurs (either using it to browse or not using it gives the same result)
- scanned the PC for viruses (Windows anti-virus) and malware (Spybot) – nothing found
- start IE with extensions off
- I also installed HijackThis. Couldn’t find anything that looked fishy, but did not have an expert look at it
- Using either WLAN or LAN doesn’t make a difference (tried it just in case – never know ?)

Both programs are the latest version.

Any ideas?

Best regards,
Roy

Hi,

Tried some more:
- de-installed Google Chrome
- de-installed Java
- de-installed IE Google toobar add-in
Didn't work yet
- run a registry cleaner

After restart IE works again. Typing this message from there.

Seems problem is solved although I have no idea what caused it. Didn't like Chrome anyway though because it crashed on me several times a day. Installed it because IE was becoming very slow. But that's another story.

So for now: problem solved.

Regards,
Roy

Of course I was too optimistic. Very shortly after writing 'problem solved' the issue started occuring again with IE. Although it is not consistent. Sometimes I can start the browser. The pattern in do/doesn't start is not yet clear to me. For example just continuously clicking the icon works. Sigh ...

If anybody has any diagnostic ideas, those would be more than welcome.

Roy

Hi,

Couldn't find the button for 'unsolved'. Now I did :).

I already used the two mentioned programs to scan the computer, but will try Malwarebytes also. See what that gives. Will post the result tomorrow: now off for the weekend.

I did a restore of a date from when it still worked fine, but that didn't help.

Thanx!
Roy

Hi,

I did not yet re-install Java.

Malwarebytes did not find any contamination. I did find an unknown file. Which was also located in a Java folder still being on the PC. Coincidence? I didn't write down the name of the file.

Regards,
Roy

Hi,

Just re-installed Java. Now it works. Also before install. But ten minutes ago before a restart it did not.

Ok. Let's see how it goes. If the problem occurs again I will use Revo and install Java again. Thank you for this piece of advice. :)

Whatever happens I will reply again to this thread with the results.

Regards,
Roy

PS. When I removed Java before I also still had an older version installed.Could maybe be relevant?