Browser problems after IE11 windows update

[simon99]

Hi -

I have browser problems after a windows update came along on 19 November. It turned out to be an IE11 upgrade to IE10. If it wasn't marked as a critical update I would not have bothered

Prior to the update all was well. Post update the IE11 has trouble connecting to some sites: eg Latest news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | theguardian.com | The Guardian and Free website | Free blog | Create a free website | Weebly fails to load and Home | Mail Online works fine.

The browser just reports that it is 'waiting for response from website'

So, I tried rolling back the machine to the restore point prior to the update. Now back to IE10, BUT the same problem persists.

Next, I unrestored the unrestore and reverted to IE11. I then tried uninstalling the update. Back to IE10 and same problem.

I tried turning off the windows firewall and disabling the virus scanner. Same problem. I checked the latest version of Flash is installed.

So, I downloaded and installed Chrome. Chrome has the same problem, except that if you stop the page loading it will render the page as far as it has got. Successive reloads and stop loading clicks will get most of the page.

Chrome is now my default browser. Funnily enough, Chrome seems to be getting better at getting web pages as it is used more. Seven forums has only just become usable!

Is there a fix for this ? Machine is w7 Pro SP1.

Simon

 

[andrew129260]

Try ccleaner and leave the basic stuff checked as well as dns cache under system.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/306648-ccleaner-delete-junk-files.html

Have you scanned your system for malware?

Such as with malware bytes or avast?

You can download them and run a full scan in my signature.

 

[ThrashZone]

Not sure which Security suite you have installed please fill in the blanks,
Also see what this does,
Use No Add-ons mode/ Click the Start button and type in the search box,
Internet explorer

Click on the suggestion (No Add-ons) or it’s located at,
Start/ All programs/ Accessories folder/ System tools folder/ No add-ons.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/manage-add-ons#ie=ie-10-win-7
If using ie10 the first link will apply to ie9 as well,
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/ie-crashes-stops-working#ie=ie-10-win-7

If you have a 64 bit machine you can activate Enhanced protection mode to see if ie10 or 11 works any better,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280434-internet-explorer-10-enable-32-bit-64-bit-ie10-windows-7-a.html#post2312336

Export Favorites to html file before resetting Internet explorer/ just to be safe.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/86795-internet-explorer-import-export-favorites.html

Tutorial of Resetting Internet explorer,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1222-internet-explorer-reset.html
Accessing Internet Options from the Start menu search,
Reset process first opening Internet explorer

 

[simon99]

Thanks Andrew and Thrash for your replies:

1. Security suite is Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security

2. System is 64bit

3. Using IE10 no add-ons mode - no change in symptoms

4. Using Enhanced Protection mode - no change in symptoms

5. Security suite found no viruses or spyware

6. I will try CCleaner and avast

7. I will try resetting IE10 - although given Chrome has similar but not as severe symptoms I would expect the issue to be deeper in the system than IE10 ?

As it happens (sods law) I have some work tasks I must get done the next few days. Rather than run the risk of destabilising the system further I will hold off doing 6 and 7 until I've got a bit more space. I'll get back to you with the results.

Thanks again - anything else quick worth trying ?

Simon

 

[ThrashZone]

Post a screen shot of your All add-ons page,
There's a link above my signature picture if you need help in how to do this,

 

[simon99]

Hi Thrash

Here are three pages of all add-ons:

 

[ThrashZone]

Well the third is the one that pops out the most and it confirms your security suite has add-ons which are active or somewhat compatible for the 64 bit version/ Enhanced protection mode so that's most likely why ie fails to operate,,
Java is another problematic add-on which should be Uninstalled and development tool kit should be disabled,
http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_java.xml
Interesting reads,
http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/2013/01/java-zero-day-again-time-to.html

DIVX Plus is another one which is 64 bit and should be disabled.

Basically all of these objects should be Uninstalled,
The ones you actually use should be re-installed but one at a time to figure out which one is causing the issues.

I'm sticking with this, from Post #3
Export Favorites to html file before resetting Internet explorer/ just to be safe.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/86795-internet-explorer-import-export-favorites.html

Accessing Internet Options from the Start menu search with all open windows Closed,
Reset process first opening Internet explorer
After resetting using the above method see how many add-ons are still Enabled.

Review Jacee’s instructions to run Adwcleaner here,
Ignore the title of the thread,
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/309998-how-can-i-kill-avg-search.html

 

[simon99]

Hi -

I have done a bit more work on this:

1. Ran malwarebytes quick and full scans - nothing found, no change in browser behaviour (some sites not loading, both IE10 and Chrome)

2. Ran ccleaner and did the default clean - no change

3. reset IE10, only addons running are Shockwave Flash Object and Ms Silverlight. All others are disabled. IE10 works a little better (The guardian and independent websites work, but the weebly website builder still wont load). Annoyingly the windows.microsoft.com help pages don't load either.

Any ideas on what else to try ?

simon

 

[andrew129260]

   Warning

Doing the following will reset internet explorer, and will lose all saved passwords and settings

1.) You can try this as another option:

Open rb: Control panel. - Network and internet. - internet options - advanced - Reset - Check the box to delete personal settings - Click reset. Click ok. Restart the PC.

Open internet explorer. How does it act now?

2.) Did the malware scans find anything?

 

[ThrashZone]

Use Safe mode with networking,
Shut down your machine, Unplug-Hold the power button down for 30/45 seconds (Power Drain)
Power up and Tap the F8 key continuously until you see a black page with white text,
Use the down arrow key to toggle to safe mode with networking/ hit the enter key.
Login as usual
Other advanced methods,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

Using Safe mode with networking refer to post #3 & 7 and download Adwcleaner run the scan and post the results,
Reset instructions are also on posts #3 and 7 after you use the Clean option in Adwcleaner.

 

[simon99]

Thanks Thrash and Andrew for your replies.

1. I went into safe mode+networking (via the msconfig route). I reset IE twice - via the IE gearbox route and also via Control Panel as Andrew suggested. I also uninstalled Java.

No change in symptoms: IE won't load parts of pages, 'waiting for ...' message. Chrome is not as bad (better heuristics I think) but still won't load some pages at all.

Here is the scan results from Adwcleaner:

View attachment AdwCleaner[R3]_safe mode.txt

I don't know what it means - clearly some registry keys it doesn't like. Any comments on what it has found ? I have not actually run the clean option yet, lacking a bit of nerve for it I'm afraid! Is there a tutorial on what precautions to take before letting a cleaner loose on the registry ?

2. Here are the scan results from ccleaner (two pics so you can see the windows and application switches I used). It seems pretty harmless, but I haven't used the clean option again yet. I would rather not disturb Chrome at the moment.

page 1:



page 2:



3. Here is also the malware bytes log - it found nothing:
View attachment mbam-log-2013-12-09 (09-06-12).txt

Thanks for keeping up with this - is there a next step to try (go for the clean option in adwcleaner ?)

Simon

 

[ThrashZone]

The Cleanup in Adwcleaner should be used,
If you want more input on the actual files it found we would have to request a security specialist to look at the file,
Which isn't a big deal there but no idea when they might be able to give feedback ?
Open Chrome and see what is listed as Extensions,

 

[andrew129260]

@simon99

There is not a whole lot listed there that needs to be cleaned in ccleaner. You can safely run it. It won't hurt anything, and you can uncheck items you do not want it to clean.

As for adwcleaner,

Its a safe utility. I would run a scan and clean it up. Then restart the pc. We might have to look into more things to see if your machine is more infected then originally thought. It could also be a issue with your hosts file.

See here:

How can I reset the Hosts file back to the default?

You can run the fix it for me on the website.

I also suggest following ThrashZones advice.

 

[ShamrockRig]

Another useful program you can run.

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

My 2cents I as a general rule back up the reg to where it is now (if I am not sure) and just run ADW clean up - end of story and I have never had a problem with it or have had to resort to the backup reg.

I am wondering if a quick go over with this would help Free Malware Removal Tools scroll down to the TDSS Killer and run it and there are these if you get nowhere.

5 Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CD for Windows: Free Download

 

[Britton30]

I had the DivX player and associated BS once and it played havoc with several sites. I suspect Quicktime can do the same thing but I've not used it. I would uninstall both and run the CCleaner registry cleaner and the Adwcleaner once more on Delete. It appears the FLEXnet is some sort of licensing program which pays developers and may be a PUP, Potentially Unwanted Program.

The free open source VLC player will play nearly any type of media file. http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

 

[simon99]

Hi -

Thanks for all the advice. I created a restore point and went ahead with Adwcleaner cleanup. After the restart I scanned again. No change in IE or Chrome website loading issues - here is the Adwcleanerlog:

View attachment AdwCleaner[S1]_after clean.txt

The FLEX keys seem to have reinstalled themselves. I'm sure they were deleted but have come back. Googling them seems to show they are probably legit, but I have no idea what software they came with.

Here is the Chrome extensions page:



The Divx player is disabled but present. Otherwise Chrome is pretty much clear. I think Divx came in with Roxio Creator, a video editing package.

I will see if I can get some instructions on unloading the Divx extension just to settle this point.

I had a look at the hosts file - here is the text:

View attachment hosts_131214.txt

From what I've read, the hosts file looks as it should.

I will try the removal tools others have mentioned and uninstall the Divx player - any other ideas ? Could this be a network fault or configuration issue rather than a bit of malware ?

I have a windows virtual machine running with windows XP mode. I just use it to run excel2003 models and most of the time it is hibernated. Could there be some sort of interplay between W7 and the virtual machine that effects a browser in W7 - seems unlikely.

Simon

 

[Britton30]

See if this helps removing DivX. http://rovicorp.force.com/apex/Show...ge=en_US&url=How-do-I-uninstall-DivX-software

The hosts file is fine.

FLEXnet is a legit program, but I wouldn't want it. It seems to be for developers who want to sell their software to deploy it. If it can't be removed it's not a good thing. Did you also run the JRT tool? The Adwcleaner log seems to be only the scan part.

I don't think the VM with XP should cause problems. Did you install the XP Mode from MS with their VM?
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702

 

[Solarstarshines]

I have had major issues with IE11 i read somewhere that the Add-ons are the cause

I happen to Disable mine and got a memory error hasn't happened since i enabled certain one's again

There is one Gawd awful that attaches itself to bing and it's a trojan Spigot.com M$ Has some explaining to do :sarc:

 

[Britton30]

I always hide anything Bing related even though MS offers it back all the time. You likely got a Trojan elsewhere and it's configured to attach to Bing as a stealth feature.