IE9 at starts up with strange audio messages

[dwilkows]

When I start IE9 I can hear two voices simultaneously saying something about clearing the cache. I have removed IE9 and re-installed it, and cleared the home page tabs list, but the annoyance still remains! It is intermittent and never occurs with Firefox or Google Chrome. Any ideas on how to return IE9 to a "silent" startup?

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

Double check to see if you have any voice-synth or text-to-speech aids on (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > Narrator). If not, check your installed add-ons. I've seen other people with this problem (although sparingly) and it's either those two options or some sort of malware installed on the machine.

It wouldn't hurt to check for it. Download Malwarebytes (Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware, anti-virus and spyware removal download), SuperAntiSpyware (SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!), and if you don't have an AntiVirus, Microsoft Security Essentials (www.microsoft.com/security_essentials) gets a thumbs up in my book.

 

[dwilkows]

Thanks for the help Johnathan. I checked the Ease of Access narrator and there were indeed some boxes checked. After clearing them and restarting, however, the annoying message still persists. There are two voices at once and the louder one ends with, "and that's how to clear your cache" or something close. It doesn't happen 100% of the time and is kind of unpredictable.

I have been using Malewarebytes for a few months now and keep its definitions current, scanning once a week or so. Just ran it a couple days ago and it came up all zeros. I use an antivirus/security software from my ISP "Charter Security Suite." I keep hearing about Microsoft Security Essentials and may give that a try.

If you have any other ideas, I'd appreciate hearing them and thanks again for your suggestions.

Doug

 

[Xhi]

I've experienced this annoying sound ad before with a friend of mine. In his case he was getting a sound ad about discounts for buying a Kawasaki Motorcycle from Dealer XXX. Though I didn't have a clue of where to begin, I checked the usual culprits:

1. Check the addons in IE9 (Tools>Manage Addons).
2. Reset Internet to default settings (Tools>Internet Option>Advanced>Reset).
3. Check Startup Programs (MSCONFIG>Startup).
4. Check for any installed programs that might have ended up on your computer that you think you didn't install (Control Panel>Programs>Uninstall a Program).

If you've been using Malwarebytes and your Anti-Virus program and it isn't detecting anything, it might be a rootkit. These types of malware usually evade normal scanners. You might want to try a rootkit scanner. I actually found a rootkit on my friend's PC when I ran Kaspersky's TDSSKiller (Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller).

You might also want to try running ComboFix (A guide and tutorial on using ComboFix). It usually fixes most issues when it comes to malware that takes over the computer. Just remember to disable your Anti-virus if you are going to run ComboFix.

Finally, the simplest thing you could try to do is run the Microsoft Safety Scanner (Microsoft Safety Scanner - Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free). Its a standalone scanner that does not require any installation. Its about 68 - 80mb, depending on the version of windows that you are running. Do a full scan. It will usually find something. I've even seen it find an actual rootkit and clean it when I ran this on one of our customer's computers.

Hope one of these resolutions work for you. ^^

 

[Johnathan Lyman]

Xhi has awesome recommendations, there. Especially ComboFix. It's scary how much stuff that tool attacks and brutally murders with it's Battle Axe of Binary Justice.

 

[gvmack]

That annoying voice is also caused by Google toolbar on my Computer, once I disable it, the voice wnet away, thank goodness

 

[stephen2143]

I found that the problem was with Adobe PDF Link Helper, I disabled it and the problem went away.
To completely remove it I uninstall Adobe PDF Reader X and the add-on was gone. Reinstalling Adobe PDF Reader X and problem did not come back.
Tools\Manage Add-Ons\Toolbars and Extensions
Name Publisher Status
Adobe Systems, Incorporated
Adobe PDF Link Helper Adope Systems, Incorporated Disable