More malfunction

I recently got rid of Sasser (with Stinger). I have no more of it, and I have the thing that prevents infection, so please don't say I still have the virus.... But now, my internet freezes every 20-30 minutes, taking my pc with it most of the time. It can either freeze, not be able to open even its own home page, or start throwing out messages of 3 kinds, saying some image is not a right windows image, application failed to initiate, and some point [any] was not found.
Any advice?
Thorough instructions, like what each term means and what exactly I'm supposed to do, would be very helpful. I can't really browse too many links in the 20-30 minutes that it gives me

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Yes I scanned for spy/adware yesterday. It only got cookies. Problem goes on.
I get my internet from MSN and that's what freezes. If MSN had a problem, it would have been fixed by now (a week!) And I am not calling technical support, I have no faith in customer service, and I don't plan to waste all of my minutes sitting "on hold."

 

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Did you get the update downloaded or just that last fix I posted (I think it was in your thread that I posted it)? Something about creating a certain file (don't remember what or where). Have you tried using Internet Explorer or another browser? Just because you use MSN doesn't mean you have to use their crappy MSN explorer. IMO it's worse than IE if that's possible.

The error messages seem odd. The last one not being able to find a web site (I think that's what you're referring to) is pretty normal. Just means you timed out. The application not loading is weird. You're talking about MSN explorer not loading right? You're running XP aren't you? If so, do this. Right click My computer (on the desktop or start menu, depending on your settings), select manage. This will bring up the Microsoft Management Console. In here are all kinds of cool settings. If you have XP Pro you have more options than home (Group Policy among others). But what you want to look at now is even viewer. Check the application and system logs. Sometimes when programs don't load right or crash, a reason why will be put in here. Of course, half the time the messages don't make sense to anyone but a Microsoft Tech Expert, but you can't hurt for trying. Look for a Dr. Watson listing near the application crash.

The other error message, not a valid windows image, is strange. I don't know what this is referring to.

It's possible that if a back door was installed by Sasser, then it might still be there. Close down all programs that would connect to the internet, but leave your internet connection going. Open up a command prompt and type netstat -n (running netstat without the -n lists the translated domain names, -n lists them numerically). Normally, if nothing is connected to the net, there should be no listings except for the localhost loopback. If there is, that might be something to worry about. I'm not entirely sure how this works with a dial-up connection, though, so this might not help. It's possible that you're being DOS'd. Someone could have been using the sasser opening and is now pissed that you closed his door. Don't know if this would cause MSN to crash though.

You might try uninstalling and reinstalling MSN. Your installation might have been corrupted somehow.

 

I got the actual update.
I tried using IE, the problem goes on.
My connection is not supposed to time out every 30 minutes, it never did so, and it never should. But fine. Could that be the way MSN lets its users know they have to get the new version? Grrr.

Yeah, if I know what to do with them.
Under Event Viewer, it says Application, Security, System. Under System, it is a huge list of information, error, and warning.
Under error, it says "Access denied attempting to launch a DCOM Servr using DefaultLaunchPermission." Under Warning, it says "the server was unable to find a free connetion 3 times in the last 60 seconds." Information stuff is from Service Control Manager (boring stuff). One is from Ati HotKey Poller, says "The description for event id [105] in Source cannot be found. The local computer may not have necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer (etc)". Well?

Use thingie language, explain exactly where to click. Do you mean the thing where it says "run"? If so, no such thing as you mentioned above can be found.
I'm not going to reinstall anything untill it's my last choice.

 

Try uninstalling your Java run time libraries and then reinstalling them. http://www.tucows.com/preview/194327.html

 

When you looked in the event log, was it after an application crash? Were you able to link the crash with a specific error message? Many times after a full system crash, an event won't be registered, so it'd have to be after one of the minor crashes.

I have never seen the Dcom error. I'm not entirely familiar with it, but I don't see why you should even need the dcom server. It's possible (actually probable) that MSN uses it for it's connection. Anyone here know anything about dcom?

The Ati hotkey thing wouldn't seem like anything except for the fact that it mentions remote computer. That's extremely weird. Do you actually use ATI hotkeys? You can disable it and see if that helps. Run msconfig* and go to the last tab. Unclick the hotkey listing. I'm not sure of it's exact name in the listing. You might also find other programs you don't want to run at startup in here. There's probably also a better way to disable it, but I don't know how.

Ok, the command prompt. It's in the accessories subfolder of your programs menu, but you can save time by clicking run, then typing cmd. This opens up a dos box. Follow the instructions I gave above.

And when I say reinstall, I mean just MSN, not your entire operating system. Uninstalling and reinstalling MSN should do nothing harmful to your system. Knowing Microsoft, it might be difficult to uninstall though. In fact, I think you might have to use an .ini hack to make it viewable as an uninstallable item in add/remove programs in the control panel. If you can't uninstall it easily, just reinstall it from your original disk. And by the way, I notice your comment on "Could that be the way MSN lets its users know they have to get the new version?" This implies that you're running an out of date version. I don't know about MSN enough to know of any security or program flaws, but it's generally best to keep up to date.

(Just checked my add/remove programs, and by god MSN explorer is in there. Under add/remove windows components. Will wonders never cease? Saves 13.1 MB too. But there is probably additional software installed when you use MSN as an isp.)

Mr. Chips,

Why do you think java might have something to do with it? Have you seen this before?


edit: *type msconfig into the run box.

 

Hell, I just had a thought. I can't remember for sure, it's been so long since I used MSN dialup. But, you might not even need MSN software to connect to the net. Some dial-ups just hook right up. Again, knowing Microsoft and their intrusion tactics, I'd bet you do need it though.

 

I don't know but that I've seen situations, with my computer recently for example, where it would freeze the browser sporadically and it was due to some java files having become corrupted. You'd thnk that MSN wouldn't use Java? I don't think the problem lies with MSN. Of course, I don't use the service. I prefer a plain vanilla hook up.

 

Hard to say if MSN uses Java or their own virtual machine. I would think legally they can't use the microsoft vm. That court case is over. Might have some kind of concessions though. Worth a shot anyway.