All sorts of annoying computer problems

[mith]

Currently I can not:

Copy/Paste from or to IE
Open any links from the GL that are not on the GL itself (possibly the same for any other site, I haven't tested it extensively)
Open windowsupdate. It says Done at me, and is getting *something* (as I can see when I view source), but it's not appearing.
I get random javascript errors quite often, particularly when I try to look at the properties for an image or link or whatever.
Yahoo email has gone all funny (looks like the style sheets have gotten turned off or something)
Various cgi issues. In particular, the annoying one for the moment, I can't view the Private Threads. I put in my password, and it just takes me right back to the password page (possibly a cookie issue).

I thought it might be a virus, so I downloaded AVG (it's free). It didn't find anything. Any ideas?

[MacadamiamaN]

Reformat.

[Ghost Post]

What version of Windows?

[Gomez]

Commiserations dude, I've got computer problems too. For some reason my browser isn't displaying any jpeg's, gifs, photo's or picture links. It only stopped doing this today and I installed a popup blocker today as well. Could the too be connected?

[zeek]

It sounds like your problems are around your browser. Did you try another browser besides IE? I use Mozilla. Opera is good too. Both Opera and Mozilla are free downloads. I'm usually afraid to use IE since I know a lot of nasty intrusive things on the web are designed to exploit holes in IE. Also Mozilla and Opera have built-in pop-up blockers which is nice, especially for me since I have a normal(slow?) 56k modem at home.
Opera also has a feature where you can have it not download pictures unless you request them with a mouse. I use that sometimes since it's another good way to save valuable bandwidth.

Gomez - did that pop-up blocker come with a feature to disable automatic pix? If so, it may be why you don't have pictures. There might be a configuration item to fix that.

mith - sorry, but I don't know much about IE.
You could always reformat. Hehe.

[Ghost Post]

Mozilla Foxfire... just plain sweet

http://www.mozilla.org/download.html

[extropalopakettle]

http://www.greylabyrinth.com/Forums/Forum7/HTML/005979.html (relevant?)

Have you tried Spybot? If not, try it, and make sure to download updates before scanning.

In the past I've had the copy-paste problem, sporadically. Don't know the cause or if it's gone now for good.

The windows update thing sounds suspicious - some spyware or malicious code in general will try to block access to fixes to whatever vulnerability they exploit.

As for pop-up blockers, I trust the one on google toolbar: http://toolbar.google.com/

[Antrax]

(mechanised voice #1):You have a
(mechanised voice #2):blaster worm
(mechanised voice #1):variant. For removal insructions/tools, go to
(mechanised voice #2):www.symantec.com
(mechanised voice #1):or wait on aim for
(mechanised voice #2):Antrax.

[mith]

I figured it was something like that, Ant. Stupidly, I trusted my dad's latest free AV advice rather than getting a real fix.

I do have Spybot, extro, but thanks anyway.

[extropalopakettle]

Sombody who generally gives good advice on these things recommended AVG to me. Let us know if it actually failed to catch a virus. I bought NAV a couple of times, but I have too many computers (and different platforms) to pay annual update fees for.

[Antrax]

<-- has free NAV from his university. However, I don't really recommend it, it's a memory hog, albeit an effective one
Antrax

------------------
"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

[Shamana]

Have you tried honking your horn at it?

[mith]

Now the mouse is being laggish.

So far I have run an online AV scan (whatever the first one is on google). Nothing. Ran the Fix Netsky thing from symantec. Nothing. Tried to install the free version of Norton. Nothing on pre-scan, failed to install.

[mith]

Oh, and extro, the dad advice *was* AVG.

[Antrax]

Yeah, these all yell "blaster". But it's very odd an antivirus doesn't find anything...
Go to DOS prompt, and do "netstat -a". Post the results here.
Antrax

------------------
"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

[mith]

Will as soon as I get home. Any chance you'll be around then? (It won't be til 5:30 or so my time, so midnightish for you)

[extropalopakettle]

Somewhat off tangent, but (and I'm sure some here know about this already) a great site for some great free utilities (source code too) to figure out what's going on on your system (which application is associated with which process, or has some file locked, or is using some TCP port, or what they're doing with the registry or file system, and more) is http://www.sysinternals.com/

[Antrax]

Odds are I won't be around, because Uriel is coming over. I'll try to come online.
Antrax

------------------
"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

[Samadhi]

What would look out of place on that report? I've never used netstat before, but it looks interesting.

[Antrax]

Basically, it should make sense to you. My netstat looks like this:

code:

---

TCP    Konoko:2771            localhost:9774         ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:2773            localhost:2774         ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:2774            localhost:2773         ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:9774            localhost:2771         ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:2487            www.ceruleanstudios.com:http  CLOSE_WAIT


TCP    Konoko:2489            64.12.30.228:5190      ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:2491            205.188.5.21:5190      ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:2495            baym-cs88.msgr.hotmail.com:1863  ESTABLISHED


TCP    Konoko:2772            freechess.org:5000     ESTABLISHED

---

The first four lines are my computer connecting to itself. It loves doing that, for some reason. All computers do it. The fifth is Trillian running. Sixth and seventh are AIM, I believe, the eight is MSN and the last is me playing chess while typing this.
If you see a lot of open ports on "listening", or connections that don't make sense, you might be infected.
Antrax

------------------
"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

[extropalopakettle]

More informative than netstat:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/tcpview.shtml

Shows which processes are using which TCP or UDP ports, what address they're connected to, etc.

[extropalopakettle]

[Samadhi]

Well, I'm at work so my connections are a bit nuts. That's why I'm asking, I have A LOT more lines than that.

code:

---

  Proto  Local Address          Foreign Address        State


  TCP    sdonor08000:epmap      sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:microsoft-ds  sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:printer    sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1056       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1088       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1139       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1143       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1168       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1172       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1199       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1200       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1203       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1204       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1206       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1210       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1211       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1212       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1216       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1219       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1220       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1260       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1263       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1269       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1614       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1725       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1817       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1819       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1822       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1823       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1826       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1827       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1833       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1834       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1835       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1836       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1837       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1934       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1939       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2391       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2615       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2625       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2632       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2636       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2701       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2702       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2810       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2834       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2837       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2842       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2843       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2847       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2848       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2851       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:5101       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:5800       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:5900       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:7000       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:8081       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:netbios-ssn  sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1102       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1102       CA-SUTHERLAND-H:netbios-ssn  ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1139       APOLLO:1060            ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1143       APOLLO:1079            ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1146       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1146       LUBA:netbios-ssn       ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1151       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1168       APOLLO:1060            ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1172       APOLLO:1079            ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1199       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1200       DAVOX_1_33:4102        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1203       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1204       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1206       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1210       DAVOX_1_33:2025        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1211       DAVOX_1_33:4102        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1212       DAVOX_1_33:4130        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1216       DAVOX_1_33:2025        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1219       120.103.1.34:2025      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1220       120.103.1.34:4104      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1725       120.103.1.34:4118      CLOSE_WAIT


  TCP    sdonor08000:1817       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1819       120.103.1.34:2025      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1822       DAVOX_1_33:4102        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1823       DAVOX_1_33:4130        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1826       DAVOX_1_33:2025        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1827       120.103.1.34:4104      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1833       120.103.1.34:4103      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1834       120.103.1.34:4104      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1835       DAVOX_1_33:4108        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1836       120.103.1.34:4114      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1837       120.103.1.34:4112      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1893       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:1934       DAVOX_1_33:4108        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:1939       120.103.1.34:4103      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2391       120.103.1.34:4118      CLOSE_WAIT


  TCP    sdonor08000:2505       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2514       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2615       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2625       COMET:5000             ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2632       COMET:5000             ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2636       COMET:5000             ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2810       120.103.1.34:4112      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2814       sdonor08000.corp.suth.com:0  LISTENING


  TCP    sdonor08000:2814       HERCULES:netbios-ssn   ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2834       CYCLOPS:microsoft-ds   ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2837       120.103.1.34:4118      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2842       DAVOX_1_33:4102        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2843       DAVOX_1_33:4130        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2847       DAVOX_1_33:2025        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2848       DAVOX_1_33:2025        ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2851       120.103.1.34:4104      ESTABLISHED


  TCP    sdonor08000:2945       EPOLICY:http           TIME_WAIT


  TCP    sdonor08000:2947       EPOLICY:http           TIME_WAIT


  UDP    sdonor08000:microsoft-ds  *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:1027       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:1051       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:1140       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:1141       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:1169       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:1170       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:8081       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:8082       *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:netbios-ns  *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:netbios-dgm  *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:isakmp     *:*


  UDP    sdonor08000:2101       *:*

---

Most of those make sense, except for all the UDP stuff.

[mith]

I get the UDP ones as well.

code:

---

 Proto  Local Address          Foreign Address        State


 TCP    bill:microsoft-ds      bill:0                 LISTENING


 TCP    bill:1027              bill:0                 LISTENING


 TCP    bill:1032              bill:0                 LISTENING


 TCP    bill:5180              bill:0                 LISTENING


 TCP    bill:netbios-ssn       bill:0                 LISTENING


 TCP    bill:1027              64.12.25.207:5190      ESTABLISHED


 TCP    bill:1032              64.12.30.8:5190        ESTABLISHED


 TCP    bill:1529              ads.web.aol.com:http   TIME_WAIT


 TCP    bill:1537              ads.web.aol.com:http   TIME_WAIT


 TCP    bill:1542              ads.web.aol.com:http   TIME_WAIT


 UDP    bill:microsoft-ds      *:*


 UDP    bill:1517              *:*


 UDP    bill:netbios-ns        *:*


 UDP    bill:netbios-dgm       *:*

---

Hey, whoa, it let me copy that. Probably because I'm copying from notepad to a text box, though.

[This message has been edited by mith (edited 03-02-2004 06:38 PM).]

[mith]

Ok, it seems that IE copy/paste in general is back. Mouse is still being screwy, though.

[edit]Scratch that. It's just into IE that works. Out still doesn't[/edit]

[This message has been edited by mith (edited 03-02-2004 06:40 PM).]

[mith]

Whee, navigating via keyboard now.

Running some McAfee Stinger program that's supposed to look for these worm things, I'll see if that does any good.

[mith]

Ok, I'm now no longer convinced I actually have a virus. I am in lunix now, and the mouse is still acting screwy, and a couple other weird things that I think are related to a faulty shift key. I haven't tried copying and such, yet.

Is there any chance that all of this could be caused by some sort of weird hardware problem?

[This message has been edited by mith (edited 03-02-2004 07:35 PM).]

[extropalopakettle]

[mith]

Well, I'm not convinced I don't, either.

~throws mouse across room~

[Vegetable]

I didn't this warranted it's own thread but thought i wanted to ask. I figure the title fits, so here's my question. Is it safe to delete all of my temporary internet files? If i try doing it through internet explorer it freezes up, so i was wondering if i could just go into the folder, select everything, and hit delete. My temporary internet files have grown to unrealistic proportion. There's some 18,000 files taking up 344 megabytes of my hard drive. This is a pain every time i run a Norton scan. Is there anything i need to make sure to keep?

[Vegetable]

Nevermind, just learned Norton can fix it for me.

[Samadhi]

Save all the ones with your passwords and bank account numbers and send them to me.

[mith]

Ok, scratch mouse problems off the possible virus symptoms list. I'm using my parent's mouse now, and it's doing just fine.

Still all the other problems, though.