IE and firefox won't work and crash on exit but...

[Aurel]

This doesn't make any sense to me at all! I've been working with computers for a very long time, and even built this one myself, but what I'm seeing now just flat out makes no sense.

I was trying to make my TrackIR work with the new racing game GRID, and the Vector program kept crashing right after it started.  I read online that restarting normally fixes it, so I restarted.  Windows had a few updates (3) to install, so I let it run through it.  Once the computer restarted, STEAM came up as usual, but told me it could not connect to the internet.  The Internet Icon looked correct, and all my settings checked out.  I ran Firefox, and internet explorer, and they both did the same thing.  They would start up, and no page would come up.  I could type in a URL, but it wouldn't even make an attempt to connect, it would just say Done in the corner, and nothing appeared.  Skype won't work, AIM won't work, STEAM won't work, BUT windows can still check for updates, and all that, and the icon shows a good connection.  The coolest part is, when ever I clsoe ANY program, it crashes.  I close it, and then I get the '****** has stopped working' and the progress bar.  I've re-installed and updated, and rolled back my chipset drivers for the Ethernet card.  I would have formated but I don't have the disk in this STATE, and I can't send for it or buy a new one and send for the 64x disk because I don't have a valid mailing address. 

I'm at a total loss here.  I have NO idea what to do. I  have NO idea what it is.  I've even turned off EVERYTHING that is running, and or run safe mode, thinking it might be a virus, but I still have the same problems.  I also tried re-installing firefox.  I know its not my internet its self too because I'm using it to post this using my laptop.  For the love of god, tell me someone knows what the *censored* is going on!

Windows Vista Ultimate 64x
2 TB HDD space
8 GB ram
Gigabyte GA-EX38-DS4 ATX Desktop Motherboard
Quad Core 2.6 GHz Intel
ATI 4870

[hiloed]

This is a loooong shot but wonder if you are using Zone Alarm on the computer that won't connect?

[Aurel]

Zone Alarm?  I don't think so.  Thanks for the attempt though, I didn't think anyone was going to respond.  It seems to be half way resolved now.

It looks as though the problem might have been a bad copy of a anti-virus program.  I had a copy of NOD32 that didn't seem to be up to date (it would tell me it had just updated to the latest definitions each time I re-started, but the copyright still said 1999-2005 or something like that.  I uninstalled it and installed the NOD32 30 day trial (making sure I had the 64bit version) and slowly the issues seemed to resolve.

I have most of my internet applications up and running, but I'm still getting a crash every time I close something, witch is quite annoying.  Scanning for viruses and hoping to find something right now.

In the future, I plan to do all my torrent downloading and such on the laptop, and moving things over after they have been tested.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Torrent downloading, eh? Do you think the source of your problem is due to a virus infection?
Did Nod32 find anything?

[Aurel]

Its possible.  Its not like I'm off downloading computer games and stuff.  I believe in paying for products to support them.  But when downloading large files, Torrents are the way to go (like with Project Reality for BF2). 

NOD32 is still scanning.  I'll update once its done.  I'm also using Ad-aware, and things of that nature right now to try and cover all bases.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Ok. You might want to post a HijackThis log as well.
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis

[Aurel]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 8:10:06 PM, on 8/23/2008
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink\TabTip32.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Plugin Manager\skypePM.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\Ad-Aware.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\2.1.1119.1736\swg.dll
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CtxfiReg] CTXFIREG.exe /FAIL1 (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {F6ACF75C-C32C-447B-9BEF-46B766368D29} (Creative Software AutoUpdate Support Package) - http://www.creative.com/softwareupdate/su2/ocx/15102/CTPID.cab
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files (x86)\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Ati External Event Utility - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Ati2evxx.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Autodesk Licensing Service - Autodesk - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Service\AdskScSrv.exe
O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Creative ALchemy AL1 Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\AL1Licensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Audio Engine Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CTAELicensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Dolby Digital Live Pack Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\DDLLicensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Audio Service (CTAudSvcService) - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative\Shared Files\CTAudSvc.exe
O23 - Service: @dfsrres.dll,-101 (DFSR) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DFSR.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Eset HTTP Server (EhttpSrv) - ESET - C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\EHttpSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Eset Service (ekrn) - ESET - C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\x86\ekrn.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: mental ray 3.6 Satellite for Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 64-bit 64-bit (mi-raysat_3dsMax2009_64) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\mentalray\satellite\raysat_3dsMax2009_64server.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrB - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrB.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\SLsvc.exe,-101 (slsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SLsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: StarWind AE Service (StarWindServiceAE) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files (x86)\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindServiceAE.exe
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe
O23 - Service: TabletServiceWacom - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wacom_Tablet.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 8062 bytes


I poked through this a bit, but didn't see anything glaringly obvious.

[Edited post to stop page stretching - Carbon]

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Me neither but we'll have to wait for a Malware Removal Specialists to look at the log. 

What about NOD32, anything?

[Aurel]

Still waiting.  You'd think a Quad core could scan a little faster.  I have 2 TB of storage, but I'm only using about 500 GB

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Not sure, but 500GB will take some time.

I suggest you leave the computer and let is scan the computer. If you don't use the computer, it will devote as much processing power it can to the scan.

[Aurel]

Both scans completed, no problems.  Grrr...

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

You will have to wait for a second opinion but I think your problem is due to the fact you have very little disk space.....but I may be wrong....

Evilfantasy already took a look at the log. No problems. 

[drmsucks]

I have 2 TB of storage, but I'm only using about 500 GB

You will have to wait for a second opinion but I think your problem is due to the fact you have very little disk space.....but I may be wrong....

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Argh wrong topic. My bad. 

That's what happens when you're trying to make a song while on ComputerHope. 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

So you say some programs are starting to be able to connect to the internet, right?

What about in Safe Mode With Networking?