Odd computer problem.

jeepnut · 10-07-2003, 01:12 AM

Well, for the past couple of days, I have been unable to use most search engines. I cannot open Google at all. When I try to, I get a message saying that "Internet Explorer could not open the search page."

I can access yahoo.com, however, when I try to search, all I get is your standard "page cannot be displayed" page. I have the same problem with msn.com.

Excite seems to work for me, but that's about it.

Askjeeves and Lycos redirect me to these two pages:

http://www.www.askjeeves.com.org/
http://www.your.com/index.php?nf=1

I'm pretty sure that Google and the others are working for others which confuses me. Any idea why I'm having this problem? I would really like to be able to search again.

Ace195 · 10-07-2003, 02:28 AM

Unless your running windows XP I'd say try running IE Repair.. You would go to start , settings, control panel, Add remove programs , then click microsoft internet explorer then select add /rem then go ahead and click repair.. If that doesn't work or running windows xp try running windows update

Dyne · 10-07-2003, 02:34 AM

It sounds like a cookie problem, actually.. but I wouldn't know what to remove. But anything going whacko in IE probably means cookies.

Ace195 · 10-07-2003, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyne

It sounds like a cookie problem, actually.. but I wouldn't know what to remove. But anything going whacko in IE probably means cookies.

Could be cookies too but in that case you would want to go to tools and then Internet options then Delete cookies and temp files.. Unless your running IE5 ect then you would have to click show files and delete them manually

jeepnut · 10-07-2003, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace195

Could be cookies too but in that case you would want to go to tools and then Internet options then Delete cookies and temp files.. Unless your running IE5 ect then you would have to click show files and delete them manually

Well, I deleted my cookies and this time when I went to google, it took me to this page:

http://www.com.net/?mode=w6&mysearch=google

I have Windows XP Professional by the way.

Thanks for the help so far by the way.

Ace195 · 10-07-2003, 03:11 PM

Hmm.. If it's redirecting you to other things. It's probably spy ware or something like that. Try running adaware.

jeepnut · 10-07-2003, 04:44 PM

I ran Ad-aware. Nothing has changed.

Ace195 · 10-07-2003, 05:16 PM

Reinstall your browser from the manufacturer cd. If it still doesn't work I would do a backup and then reformat and start from scratch. Or try opera the browser.

The Duggler · 10-07-2003, 05:17 PM

Stop installing crap on your pcs people.

Here, this should help you

http://nicelytoasted.net/burnt/archives/002913.shtml

Oh and Spybot is good for that kind of crap

http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10...ml?tag=lst-0-1

jeepnut · 10-07-2003, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranzid

Stop installing crap on your pcs people.

Excuse me. I did not install any crap on my computer thank you very much.

And, I did what the site said to do and there were no listings for google.com in my hosts file. And may I remind everyone that it doesn't happen only with google, but with just about every search engine. Thanks for the suggestion though Ranzid.

I think I will try reinstalling IE next.

Dyne · 10-07-2003, 09:00 PM

When you delete all your cookies through IE, it doesn't delete all the cookies if you look at the actual folder. Try deleting all those.

jeepnut · 10-07-2003, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyne

When you delete all your cookies through IE, it doesn't delete all the cookies if you look at the actual folder. Try deleting all those.

Deleted everything in the temp files folder. I'm still having problems. I'm going to reinstall as soon as I find my disk.

The Duggler · 10-08-2003, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepnut

Excuse me. I did not install any crap on my computer thank you very much.

And, I did what the site said to do and there were no listings for google.com in my hosts file. And may I remind everyone that it doesn't happen only with google, but with just about every search engine. Thanks for the suggestion though Ranzid.

I think I will try reinstalling IE next.

I'm sorry jeepnut, I just re-read my post and I didn't mean to come off as an asshole like that.

Anyways, there as to be something that installed itself whitout you knowing it, or it came with some other software you installed. Because I can't see any other explaination than this.

Does anyone know if something can install itself without asking, or secretly?

Did you try SPybot? It works very well, you should try it. Also, check everything that starts automatically at the boot up, there might be some program loading that blocks those search engines. Check out these places:

Start up folder in the start menu
Make a search for your run keys in the registry
And check for the running services (if you have XP of 2K)

If you see anything suspicious, remove it, but write it down, in case you need to add it again.

Ace195 · 10-08-2003, 02:21 PM

I personally think if your computer is giving you that many problems. Make a back up of things you want and then reformat

Thats what I would do !

jeepnut · 10-08-2003, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace195

I personally think if your computer is giving you that many problems. Make a back up of things you want and then reformat

Thats what I would do !

Well, seeing as how I just reformatted about a month ago, I'm not too keen on doing it again.