Internet Explorer 6 - suddenly crashing with Run Time Error 204

[techwanabe]

I woke up this morning and suddenly I cannot open and use Internet Explorer 6. A moment after opening I get a Run Time Error 204 message and it crashes and wants to send an error report. I tried a system restore to a week ago, problem still occurs.

I have tried downloading a few Malware programs but most ask you to pay for them before they will remove any malware found. Malware may be a cause of IE crashing. Are there any good current Malware utilities I can download to scan and clean?

Recommendations?

 

[bsobel]

This sounds like you may have wanted to post it in the security forum... That said, why in the world are you intentionally still on IE6?

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: bsobel
This sounds like you may have wanted to post it in the security forum... That said, why in the world are you intentionally still on IE6?

I knew the question of IE6 would come up. I am familiar with the controls arrangement so I have kept using it. However, if IE7 is that much more secure, I'll upgrade. However, I need to fix the computer first. I can't even run Windows Update because IE crashes.

Need some help here if any of you are knowledgable.

I downloaded MS Malicious Removal Tool and am running it right now. Something is either hosed or I got a nasty Malware.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Sounds like an exploit forcing a dereference to a null pointer. Do you have another machine you can download IE7 or IE8 (or better yet, Firefox) and install?

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Sounds like an exploit forcing a dereference to a null pointer. Do you have another machine you can download IE7 or IE8 (or better yet, Firefox) and install?

Well, I'd like to down load and install a newer version if IE. I"m on my 2nd computer. How can I DL IE and install it on the affected machine?

I'm following the EleetKiller instructions so far and have installed and ran SUPERAnitSpyware Free Edition. I ran it, it found 11 items which were removed and quarantined. IE still crashes so the "exploit" must still be there.

 

[theAnimal]

Originally posted by: techwanabe
I can't even run Windows Update because IE crashes.

Automatic Updates FTW.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: theAnimal

Originally posted by: techwanabe
I can't even run Windows Update because IE crashes.

Automatic Updates FTW.

I believe my system has been set for automatic updates but the one update I chose not to install is IE.

Regardless, I need solutions now, not chiding. Thanks.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: techwanabe

Originally posted by: theAnimal

Originally posted by: techwanabe
I can't even run Windows Update because IE crashes.

Automatic Updates FTW.

I believe my system has been set for automatic updates but the one update I chose not to install is IE.

Regardless, I need solutions now, not chiding. Thanks.

He's not chiding, I think he's saying make sure AU is on so if there is a fix you need you can get it that way and it might fix the issue automagically (depending on if its a bug or an exploit, and if an exploit which one)

 

[techwanabe]

Right. Last time I checked Auto Update was turned on.

Someone suggested I need to DL and install a more up to date browser. Since IE crashes, how can I do that? I do have a 2nd PC which I'm posting from.

 

[bsobel]

http://www.microsoft.com/windo...r/worldwide-sites.aspx

 

[techwanabe]

I managed to run updates via clicking the Windows Update link within the Windows Update window in Control Panel. I'm not sure if I managed to remove the redirect exploit but updates were able to work. I ran several updates and finally downloaded IE 8. It is now installed.

In the end it looks like IE is now updated and working. I"m not sure if I had a malware or a corrupt file. More likely a malware.

 

[techwanabe]

I've tried to install AVG antivirus after getting IE 8 installed and working. Installation of AVG fails:

"Local machine installation failed
Installation:
Error: Action failed for registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\MicrosoftWindows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: creating registry key...
Error: 0x80070005"

Could there be a lingering Malware preventing installation of AVG?

 

[bsobel]

Possibly, but WTH is is trying to create keys there, that seems weird...

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Possibly, but WTH is is trying to create keys there, that seems weird...

I'm a little rusty having been out of IT for 4 years, but aren't keys created when software is installed? Or modified?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: techwanabe

Originally posted by: bsobel
Possibly, but WTH is is trying to create keys there, that seems weird...

I'm a little rusty having been out of IT for 4 years, but aren't keys created when software is installed? Or modified?

Yes, but the keys in questions are created by the windows installer, not AVG.

 

[techwanabe]

I tried Avast instead of AVG. It installed and seems to be working.

Hopefully things are settled down now. Thx