Activex freezes my computer...

I had to buy a new mobo a while back. The first hard drive seemed to work for a few weeks, but then I started having problems. It seems that hard drive was going out and eventually died. (It used to work in an external hard drive case, but now it won't. It doesn't spin consistantly.) I installed a new hard drive in the case and installed winxp, drivers, and avg. I started installing windows updates--starting with activex. While on the update website, my computer froze. I tried safe mode several times to try to get it to work. It kept freezing. I then reinstalled winxp. This time, I rebooted after installing drivers. Installed AVG and rebooted. All was good. I then created a system restore point. I then tried to get windows updates, starting with active x. Computer froze. I had to do a system restore to the point after avg was installed. I did this twice. It appears activex is the problem. I googled it and saw that I should turn off AVG, so I did. It still froze up my computer. Is there a way to download windows updates without activex? Thanks!

Microsoft Help & Support
Internet Explorer stops responding, stops working, or restarts
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/pc_ie_envmanualid

When I clicked on the link you provided, it brought me to microsoft support and help but just about "internet explorer". I don't have a problem with IE. My whole computer freezes up after I install activex. Any other ideas? Thanks for the response!

I take it you surfed for a bit before hitting windows updates. And probably with no firewall. Not a good idea as it takes about 15 seconds to get infected. So let us go this route.

Print these instructions out.

NOTE. If any of the programs listed below refuse to run, try renaming executive file to something else; for instance, rename hijackthis.exe to screw_you.exe

1. Download SUPERAntiSpyware Free for Home Users:
http://www.superantispyware.com/

* Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and use the default settings for installation.
* An icon will be created on your desktop. Double-click that icon to launch the program.
* If asked to update the program definitions, click "Yes". If not, update the definitions before scanning by selecting "Check for Updates". (If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download and unzip them from here: http://www.superantispyware.com/definitions.html.)
* Close SUPERAntiSpyware.

PHYSICALLY DISCONNECT FROM THE INTERNET

Restart computer in Safe Mode.
To enter Safe Mode, restart computer, and keep tapping F8 key, until menu appears; select Safe Mode; you'll see "Safe Mode" in all four corners of your screen

* Open SUPERAntiSpyware.
* Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button.
* Under [b]General and Startup" tab, make sure, Start SUPERAntiSpyware when Windows starts option is UN-checked.
* Click the Scanning Control tab.
* Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):
- Close browsers before scanning.
- Scan for tracking cookies.
- Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
* Click the Close button to leave the control center screen.
* Back on the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer.
* On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
* On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan.
* Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
* After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click OK.
* Make sure everything has a checkmark next to it and click Next.
* A notification will appear that Quarantine and Removal is Complete. Click OK and then click the Finish button to return to the main menu.
* If asked if you want to reboot, click Yes.
* To retrieve the removal information after reboot, launch SUPERAntispyware again.
- Click Preferences, then click the Statistics/Logs tab.
- Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.
- If there are several logs, click the current dated log and press View log. A text file will open in your default text editor.
- Please copy and paste the Scan Log results in your next reply.
* Click Close to exit the program.
Post SUPERAntiSpyware log.
NOTE: Tracking cookies can be omitted from the log.

RECONNECT TO THE INTERNET

RESTART COMPUTER!

2. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php to your desktop.
(Malwarebytes is free to use as a manual scanner. Payment is only required if you wish to have it run and update automatically which is not necessary for our purposes)

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad.
* Post the log back here.

The log can also be found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt
Or at C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

RESTART COMPUTER!

3. Download, install, and run HijackThis:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hijackthis.html
Post HijackThis log.
Do NOT attempt to "fix" anything!


DO NOT make any other changes to your computer (like installing programs, using other cleaning tools, etc.), until it's officially declared clean!!!

(Above layout courtesy of Broni)

Superantispyware:
SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log
http://www.superantispyware.com

Generated 01/06/2009 at 05:51 PM

Application Version : 4.24.1004

Core Rules Database Version : 3697
Trace Rules Database Version: 1673

Scan type : Complete Scan
Total Scan Time : 00:03:41

Memory items scanned : 148
Memory threats detected : 0
Registry items scanned : 2781
Registry threats detected : 0
File items scanned : 11934
File threats detected : 18

Adware.Tracking Cookie
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\[email protected][1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\[email protected][1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@xiti[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@advertising[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@revsci[2].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@kontera[2].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@zedo[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@casalemedia[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@specificmedia[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@2o7[2].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@tacoda[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\[email protected][2].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@specificclick[2].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\[email protected][1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@atdmt[2].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@tribalfusion[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\rowland@doubleclick[1].txt
C:\Documents and Settings\Rowland\Cookies\[email protected][2].txt


Malwarebytes:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.32
Database version: 1625
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2

1/6/2009 6:05:10 PM
mbam-log-2009-01-06 (18-05-10).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 50087
Time elapsed: 4 minute(s), 15 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

I'll post hijackthis in a separate post.

Thanks for the response.

Hijackthis log:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:15:25 PM, on 1/6/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NVMixerTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgrsx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NVMixerTray] "C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NVMixerTray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe

--
End of file - 2179 bytes


Thanks!

As I expected, nothing there.
I'd try to uninstall AVG. I really don't like version 8.0

The computer works fine with avg. It's just when I install active x. Do you think there's some kind of conflict with the two? I've used AVG for years (on several computers) and have been very satisfied. If avg is the problem, which (free) antivirus would you recommend? Thanks.

I'd recommend first not to install avg after a clean xp installation then run updates, infact don't install anything at all just update. if it keeps happening then change the RAM with a fresh one and see what happens.

which explorer are u using? best for updates is 7 or 8. with anti-fishing off.

I'm using ie 6 because one of my favorite programs doesn't work with ie7 or higher. I'll uninstall avg and see what happens. Thanks.

I've been using AVG for years, myself, but I ditched it with ver. 8.0, because of too many problems.

Don't get mad at me, but ....I don't think activex is the problem. Going back and forth through system restores I found that activex didn't pop up anymore when I went to windows updates. Apparently, I configured it at some point. So, I clicked on "install" and "custom". It starts something and goes through 15%, 30%, 100%, etc. It does that a couple of times, and then it acts like it's installing, but goes on for hours. When I try to close it, it won't close. The mouse moves, but it's pretty much frozen. Sorry, but does that change anything?? Thanks!

I'd still try to uninstall AVG. Costs nothing.

what's the specs of your computer? ram, cpu, hd

you need to install also, java, windows installer, directx 9, visualcc and framwork get them from the windows website.

I think it may to do with your internet connection, it's the yellow bar the pop'up then you click on it and then allow or continue ect.. try holding the CTRL button whilst doing it. lower your internet connection security to LOW and privacy aswell as unblock the pop ups.

specs:
Winfast nf4uk8aa mobo, amd athlon 64 processor 3500+ 2.21 ghz, 2gb of ram, 160 gb hd, Windows xp home edition with sp2, and ie 6.xxx.

I've already uninstalled avg and tried it and that still didn't work, so I reinstalled it.

I just did a couple of speedtests, and my internet speed is good. However...I may be having internet trouble. Occasionally, a web page will time out. I'll refresh it, and it will then come up. I called the cable company, and they said to connect the computer directly to the modem (as opposed to using the router). It seemed to work better that way, but I have several other computers that need (want?) internet (such as this computer). So, that being said, if my internet is "intermittant" at times, would that cause the hang up on the update? Hope this makes sense. Thanks.