Browser Help

[Kev]

Can anyone explain why when i open my Browser i get this page file < c:/searchpage.html?page > instead of my default page of < cbc.ca >

If i type a URL in the address bar like cbc.ca i'll get this < c:/searchpage.html?page=www.cbc.ca > I can log on to sites that are in my favourites but i can not log on to the web. Any ideas friends? More importantly how do i get rid of this virus or whatever you call it from my computer?

I can't change anything in Internet Options either it (whatever it is) won't let me change the defaults. God would i like to be a computer geek. Thanx any help would be appreciated. --- Kev

 

[bigdman]

kEV, HOW ARE YOU DOING, BUDDY?

 

[Calgary69]

Hey Kev,

Sounds to me like you clicked yes/ok on one of those dang popup windows and it set your homepage to theirs.

I assume you are using IE 5.5 or better. Try bringing up Internet Options again, but this time delete your Temporary Internet Files log. Sometimes they store cookies or files there and that will screw up your computer. Then reset your homepage to default and close and reopen your browser. Hopefully, when you reopen your browser it will be at the default page (usually msn.com or some other MS site).

Hope it works but without me being there and trying myself, this is my best guess.

 

[Kev]

Good bigdman........i'll better once i get my computer running like a top again.

Yes duff i have virus software and my definitions are always up to date.

Calgary69 i have already done as you have suggested. A few times actually. To no avail. --- Kev

 

[Calgary69]

Ok Kev,



Good luck

 

[cancowboy2001]

It's an annoyance called CoolWebSearch

Have a look at this http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=163614
There is a pretty long explanation on how to get rid of it in the second note.

No one that I know of has produced something that will automatically get rid of it yet. One of the spyware cleaners may be up to speed by now.

 

[kendo]

Check your PM Kev. If it works feel free to post it here. (=

 

[JFK]

Hi Kev

I got the same problem a while back, I think it was with a web site called about.blank.com or blank.about.com, any way my explorer did exactly the same as yours, I tried all the usual (deleting cookie, temp, repair explorer) and I could n't get rid of it.
In the end, I used the restore function in xp (start->settings->control panel->restore) and restored the system to a day before that this started to happen and the problem was fixed. It means that this program installs something in the window's registary. If it has been too long since this happend and you do not want to use restore, you can use regedit and try to fine were it is manually (not very easy).
I hope this has been of some help and good luck.

 

[Kev]

Thanx everyone for your help. cancowboy2001 and kendo escpecially there input was important.
I finally got rid of the virus that hijacked my browser. This website <http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=163614> was instrumental in kicking the virus out of my harddrive. Thanx guys. --- Kev

 

[kendo]

Just a quick note, the xp restore function can be a godsend AND also your worst nightmare...because it can also back up those viruses/spyware items you are trying to get rid of. Just a word of warning. So you could finally clean all of that crap off your computer and if you use that restore function in the near future it could bring them all back.