HELP

[RichGirl]

I don't know exactly what happened...I'm not very computer savvy. But, through no action of mine Google redid itself and it screwed things up.

The only thing I did recently is update my Adobe.

First my Comcast TV listing grid isn't working. The page comes up but no listings.

I had shortcuts for three different online crosswords puzzle sites, now none of the crosswords works.

Any help here would be appreciated.

[steve2470]

1. 1- do an antivirus scan with 2 different antivirus apps.....

2- If you can save your data (passwords, bookmarks, etc) might be worthwhile to reinstall Chrome.

I'm sure others will be here shortly with better expertise than me.

eta: When you say Google, you mean Google Chrome browser, right ?

[RichGirl]

8. Thank you....

I guess it's Chrome...it's new. Not sure if I know how to reinstall.

[Gore1FL]

2. Does it work if you open an "incognito widow"? n/t

[pennylane100]

4. I have not heard of an "incognito window"

I always feel overwhelmed about all the things I do not know about computers. I am on my way to google it.

[Gore1FL]

11. There are three ways to get there:

While in chrome:

1> Ctrl-Shift-N

2> Click on the three vertical lines in the upper right corner to bring up a menu. The third on the list should be "New incognito Window." Click it

3> Right click on the icon in the taskbar to bring up a menu. You'll see different categories such as "Most visited," "recently closed," and "Tasks." Under "tasks" should be "new window" and "new incognito window." Click "New incognito Window."

This basically puts you into private browsing mode. If it works, you probably have a bad extension.

[RichGirl]

9. I don't know what an incognito window is...

will check it out.

[Gore1FL]

12. See post 11, above.

Let me know if it works or not, and we'll go from there.

[Phillip McCleod]

3. when you updated adobe..

..did the updater program ask you if you wanted to install the 'Ask' toolbar or 'McAfee'? (generally one or the other)

installing the 'Ask' toolbar is like sending out gold-embossed invitations to malware makers that say, 'RSVP ASAP'.

i'm guessing you have malware. these types of malware are annoying because they affect multiple browsers and require multiple removal and setup processes to get everything back to the way it was before the infection.

first.. try a combo of *full* anti-virus scan using whatever you've got.. then afterwards do 'malwarebytes' and 'spybot'.

then get 'iobit uninstaller' and click on the 'toolbars' option in the left column of that program. uninstall everything in the toolbars list. don't worry.. you can't hurt anything uninstalling toolbars, even ones by microsoft, etc.

once that's all done, open your browsers and go into 'add-ons' and 'extensions' and get rid of anything suspicious, meaning if it didn't come from microsoft or adobe, you probably don't want it.. pretty much that's it unless you installed it yourself.

next reset your homepage in each of your browsers.. also under 'settings' or 'preferences' or 'options' depending.

finally, check your 'msconfig' startup settings and disable anything suspicious.. specifically disable everything with the word 'java' in it, ALL 'apple' and 'adobe' items, and any extra fluff you see..if you don't know what to uncheck in your 'msconfig' startup list, you can take a screenshot and post it here, and we'll let you know what's a keeper and what's not. make sure if you do this to expand the columns for item name and manufacturer (first two columns) so we can read them.

edit.. *oh yeh*.. this is a big one.. last things last do a nice fresh restart and manually run 'Windows Update'. install all the important updates and all the 'optional' ones except the language packs and 'Bing toolbar'.

[pennylane100]

5. I always do private browsing in Firefox

Is that the same thing?

I also have checked off a lot of boxes that seem to limit java and have a add on that blocks trackers and a couple of other do not track and no direction to other sites without permission type add ons. However, I must admit I do not know enough about them but I do trust Firefox and use a lot of their stuff and their browser.

Thank you to you and all the others that offer great help in this forum.

[Denzil_DC]

6. Some of that might be necessary,

but my first suggestion would be to try going back to an earlier Restore Point and see if that fixes things. If a System Restore won't work, then I'd try starting the computer in Safe Mode and then do a System Restore, reboot, and see if that helps.

It's a lot less work than checking and undoing a whole scad of settings, some quite obscure, for somebody who's not that comfortable with computers anyway.

If it does fix things, then I'd do a full virus/malware scan, just to be sure.

[Phillip McCleod]

7. that could work assuming there's a restore point.

however it is my *strong* feeling that if a user does not know how to do something.. especially something as utterly vital as anti-malware maintenance.. they probably ought to go about learning if they want to continue using windows, and don't want to spend money getting their computer fixed.

it's not like working on a car. no skinned knuckles here.

[RichGirl]

10. Thank you for all that info...

I'll see if I can do any of that in the morning when my mind is more alert.

[Pharaoh]

13. yeah

Last edited Wed May 15, 2013, 12:25 AM - Edit history (1)

try the restore point first )

[Phillip McCleod]

14. it looks worse than it is..

once you've done it a couple times it will seem like no biggie.

you can leave out the penultimate step (msconfig) for now .. though it's something you'll want to check eventually. startup items get really built up with crap after a while and there's no program to clean it up. has to be done the old-fashioned way.

the big one is antivirus and antimalware (adware/spyware) which your antivirus won't catch. malwarebytes and spybot search & destroy are pretty much non-optional.

[We People]

15. Not necessarily related, but the is a problem out there with Adobe update

It may not help the OP but I thought I'd pass this along...
www.techyv.com/questions/fake-adobe-update-virus

[RichGirl]

16. NEW PROBLEMS THIS MORNING

When I pulled up a you tube video...message that it wouldn't run unless I download new adobe. When I tried to download it I got a message: Run or install flash.......11x32 ...aihdownloadadobe.om (something like that)

Then a message below that: THIS TYPE OF FILE COULD HARM YOUR COMPUTER.

So frustrating when I know as much about computers as I do about the innards of a car!!!

Any help or suggestion so appreciated...simple instructions would help.

[ohheckyeah]

17. Maybe it would be best to take this one step at a time.

Go to this link: http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button

Download and install Malwarebytes and run a scan. When you are installing be sure to uncheck the box that offers Malwarebytes Pro trial.

Let us know if the scan comes up with anything.