I'm having problems with my Dell notebook running Win XP Home (Original; came with the laptop). Not sure if it's a security problem; have run spybot S&D and turns up DSO exploit which keeps on coming back. I'm not sure if that's the reason for the problem.

Anyway, IE won't start properly, and I have problems with Windows Explorer after a minute or two of startup. My ICQ and MSN won't start properly either.

Mozilla works fine (duh).

I tried reinstalling WinXP (not a clean install) but to no avail. Any help appreciated.

First the DSO expoit in spybot is a bug in the program and notto worry as long as you have the latest windows updates all we be fine .Next please do the following .
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This problem could occur because of Spyware , go on over to the Security section of this fourm and post you problem along with a hijackthis log .
Spyware & Trojans and Other Nasties
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Please Don't post the hijackthis log in this section Thanks .
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Please do this.
Download 'Hijack This!'. HijackThis
Save it in a convenient permanent folder such as C:\HJT\, double click HijackThis.exe, and hit "Scan".

Your copy of HijackThis needs to be in a folder of it's own. When HJT fixes anything, it makes backups of the original files in the folder it is in. Since Temporary folders are emptied now and then (the files are DELETED), it would not be a good idea to have your backups there. Those backups would be VITAL to restoring your system if something went wrong in the FIX process!


1. Please go to you're 'My Documents' folder, right-click and select 'New > Folder' then name the folder 'HJT'.

2. Copy and paste HijackThis.exe to the new folder.

3. Close ALL windows except HJT

4. SCAN with HJT

5. POST the new log in this thread using 'Add Reply'

DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES OR CLICK "FIX CHECKED" UNTIL WE CHECK THE LOG, AS SOME OF THE FILES ARE LEGIT AND VITAL TO YOUR COMPUTER'S HEALTH

Thanks Caperjack:

Hi ,in my first post the directions were fo you to go to the spyware section to post the log ,as the fourm doesent want logs in this section thanks ,maybe a moderator will move it !
Also you should really take a trip to Windows Updates ,for the critial updades a SP's

Sorry about that: Posted over here.

got it Been there