Internet Explorer fails with the error message "The page cannot be displayed." The problem occurs on Windows 2000 running Internet Explorer 6.0.

The problem occurs intermittently but with sufficient frequency to make IE unusable.
When the problem occurs, Internet Explorer first displays the requested URL, but a short time thereafter, on the order of 1/4 to 1 second, replaces the URL with 'http:///' causing the error.
When the problem does not occur, I occasionally, but not always, observe the presence of a background IE window containing advertisements and a title bar requesting me to visit sponsors.

The problem is independent of DNS and network errors. Network packet traces show only TCP and UDP packets associated with the requested URL. One can reproduce the problem by loading a simple 'Hello World' HTML page from the local disk with a URL of the form 'file:///C:/test.htm.' In this case, the local HTML page is displayed correctly, but then overwritten about a half second later and no network traffic is generated. Other web browsers, such as FireFox, do not manifest the problem.

I have run multiple virus scanners, including Ad Aware, AntiVir, and Spybot without success.
I have installed all current service packs with no long term success.
Reinstalling IE 6.0 makes the problem go away for awhile, yet the error always manifests itself again.
My local HOSTS file contains only one entry that maps 'localhost' to 127.0.0.1.

I run the Google toolbar and popup blocker. When the Google popup blocker is disabled, the problem still occurs, but less frequently.


The HijackThis log shows:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 5:23:31 PM, on 1/4/2005
Platform: Windows 2000 SP4 (WinNT 5.00.2195)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINNT\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\services.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\AVPersonal\AVGUARD.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVPersonal\AVWUPSRV.EXE
C:\WINNT\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\regsvc.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\MSTask.exe
C:\WINNT\System32\WBEM\WinMgmt.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINNT\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ACDSYS~1\DEVDET~1\DEVDET~1.EXE
C:\Program Files\AVPersonal\AVGNT.EXE
C:\WINNT\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\notepad.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\fdeploy.exe
C:\WINNT\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE
C:\WINNT\system32\winpack.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Downloads\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINNT\system32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Synchronization Manager] mobsync.exe /logon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINNT\System32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Camera Detector] C:\PROGRA~1\ACDSYS~1\DEVDET~1\DEVDET~1.EXE -autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVGCtrl] C:\Program Files\AVPersonal\AVGNT.EXE /min
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [fdeploy] C:\WINNT\system32\fdeploy.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [winpack] C:\WINNT\system32\winpack.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
O16 - DPF: {62475759-9E84-458E-A1AB-5D2C442ADFDE} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/...eInstaller.exe
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{954F771D-85DA-4E9F-8808-322BE1B483C2}: NameServer = 192.168.0.254
O23 - Service: AntiVir Service - H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH - C:\Program Files\AVPersonal\AVGUARD.EXE
O23 - Service: AntiVir Update - H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH, Germany - C:\Program Files\AVPersonal\AVWUPSRV.EXE
O23 - Service: Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service - VERITAS Software Corp. - C:\WINNT\System32\dmadmin.exe


Anyone got any suggestions on how to fix this?

Do you play Close Combat?

Open Windows Explorer, click on Tools, Folder Options, View, and select "Show hidden files and folders," and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files".

For every user account listed under C:\Documents and Settings, delete the entire contents of these folders:
Cookies
History
Local Settings\Temp
Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5

Delete the entire content of
C:\Windows\Temp folder
C:\Temp folder

Do a search for *.tmp and delete everything found

Empty your Recycle Bin

Then, go to http://members.aol.com/toadbee/hoster.zip to download Hoster

Run it and press "Restore Original Hosts," press "OK," and Exit Program.

Close all browser windows, scan with HJT, and have it fix the following entries:

O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINNT\web\related.htm
O16 - DPF: {62475759-9E84-458E-A1AB-5D2C442ADFDE} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52...meInstaller.exe

If IANA (IP 192.168.0.254) is not your ISP, have HJT fix this entry too:
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{954F771D-85DA-4E9F-8808-322BE1B483C2}: NameServer = 192.168.0.254

Close all browser windows, scan with HJT, and post a new log please.

Looks like there are two threads going on this one (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread16521.html) and it looks like it's been resolved so I'm going to close this one.