Member Avatar for kristay

I'm not sure this is even a security issue but..... when I click on a link that is coded to open a new IE window, the new window opens but always displays "Page cannot be displayed". Trying refresh or copying the address over doesn't work either.

I've tried
- clearing all my temp and cookies files and restoring all the defaults,
- uninstalling and reinstalling IE in Windows Components,
- running all the regsvr32 *.dll files,
- scanning with AdAware and Spybot S&D and fixing the problems,

but......still no joy.

I've got 2 PCs both running XP SP2 hooked up to a Linksys wireless router/gateway and this problem only happens on 1 of them. My Norton virus definitions are up-to-date and my system is scanned weekly. HJT follows:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 21:20:04, on 05/10/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

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\system32\spoolsv.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_03\bin\jusched.exe
C:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hphmon05.exe
C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\HPPAVI~1\Pavilion\XPHWWBP4\plugin\bin\PCHButton.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Software\Spyware\SpyBot S&D\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Software\Spyware\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://gb10.hpwis.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://gb10.hpwis.com/
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Software\Spyware\SPYBOT~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_03\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpsysdrv] c:\windows\system\hpsysdrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPHUPD05] c:\Program Files\HP\{45B6180B-DCAB-4093-8EE8-6164457517F0}\hphupd05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPHmon05] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hphmon05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KBD] C:\HP\KBD\KBD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Recguard] C:\WINDOWS\SMINST\RECGUARD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VTTimer] VTTimer.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PS2] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ps2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AlcxMonitor] ALCXMNTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AutoTBar] WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program Files\PC-Doctor for Windows\servicesAUTOTBAR.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Acme.PCHButton] C:\PROGRA~1\HPPAVI~1\Pavilion\XPHWWBP4\plugin\bin\PCHButton.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Spyware Begone] C:\Software\Spyware\freescan.exe -FastScan
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Software\Spyware\SpyBot S&D\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll (file missing)
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

Or should I just reinstall Windows?

Could anyone please help?

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  • 5 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by crunchie

Dani AI

Generated

The symptom you describe (new IE windows open but show "Page cannot be displayed", plus the "Exception: Automation server can't create object" error from Help) strongly points to a broken or unregistered COM/ActiveX/scripting component on that machine rather than a router or ISP problem. Because the other XP machine on the same Linksys network works, focus on local IE/COM, add-ons and per-user settings first. (learn.microsoft.com)

Quick, low-risk checks (do these first): start Internet Explorer with add-ons disabled to see whether a BHO/toolbar is blocking newly spawned windows (Start -> Run -> iexplore.exe -extoff). If that fixes it, re-enable add-ons one at a time to find the culprit. Test in a separate Windows user account to tell whether the issue is per-user or system-wide. Also check the .HTM/URL file-type DDE settings (Folder Options -> File Types -> URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol -> Advanced -> Edit -> uncheck "Use DDE") or remove the ddeexec key if that UI is missing — bad DDE/file-association entries commonly break links opened by other programs. (learn.microsoft.com)

If those tests fail, re-register the usual IE/script/HTML-Help components and repair system files. From an elevated Command Prompt run these commands one at a time, then reboot and retest:

regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 vbscript.dll
regsvr32 scrrun.dll
regsvr32 wshom.ocx
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx

sfc /scannow

(Do not paste blindly — run each command and note any errors. If sfc needs source files you may be prompted for the XP CD.) These registrations and an SFC pass are common, documented repairs for the scripting/COM/Help errors you see. (learn.microsoft.com)

Notes: try temporarily disabling Norton for a short test (re-enable it afterward) since AV/web-scanning LSPs can interfere with IE. If re-registering and SFC still fail, use System Restore (to a point before the problem) or a repair install — a reinstall will fix deep COM/registry corruption but is a last resort. The lightweight checks above (no-addons, new user, DDE, component re-register) often save a lot of time and were recommended earlier by other posters; start there before a reinstall.

Recommended Answers

All 8 Replies

Member Avatar for DaveSW

log looks clean as far as I can see. a few minor things but nothing that should affect your problem.

Member Avatar for kristay

Thanks for the advice, guys.

I've downloaded and run the SP2 patch but it didn't fix the problem. However....

I've just noticed that when I try to search a Help topic in the Windows Help function itself, an IE error message pops up saying "Exception: Automation server can't create object" which seems to hint to me that the problem occurs when another program calls a new IE window, even if the calling program is IE itself. Does that make sense to anyone? Does anyone have any ideas? I'm tearing my hair out here and I really can't bear the thought of wiping and re-installing Windows.

Cheers,
Kris

Member Avatar for kristay

PS No the problem didn't start after I installed SP2. Started waaayyy before....

Member Avatar for kristay

Does this help?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q323885
Or maybe this?
http://support.adobe.com/devsup/devsup.nsf/docs/51401.htm
It could have something to do with your ActiveX settings, check this thread for more info:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread11734-activex.html

Thanks for the suggestions, dlh6213. It didn't fix the problem but in any case I've fixed it now by wiping and reinstalling..... at least I didn't seem to have lost anything. :rolleyes:

Thanks again,
Kris

Member Avatar for jc9

i cant open a particular web - i have got norton antivirus 2010 but im not sure if that is the problem

Member Avatar for crunchie

i cant open a particular web - i have got norton antivirus 2010 but im not sure if that is the problem

Hi and welcome to the Daniweb forums :).

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