major problems :\
 

I dunno. Every 30 minutes, or so, without even touching my computer, explorer.exe seems to get an error. Most of the icon images don't show up. When I click start -> programs, nothing happens. If I try to click on mymusic or mydocuments, nothing loads up. Everything open works fine. To fix this problem I just go to task manager to end explorer.exe, then I click new task and start it up again. It seems to fix it for a while, but then it craps out again.

:clueless:

I also have a bunch of spyware or something on my computer that just won't get off. I've run Adware to get rid of the spyware, run registry repair, xp repair pro, and nothing works. I'm pretty sure it was something to do with IE, since the ads popping up says IE in the title, but I don't even have IE on. I tried to uninstall it, but some other program is using it, probably the spyware. When I open up IE there's this screen with a bunch of error messages on it.

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/4757/1wn5.th.png

The ads I am getting say something about my security settings are too high to allow activex to work properly and so the page doesn't show up correctly. Maybe that's why whenever I visit a Vbulletin forum (on FF) it's all screwed up. I try to lower my security settings on IE to see if it works, but that security page I get sends a message saying that I'm not allowed to change the settings, but I can bypass that if I choose custom settings, but I don't know which settings to choose.

I'm screwed. :uhoh:

Re: major problems :\
 

You need to reformat. You have too many problems to fix, and you'd never be able to fix them all.

EDIT- Also, don't install anything from the webpage you've posted an image of, it's completely bogus.

Re: major problems :\
 

Oh, great... DELL didn't sent me a reinstall disk with my new laptop like they did with my last one. And I don't think that other disk is going to work since the serial numbers are different. I guess I have to send my laptop in. :'(

Re: major problems :\
 

Have you tried CCleaner? www.ccleaner.com

Re: major problems :\
 

I tried that just now and I didn't seem to help IE at all. I havn't gotten any popups in a while, so I don't know if it got rid of them. I'll tell you as soon as/if I see one.

Re: major problems :\
 

It wouldn't surprise me if you had a hidden partition on your HD that has all of the OS reinstall data on it.

That's what HP did with both my desktop and laptop.

Re: major problems :\
 

Okay... yah, you have way too many problems. Spyware is sometimes uncleanable, especially when it gets into your system files and replaces them. Unless you know a significant ammount of Windows source code, you're screwed. The only thing anyone's most likely going to recommend is reformatting. But... there is one program you didn't list. AVG Free, it's a great virus/spyware removal program, it's free - and legit. No strings attached, just a great little program. It acts as an active remover as well, meaning it won't let it get installed in the first place.

Just google AVG Free Edition and you'll find it. Give it a try and run a scan. You might be suprised. xD

Also, if you call Dell I'm sure they have some recovery CDs you can order - and probably only pay $10, if that! I have a question: are you running Windows XP Home or Pro?

Re: major problems :\
 

I'm running home(o) edition.

How do you reformat if it's on a hidden partition?

Re: major problems :\
 

You usually need a disk that will activate it. With Sony you can usually access it by pressing a function key right after post. But Dell usually has their reinstallation data on a CD only. Just contact Dell about it, or if you have a manual, check there.

Also, I would just go buy a clean install of Windows XP Pro *cough* that way you can upgrade w/o the hassle - and the stupid Windows Explorer thing won't happen.

Re: major problems :\
 

Actually, I was wrong. I have media edition. Big woop, right? :p