Internet Explorer browser is crashing PC by opening too many tabs... is this a virus?

Running Windows XP and when the PC starts up, within minutes the IE browser launches and opens so many blank tabs that the whole computer freezes up. Have been able to run the computer in Safe Mode. Anyone know what is causing this and how to stop it?

Asked by DoUWonder 48 months ago Similar questions: Internet Explorer browser crashing PC opening tabs virus Computers > Software.

Similar questions: Internet Explorer browser crashing PC opening tabs virus.

Sounds like some malware or virus I see this all the time at work (laptop repair). Most of the time it goes away after we clean the system of viruses and malware. You need to update your antivirus definitions and antispyware defintions and then scan the computer in safe mode.

If the system locks up before you can update anything you can try to boot into safe mode and run msconfig and put the computer in a selective startup mode. Try to eliminate all startup programs that you know you don't need or are blank lines or are just jibberish names that look like bogus programs. Then boot into normal windows mode and see if you can get online long enough to update your programs.

I strongly recommend using SpyBot 1.5 to immunize your registry and SUPERAntiSpyware to remove malware and trojans. If you can't update your software, you can at least download the programs or manual definition updates on a friend's computer, save it to a flash drive and try to install them on your computer. Even if all you can do is install the base program and run a scan before updating, it should still help.

Unfortunately, SUperAntispyware can't be installed in safe mode, but SpyBot can...so install it and scan and immunze your system first. SUPERAntispyware finds more trojans, tracking cookies, malicious programs than any other program I have ever used, and it's free (home edition), so install it and run it as soon as you can (unless you prefer a different scanning engine). Make sure you remove any browser toolbars in add/remove programs since they are common causes for this cascading IE window problem as well.

If you can't find the toolbar in add/remove programs you can deactivate them in Tools -> Internet Options -> Programs -> Manage Add-ons button. I have a feeling that once you can successfully run a complete virus and malware scan on your system without finding any errors, your problem should be gone. Sources: work experience at Oregon State University laptop support .

I don't know what is causing it, but here is how I would troubleshoot it In Safe mode: Check your startup programs for IE or anything suspicious Start > Run > msconfig > OK. Check each tab for anything suspicious. You can also try a system restore from here.

Launch a full virus scan with your anti-virus software. (definitions are up to date, aren't they? ) If you don't have one installed, or you suspect it might be letting something sneak by, AVG and Avast are good free alternatives.

Run spyware software like Adaware, Spybot and SuperAntiSpyware. You might want to run all three for maximum detection Run a scan for some particularly nasty trojans and virus using CWShredder Run a scan with It doesn't remove anything but gives an in-depth scan of your system. This Microsoft Knowledgebase article may be of further help..

My best guess is a virus... My best guess is that its a piece of malware or a virus. What leads me to believe this is that IE opens up without you clicking on it. My best suggestion to you is to download and install both spybot search and destroy and adware.

Both are free. download.com/Ad-Aware-2007-Free/3000-802... safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html You may have to download, install, and run them while you are in safe mode. Regards, .

Two products you might try... certainly won't make it worse. Sounds like a pretty good virus/malware problem. Recently I've had pretty good luck with a free program called SmitFraudFix, which is a trojan/malware remover that applies a number of registries fixes that would be a complete pain to complete manually.

The program would need to be downloaded (sounds like from a different computer) and then run on the infected machine from Safe Mode. I usually put it on the desktop where it's easy to find. The program can be downloaded from: siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php After running you might go to the Control Panel/Internet Options and also reset you browser to default as well as disable any ActiveX programs installed.

I've also found that Trojan Remover works on some problems that even Spybot Search and Destroy doesn't catch. While this is a paid product, it runs in full featured mode for 30 days after which you can buy or uninstall. This program is available from: simplysup.com/ Under the tools menu for Trojan Remover there are some advanced removal tools that default a number of registry entries as well -- trusted zones and the like.

Good luck -- hope that helps! .

Prank, not Virus is my guess. Not a virus, sounds more like a prank your friends are playing on you. May be there is an auto-start program installed that is doing this behavior.

Run a virus scan, if it finds nothing, check each auto-start program. May be disable all programs and try to isolate each one of them.

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