Lockups after attempting to open Firefox

Hello, Vista Forums. I am currently in the most need I have ever bee
in, and I hope you can help me as soon as possible.

A few days ago, as I was surfing the web with Mozilla Firefox, m
computer suddenly decided to freeze. However, after about 30 seconds o
so, it decided to work again, and I thought everything was fine. Ho
wrong I was. A few moments later, the same thing happened, and I figure
something must be going wrong. So I decided to restart my computer, bu
that didn't help, so I decided to uninstall and reinstall Firefox
Seemingly, that only made things worse. Now, instead of freezing fo
only 30 seconds, the entire computer locks up, and anything I clic
stops responding and freezes as well. After I've had my fair share o
clicking and freezing, my cursor also decides to freeze. I am left wit
only the option to hard reboot.

After this, I tried booting Vista in safe mode, only to find tha
Firefox now doesn't open at all. I figured it was better than having m
computer freeze. Anyways, booting Vista normally once again, Firefo
decided to not open. I opened task manager to find that the proces
starts when I attempt to open Firefox, but then after 1 second or so, i
disappears. Hoping uninstalling would help, I go to the control panel t
uninstall it only to see that the uninstall option, like the Firefo
process, doesn't execute. So, I decided to delete Mozilla Firefox all i
all from my system processes and reinstalling, which then turns into th
same problem with the lockups.

When I am still able to move my cursor around and not everything say
"Not Responding", I try to open task manager by ctrl+alt+del, but ge
the error window that says "Logon process has failed to create th
security options dialog" on the header and "Failure - security options
on the main window, with only an "OK" option button, which brings m
back to my frozen state.

For now, I am using Safari. Firefox is still installed, but it seems t
have no problems if I don't try to open it. However, there is also a
ongoing problem with my Norton 360, where there is a red x saying my P
is not protected from viruses, spyware, and other risks. I know how t
fix the problem, as I sought help from their website, and it fixes th
problem temporarily, before it arises again after a few minutes.
don't want to surf the internet too often because of this.

I am using a Gateway P-Series Laptop (I'm not sure about the exac
model number) with Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit with an inte
Centrino Duo processor 2GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB HD. I have had this lapto
since about February or March of 2008

--
darkangelofhell666

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039

First thing to do is uninstall Norton. Above is link to Removal tool to do
that.
It would appear to be causing problems.

Then download and install Avast AV, and the other anti-spyware/malware
programs.
Once they are installed, scan your computer with them to see if there are
any security problems.


Avast Anti-Virus is XP and Vista compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions),
FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.
And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at any
one time..
Conflicts may occur if you have more than 1(one).

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.


--
Mad Mike


"darkangelofhell666" wrote:

>
> Hello, Vista Forums. I am currently in the most need I have ever been
> in, and I hope you can help me as soon as possible.
>
> A few days ago, as I was surfing the web with Mozilla Firefox, my
> computer suddenly decided to freeze. However, after about 30 seconds or
> so, it decided to work again, and I thought everything was fine. How
> wrong I was. A few moments later, the same thing happened, and I figured
> something must be going wrong. So I decided to restart my computer, but
> that didn't help, so I decided to uninstall and reinstall Firefox.
> Seemingly, that only made things worse. Now, instead of freezing for
> only 30 seconds, the entire computer locks up, and anything I click
> stops responding and freezes as well. After I've had my fair share of
> clicking and freezing, my cursor also decides to freeze. I am left with
> only the option to hard reboot.
>
> After this, I tried booting Vista in safe mode, only to find that
> Firefox now doesn't open at all. I figured it was better than having my
> computer freeze. Anyways, booting Vista normally once again, Firefox
> decided to not open. I opened task manager to find that the process
> starts when I attempt to open Firefox, but then after 1 second or so, it
> disappears. Hoping uninstalling would help, I go to the control panel to
> uninstall it only to see that the uninstall option, like the Firefox
> process, doesn't execute. So, I decided to delete Mozilla Firefox all in
> all from my system processes and reinstalling, which then turns into the
> same problem with the lockups.
>
> When I am still able to move my cursor around and not everything says
> "Not Responding", I try to open task manager by ctrl+alt+del, but get
> the error window that says "Logon process has failed to create the
> security options dialog" on the header and "Failure - security options"
> on the main window, with only an "OK" option button, which brings me
> back to my frozen state.
>
> For now, I am using Safari. Firefox is still installed, but it seems to
> have no problems if I don't try to open it. However, there is also an
> ongoing problem with my Norton 360, where there is a red x saying my PC
> is not protected from viruses, spyware, and other risks. I know how to
> fix the problem, as I sought help from their website, and it fixes the
> problem temporarily, before it arises again after a few minutes. I
> don't want to surf the internet too often because of this.
>
> I am using a Gateway P-Series Laptop (I'm not sure about the exact
> model number) with Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit with an intel
> Centrino Duo processor 2GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB HD. I have had this laptop
> since about February or March of 2008.
>
>
> --
> darkangelofhell666
>

On Sun, 4 Jan 2009 00:00:31 -0600, darkangelofhell666 wrote:

> Hello, Vista Forums. I am currently in the most need I have ever been
> in, and I hope you can help me as soon as possible.
>
> A few days ago, as I was surfing the web with Mozilla Firefox, my
> computer suddenly decided to freeze. However, after about 30 seconds or
> so, it decided to work again, and I thought everything was fine. How
> wrong I was. A few moments later, the same thing happened, and I figured
> something must be going wrong. So I decided to restart my computer, but
> that didn't help, so I decided to uninstall and reinstall Firefox.
> Seemingly, that only made things worse. Now, instead of freezing for
> only 30 seconds, the entire computer locks up, and anything I click
> stops responding and freezes as well. After I've had my fair share of
> clicking and freezing, my cursor also decides to freeze. I am left with
> only the option to hard reboot.
>
> After this, I tried booting Vista in safe mode, only to find that
> Firefox now doesn't open at all. I figured it was better than having my
> computer freeze. Anyways, booting Vista normally once again, Firefox
> decided to not open. I opened task manager to find that the process
> starts when I attempt to open Firefox, but then after 1 second or so, it
> disappears. Hoping uninstalling would help, I go to the control panel to
> uninstall it only to see that the uninstall option, like the Firefox
> process, doesn't execute. So, I decided to delete Mozilla Firefox all in
> all from my system processes and reinstalling, which then turns into the
> same problem with the lockups.
>
> When I am still able to move my cursor around and not everything says
> "Not Responding", I try to open task manager by ctrl+alt+del, but get
> the error window that says "Logon process has failed to create the
> security options dialog" on the header and "Failure - security options"
> on the main window, with only an "OK" option button, which brings me
> back to my frozen state.
>
> For now, I am using Safari. Firefox is still installed, but it seems to
> have no problems if I don't try to open it. However, there is also an
> ongoing problem with my Norton 360, where there is a red x saying my PC
> is not protected from viruses, spyware, and other risks. I know how to
> fix the problem, as I sought help from their website, and it fixes the
> problem temporarily, before it arises again after a few minutes. I
> don't want to surf the internet too often because of this.
>
> I am using a Gateway P-Series Laptop (I'm not sure about the exact
> model number) with Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit with an intel
> Centrino Duo processor 2GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB HD. I have had this laptop
> since about February or March of 2008.

1.Clean HDD
Delete files using Disk Cleanup (if on Vista)
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...139d91033.mspx

2.Download/execute:
Malwarebytes© Corporation - Anti-Malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe
--and--
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/down...NTISPYWAREFREE
--and/optional--
Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool
http://devbuilds.kaspersky-labs.com/devbuilds/AVPTool/
http://www.kaspersky.com/support/vir...vptool?level=2
--and/optional--
Dr.Web CureIt!® Utility - FREE
http://www.freedrweb.com/cureit/
--and/optional--
a-squared Free or a-squared Command Line Scanner
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/
--and/optional--
BitDefender10 Free Edition (*NOT FOR VISTA*)
http://www.bitdefender.com/site/Down...nVersion/1/42/

NOTE:
Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool, Dr.Web CureIt!®' the free version of
Malwarebytes© and SuperAntispyware are not capable for real-time protection
of your computer.
Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool, Dr.Web CureIt!® have no update feature (so
they don't turn into full blown scanners). As soon as your computer is
cleaned you are supposed to remove these tools from your operating system
and revert back to your (updated) resident (real-time) AV application.
Re: Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool; To uninstall/move this program 'enable
self-defense' must be unchecked!

The free version of Malwarebytes© and SuperAntispyware have an update
feature, keep them installed in addtion to your resident AV/A-S
applications and scan frequently.

BTW: "Malwarebytes actually performs better in Normal Mode" says Dustin
Cook, co-author of MBAM.

To scan your computer with the most up-to-date Kaspersky® AVPTool and
Dr.Web CureIT!® virus databases next time you should download new
Kaspersky® AVPTool and Dr.Web CureIt!® packages.


3.Download and execute HiJack This! (HJT)
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en...ols/hijackthis

Please, do not post HJT logs to this newsgroup.
Fora where you can get expert advice for HiJack This! (HJT) logs.

http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showforum=27
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/i...hp?showforum=7
http://www.5starsupport.com/ipboard/...p?showforum=18
http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/in...6&showforum=29

NOTE:
Registration is required in any of the above mentioned fora before posting
a HJT log and read the 'stickies' (instructions/guidelines) for the
respective HJT forum.

4.Routinely practice Safe-Hex.
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

Good luck

I followed the steps but I'm still getting lockups when trying to ope
Firefox. =/ I managed to fix my Norton problem but that's it

--
darkangelofhell666