Irritating PopUps at StartUp

Walter Hamlin · Post by **Walter Hamlin** » 15 Feb 2005 3:17 pm

After my programs have been loaded three popups come up. One is in regards to "InCD"and says the serial number is invalid and I should call a toll free number.
Another is "RUNDLL" C/program files regarding Wild Tangent could not be found.
and the other one is the Dial Up connection window.
Now, this just started happening within the last two months and I have done everything that I know to keep them from popping up.
I know I have messed with the computer to cause this but I need to know how to mess with it to get rid of it.
I have an XP system.
Thanks
Walter[This message was edited by Walter Hamlin on 15 February 2005 at 03:18 PM.]

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 15 Feb 2005 3:50 pm

Your computer is most likely suffering from installation of spyware. This is bad. It is also treatable, but it will take work.

1) Download, install, and run SpyBot from http://www.safer-networking.org/ . It will find the spyware which is causing the popups, unless they are viruses. Please note that Microsoft's new spyware removal agent has already been cracked and can be disabled by spyware. Spy-Bot is still the leader in anti-spyware software.

2) Purchase, install, update, and run an antivirus program. It doesn't matter which one, they're all pretty good. Norton or McAfee are probably the most commonly used. You should have this regardless if you are running any Windows OS computer that's connected to the internet, even by dial-up

3) Go to Start -> Windows Updates and ensure you have all critical updates. If you don't have it, get it. This includes Windows XP Service Pack 2. If you are on dial-up, you can request a CD-ROM from Microsoft with the XP SP2 upgrade free of charge. Shipping time to me took less than a week.

4) Activate the Windows Firewall. This should have been activated to begin with. If it is disabled, re-enable it, unless you have another firewall program (e.g. ZoneAlarm).

5) Stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer. Much better alternatives exist, like the Mozilla Firefox Web Browser. Firefox is free to use, free to download, and free to distribute, no strings attached. Internet Explorer is an insecure browser because it is tied directly to the Windows OS, and thus can execute malicious code to unwary internet surfers. Using Firefox and web-browsers other than IE is a critical step in reducing security risks to your computer, particularly when it comes to preventing spyware installation.

Good luck.

Walter Hamlin · Post by **Walter Hamlin** » 15 Feb 2005 4:55 pm

Chris: Thanks for the information. I already have the Spybot and Adware.
I added Firefox, Can't figure out how to go to my email page.[This message was edited by Walter Hamlin on 15 February 2005 at 05:03 PM.]

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 15 Feb 2005 6:11 pm

If Spybot and Ad-aware (I presume you meant Ad-aware) haven't knocked it out it could be a virus. You'll need to get an antivirus program for sure. Also make sure you get those updates. A Windows XP computer connected to the 'net without any protection and any updates has enough security holes in it that it can take fewer than 11 minutes (from what I last checked, and it gets shorter every month) to be infected by malicious software, and you don't even have to open any programs or anything. The "Critical Updates" really are appropriately named.

For your email page, what is the web address of this page? Firefox should have no problems working with it.[This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 15 February 2005 at 06:12 PM.]

Walter Hamlin · Post by **Walter Hamlin** » 15 Feb 2005 6:27 pm

Chris:
Thanks again. SpyBot showed WildTangent as a problem and took it out. AdWare had several problems and took them out. I do have a antivirus program in the computer that shows it works.
I am using Outlook Express 6 as an email source.
Walter

Colin Goss · Post by **Colin Goss** » 16 Feb 2005 12:50 am

Scrap Outlook express and go to Thunderbird, Firefox's email program. Far less vulnerable.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 16 Feb 2005 9:48 am

Walter, you might try doing this: click on the 'start' button, then click on the 'Run' button. In the dialogue box that opens type "msconfig" and then click on 'ok'. The 'System Configuration' Window will open and you will see a number of tabs. Click on the 'StartUp' tab and you will see a list of all the various programs and applets that WinXP is loading automatically each time you power up your PC. In can be a bit tricky to figure out just what each entry is associated with but some...such as InCD are obvious. You'll probably have one for Wild Tangent too...whatever that software is....and if you remove the checkmark beside the offending item it will no longer load when you power up. There are usually all sorts of needless processes running which bog down your system by robbing it of memory and cpu resources. I disable them. It doesn't mean that you're disabling the software associated with them, you can still start it manually.
One bit of caution though, be careful not to disable things like your anti-virus software or third party firewalls. Those DO need to load at startup in order to protect you.
One final note....InCD is a utility from 'Ahead' software that's bundled with the Nero CD writing software. It's used for formatting CD-RWs to be used as you would use a floppy disk...ie. dragging and dropping files from your harddrive to the CD-RW. It may need to be updated. If you visit the 'Ahead' website you can probably get a free upgrade to make it functional again. [This message was edited by Bill Miller on 16 February 2005 at 09:49 AM.]

Walter Hamlin · Post by **Walter Hamlin** » 16 Feb 2005 1:49 pm

Thanks Bill:
Let me tell you what I did to eliminate the Wild Tangent popup at startup.
I have been reading on various forums about other people having trouble with the very same thing-not being able to find out what, where or how to get rid of Wild Tangent. There were all kinds of remedies mentioned and I tried some of them.
Finally, I went to the Wild Tangent website, where the program was explained in detail. They also had a site there to remove WT from your computer programs. I did what it said and it is gone. WT is used to make games easier to be played on the computer and apparently a lot of companies use it. WT is a large company specializing in this type software.
The other one I just did through a process of elimination.
Thanks to all of you who had input.
God Bless,
Walter

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 17 Feb 2005 5:39 pm

NP Walter. Please let us know if you have any more problems.

Chris

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 17 Feb 2005 6:51 pm

Walter - XP has a feature that worked great for me last night at my office. My homepage was hijacked seemingly after going to WebMD. I usually run 3 different spy programs every week - also all the other protection updates, etc.
After this happened, I reset my browser home-page default - still nothing! I stumbled upon a command under Program ACCESSORIES/System/ tools called reset system, or something somewhat like that - maybe something else similar. It is the last option, however on Tools under Accessories.
I reset my system setting to Monday's date, which complete took care of the issue. The process is reversable, and does NOTHING to any files or folders - JUST SETTINGS.
Sorry I can't remember what it's called, since I'm at home on 2000.

Walter Hamlin · Post by **Walter Hamlin** » 19 Feb 2005 7:31 am

Donna,
Thanks for the info. I think you are talking about "system restore". I tried it several times but nothing changed. I got rid of the "Wild Tangent" by going to their website and downloading their program to delete "Wild Tangent" from all programs that it was attached to and IT WORKED.
I doubt I will download anymore game programs. My wife loves "Zuma" and I cleared it and all others from the computer and bought her a disk with it on it. This game helps her relax from being with kids all day as a school nurse. It would take more than a game for me though.
Thanks again Donna.
Walter

David Cobb · Post by **David Cobb** » 19 Feb 2005 9:21 pm

Another thing that's helpful is to click "Tools" found at the top of your upper tool bar, then "Internet Options", then the "General" tab, and then the "Delete Files" box, then click OK.
I've cleaned out a bunch of nasties that way. Probably wouldn't hurt to delete "Cookies" while you're at the same location.

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 20 Feb 2005 5:55 pm

I say again...
Forget all the spyware finding software.

Just buy a copy of Drive Image. Reinstall Windows and make a backup of the fresh installation. Then when you start getting "buggy" again, just reinstall from your backup and you'll be good as new. The backup will reinstall Windows, any settings you have changed, any programs you have installed and any new files you had created at the time the backup was made.

------------------
Gary Shepherd

Sierra Session D-10

www.16tracks.com