Windows Vista Opening Browser Windows Randomly

FourFourRED

I was given a friends windows vista laptop to "clean up" over the weekend and I am running into difficulty with a particular annoyance. When you start up the laptop, at times it decides to start opening browser windows multiple times (as many as 72 one time). I don't know whats causing it.

Things I have tried:

Disabling most of the processes from startup
CC Cleaner
Anti-Malware Scan
Microsoft Security Eessentials scan
Advanced System Care scan
Uninstalled many programmes that weren't needed.


Problem still exists. Even when you exit all the browser windows. I moved the laptop, the screen refreshed and it started opening numerous times.

This happens with IE or Chrome as default browsers. No website opens up, just blank pages like the Google homepage.


1. Any further suggestions before I wipe the drive & reinstall Vista?

2. If I download a copy of Vista and install it fresh on the hard drive, should the license key underneath the laptop work?


Thanks

Ballyv24

Is there a button on the keyboard that opens a browser?

If so, the button might be stuck

uch

You'd get a better answer Here

What Malware scanner did you use ?
Did you update the scanner before scan ?
MSE isn't really up to scratch for Virus scanning, so Check the AV sticky in the Virus & Malware forum, and install, upgrade defs & scan with your chosen scanner.

FourFourRED

I'll check that. It doesn't make much sense though. It usually happens when the laptop isn't connected to a power source from my testing anyway.

I think the best stage would be to reinstall Vista but need it to be legitamite as obviously it's not mine.

FourFourRED

uch wrote: »

You'd get a better answer Here

What Malware scanner did you use ?
Did you update the scanner before scan ?
MSE isn't really up to scratch for Virus scanning, so Check the AV sticky in the Virus & Malware forum, and install, upgrade defs & scan with your chosen scanner.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Updated it before scanning & it did find something which it then quarantined but the issue still persists.

uch

Aodhagan wrote: »

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Updated it before scanning & it did find something which it then quarantined but the issue still persists.

Try something like Avira or the like, something with a Rootkit scanner, as I said MSE isn't a good option for AV

johndoe99

sounds a though you have a 'browser hijacker', Hitman Pro (free version), will remove it.

FourFourRED

Thanks I will try those suggestions.

PropJoe10

Create an AVG boot disk and run a virus scan from outside Windows. Boot into the CD/USB and it'll give you a GUI and an option to run a full scan. It often picks up infections that dont show up in Windows.

http://www.avg.com/ie-en/avg-rescue-cd