I have been having issues with firefox lately. I use firefox as my web browser and i have been getting pop-ups from internet explorer. It didnt use to do this. I went to just remove IE but was told that it was needed to update the computers OS. Any ideas here?

 

What kind of popups? Adverts? If so you are infected with an adware.

Even though you use FF, IE may be your default browser. Popups will usually use whatever is the default browser.

Suggest you download and use a spyware/adware remover.

 

I second the suggestion

 

I've had pretty good success with Microsoft Defender. A free download. The old standby Adaware is okay too I guess. Some work better than others depending on what bug it is.

DO NOT EVER download the one that the popup suggests.

 

yeah they are advertisements, i have pc cillin so ill try a scan in the morning. Is there anyway to set the OS updates to run the firefox so i can just get rid of IE?

 

IE is pretty embedded in windows

 

I never take IE off of machines, so I'm not certain of the result. However, that won't fix your infection. PCcillin is not working because you probably gave it permission to run whatever bug you've got. Or it was otherwise disabled without you knowing it. Plus, I don't know how effective that program is anyway.

But, you don't need IE to run updates. Just turn on automatic updates and let the machine do it. Turn it back off later if you don't trust it. I personally leave AU turned on, but I don't particularly like it. I think it's the lesser of two possible evils.

I will admit however, that I'm about 50% with cleaning adware infections off of PC's. If it gets to about an hour of time trying, I just scrub and reload the OS. If it's a virus or worm, I don't even try to clean, just wipe it out.

 

One of the best anti-malware products I've ever run across is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php) - the free version is considered a trial but, it's fully functional and doesn't expire... I've used it numerous times and have never been disappointed... Spyware Doctor is another good one (http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/)... Depending on how heavily infected the PC is, it's sometimes a good idea to run more than scanner as one will invariably pick up on something the other one missed... If you're really adventurous, you could also try running GMER (http://www.gmer.net/) this one excels at finding those little nasties that hide themselves from Windows and most other spyware scanners - it doesn't remove the nasties though, you have to do that yourself...

IE cannot be removed from Windows - Microsoft has made IE a "core component" and has so heavily embedded IE that any attempt to remove it will cripple or kill your Windows installation which will require reinstallation...

Hope this helps...

 

I had a similar problem last week on my lappy. Look at the bottom right corner of the ads for a little "signature" that has something to do with games. I can't remember it off the top of my head and I'm not on the lappy. If its that one, its straight up malware that got ya. Do a google search for removal ideas. I uninstalled it in add/remove programs but had to run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware(free version) to clean up the registry.

 

Lately, I have been having lag with my Firefox. I have 3.2.5 downloaded and been wondering if is bloated. But I have dialup and still have to consider that too.

I rarely use my IE 7 browser, though. The last two times I used it, my computer got a strange "bootup" lag/hang. My desktop image were very dark...it took several seconds before everything showed properly. My task manager took its' good time before all the programs finally registered.

I have Malwarebytes and AntiSuperspyware programs along with AVAST and ZoneAlarm. These are updated frequently and I ran them after each "hangup" happened but found nothing. Not even in the registry. Looked online to find anything that would cause this. Nothing. Anyway, after my scans, I logged off and rebooted...the same dang thing happened again. After each time, I had to go to a previous "restore" point to fix the problem.

After the last time....and all I did was download the Microsoft updates.... I stayed with my FireFox browser. I will live with its occasional "quirks" (depending on its' version), but it has never caused my computer to act That way.

 

I've noticed lag too with the latest FF. When I check the task manager, its using 100% of the processor That's with only 1 or 2 tabs open!

 

Update your Firefox - It's out-of-date. Up in the 'Help' menu, there's a link for 'Check for Updates' - you should be up to 3.5.3... They seem to have worked-out a lot of the issues people have been having in the latest builds...

 

I am on 3.5.3

 

Interesting... The I.T. guy and myself at work run FF and we've noticed that our Dell dual-core Intel boxes running Win XP don't seem to like it much - it gets that lag you're describing - yet, I don't get it as bad as he does. It seems to come and go in waves, if that makes any sense lol... My dual-core AMD gamer box here at home running the Win 7 beta has no problem with FF whatsoever...

 

yeah, mine is contant either. Comes and goes. Just frustrating when its around. Plus the fact I'm using a P4 2.4Ghz w/ 1GB of RAM probably doesn't help running Win7RC.