Help! I Can't Download Anything!

I hope someone can help me- I haven't been able to download anything for a couple days now! I am unable to open any email attachments or download anything in IE. It will ask me to open or save, but nothing ever opens. I was reading somewhere that it could be a problem with AVG and I've uninstalled that, but I'm still having a problem.

I'm running Vista and using IE8. I recently installed updates on 06/21/09, so I'm not sure if this could be a problem.

Thanks!

Hello brianasmom, and to BleepingComputer!

First of all, lets see if we can find the cause of this download-problem. Try downloading the following program from another computer and transfer it using an usb-stick/cd. If you have problems doing so, post back and I can give you more instructions.

MALWAREBYTES ANTIMALWARE
-------------------------------------------
Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.
alternate download link 1
alternate download link 2

MBAM may "make changes to your registry" as part of its disinfection routine. If using other security programs that detect registry changes (ie Spybot's Teatimer), they may interfere or alert you. Temporarily disable such programs or permit them to allow the changes.

• Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
• Double-click on mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
• When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
• When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.

MBAM will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan.

• If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself. Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
• If you encounter any problems while downloading the definition updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.

On the Scanner tab:

• Make sure the "Perform Full Scan" option is selected.
• Then click on the Scan button.
• If asked to select the drives to scan, leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
• The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
• When the scan is finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
• Click OK to close the message box and continue with the removal process.

Back at the main Scanner screen:

• Click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
• Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad.
• The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
• Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply. Be sure to post the complete log to include the top portion which shows MBAM's database version and your operating system.
• Exit MBAM when done.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be asked to reboot your computer so MBAM can proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot normally (not into safe mode) will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

If after installation, MBAM will not run, open the Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware folder in Program Files.

• Right-click on mbam.exe, rename it to myscan.exe.
• Double-click on myscan.exe to launch the program.
• If that did not work, then try renaming and change the .exe extension in the same way as noted above.
• Double-click on myscan.scr (or whatever extension you renamed it) to launch the program.

If using Windows Vista, refer to How to Change a File Extension in Windows Vista.

Please note the following. If your download problem still persists, try downloading from another computer.

AVG should not cause problems with Vista/IE8, and its very important you use an antivirus program. Download and install an antivirus program, and make sure that you keep it updated
New viruses come out every minute, so it is essential that you have the latest signatures for your antivirus program to provide you with the best possible protection from malicious software.
Two good antivirus programs free for non-commercial home use are Avast! and Antivir
Note: You should only have one antivirus installed at a time. Having more than one antivirus program installed at once is likely to cause conflicts and may well decrease your overall protection as well as impairing the performance of your PC.

Thanks for offering to help! Here is the log-

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.38
Database version: 2350
Windows 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1

6/29/2009 2:37:54 PM
mbam-log-2009-06-29 (14-37-54).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|D:\|E:\|F:\|G:\|H:\|I:\|J:\|)
Objects scanned: 263262
Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 5 minute(s), 20 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
c:\program files\mozilla firefox\components\wbff.dll (Adware.WinButler) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Hi brianasmom, no serious detections there! I see you are using Firefox webbrowser as well. Are you able to download things using Firefox?

Lets do another scan to see if there is malware involved or not.

DR. WEB CUREIT
----------------------
Please download Dr.Web CureIt and save it to your desktop. DO NOT perform a scan yet.
alternate download link
Note: The file will be randomly named (i.e. 5mkuvc4z.exe).

Reboot your computer in "Safe Mode" using the F8 method. To do this, restart your computer and after hearing your computer beep once during startup (but before the Windows icon appears) press the F8 key repeatedly. A menu will appear with several options. Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the option to run Windows in Safe Mode.

Scan with Dr.Web CureIt as follows:

• Double-click on the randomly named file to open the program and click Start. (There is no need to update if you just downloaded the most current version
• Read the Virus check by DrWeb scanner prompt and click Ok where asked to Start scan now? Allow the setup.exe to load if asked by any of your security programs.
• The Express scan will automatically begin.
  (This is a short scan of files currently running in memory, boot sectors, and targeted folders).
• If prompted to dowload the Full version Free Trial, ignore and click the X to close the window.
• If an infected object is found, you will be prompted to move anything that cannot be cured. Click Yes to All. (This will move any detected files to the C:\Documents and Settings\userprofile\DoctorWeb\Quarantine folder if they can't be cured)
• After the Express Scan is finished, put a check next to Complete scan to scan all local disks and removable media.
• In the top menu, click Settings > Change settings, and uncheck "Heuristic analysis" under the "Scanning" tab, then click Apply, Ok.
• Back at the main window, click the green arrow "Start Scanning" button on the right under the Dr.Web logo.
• Please be patient as this scan could take a long time to complete.
• When the scan has finished, a message will be displayed at the bottom indicating if any viruses were found.
• Click Select All, then choose Cure > Move incurable.
• In the top menu, click file and choose save report list.
• Save the DrWeb.csv report to your desktop.
• Exit Dr.Web Cureit when done.
• Important! Reboot your computer because it could be possible that files in use will be moved/deleted during reboot.
• After reboot, post the contents of the log from Dr.Web in your next reply. (You can use Notepad to open the DrWeb.cvs report)