about blank

[johnny_5_bob]

Can someone recommend a free programme to remove about blank which has just hijacked my home page?

I have tried CWShredder to no avail.

Thanks in advance.

[snook]

Try HijackThis, you can get it here

Careful what you delete though, as the blurb on the download page warns, unless you really know what you're doing.

[Buenchico]

I can't think why any hijack program would want to set your home page to 'about blank'. It seems far more likely that your browser has simply managed to 'lose' your preferred setting. Have you tried simply resetting it? These instruction are for Internet Explorer but most browsers are similar:
Navigate to your preferred home page. Go to 'Tools' then 'Internet Options'. In the home page settings, click 'Use Current'. Then click 'Apply' followed by 'OK'.

Incidentally, for the vast majority of people, 'About Blank' should be the preferred home page. (I've got both Internet Explorer and Firefox set to start with a blank page). This saves waiting for a page to load which you may not require. (Only if you genuinely need to start with a particular page whenever you start your browser, should you really need to use anything other than a blank page for the home page).

Chris

[johnny_5_bob]

I am a bit wary of using HijackThis in case I delete the wrong thing.

My home page has been set to "about blank" not a blank page,Chris.

I have tried re-setting it using Internet Options,but to no avail.

Any other ideas much appreciated.

[Bob A Job]

about:blank, is one from the 'coolwebsearch' scumbags

manual removal can be tricky as there are many. many variants. try downloading the LATEST CWshredder, Version 2.1 should be able to trach it for you. (just remember to turn off system restore before you do it to stop it popping back)

[Buenchico]

Johnny: Even a blank page has to have its own 'web address' within Internet Explorer. That address is 'about blank'. (i.e. everyone who sets their home page to be blank see the words 'about blank' in the address bar).

If using 'Internet Options' doesn't fix the problem then it might be worth running System Restore and choosing a date before the problem exhibited itself.

The most obvious solution of all, of course, is simply to change to a far better browser. The vast majority (I'd estimate at least 80%) of the regular contributors to the Internet & Technology section of AB ditched Internet Explorer ages ago. Firefox is far superior:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

Chris

[Ralph]

Hi Johnny, I've had this before and it is a pain to get rid of. I did manage to get rid of it by using a shareware program called Adware Away. I can't get the official site to open at the moment, but you can get it from HERE.

It will only work for a week or so for free, but you will only need it for a few minutes. I had to run it twice in a row, but it worked. A work colleague of mine also used it for the same thing, but she couldn't get it to work at first. She emailed their support people who promptly emailed back the solution. She didn't have to pay anything either.

[johnny_5_bob]

Thanks for your help chaps.

I removed the problem quite easilly in the end by running ADWARE AWAY.

Hats off to you all!!