IE stopped working/Firefox won't launch

[Onionsoilder]

Alright, well my mom's PC stopped working and I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with it. According to the Network Manager, she is connected to the internet(via our wireless network), and I can connect to it fine as well. However, she can't get any browsers to work. When I try to launch Firefox, nothing happens; checking in the Task Manager reveals that a firefox.exe task was started, but the browser never launches.

IE, which she also has on there, has a different problem. When I launch it, I recieve a pop-up saying that IE's session was closed unexpectedly, would you like to lauch windows from last session or go to the homepage. With either option, IE then crashes with the non-descriptive message "Internet explorer encountered a problem and needs to close" message.

I've poked around a few technical support sites, but haven't had any luck finding the problem. Anyone know what's up, and if this is one problem or multiple, smaller problems?

 

[Methos]

First off I'd run a scan for both viruses and adware/spyware.

 

[Onionsoilder]

Yeah, I thought of that, except I can't get any antivirus programs onto her computer because I both lack a USB drive and she can't connect to the internet to DL one...

Anyway, I now think it might be a registry problem, seeing as I just found out other programs aren't working either. She can't run Microsoft Word, but can run games like Solitaire.

Of course, it could be a virus that is messing with her registry... ugg.

 

[Turner]

If you have a cd burner you can transfer the programs that way. When I have a machine that won't connect, I prefer to do it this was as there's less chance of my usb drive being infected. I've only seen that happen the one time, and thankfully it wasn't to me, but if I can take that extra ounce of protection....well....cd-rs are cheap.

 

[Onionsoilder]

Just found out that Safari works(apparently it was downloaded along with an iTunes update). Duno what to make of that.

 

[warpus]

get chrome installed on her machine, and convert her to that

 

[Onionsoilder]

get chrome installed on her machine, and convert her to that

Except she still can't use Microsoft Word, or Open Office, or use her printer, so we still need to figure out what the problem is.