Windows 7: “No Internet Access” with Yellow Warning Icon

A number of users have reported an issue in which Windows 7 displays a message indicating that there is “no Internet Access,” accompanied by a yellow exclamation point warning sign, despite the fact that Internet access works properly in all applications.
Fixes
Disable link scanning in antivirus/malware software The number one cause of this issue is [...]

Windows Explorer Crashes: Fixes

Under various versions of Windows, Windows Explorer may repeatedly crash either when certain actions are taken (e.g. right-clicking an item), after several minutes of use, or immediately after the system starts up. In some cases, the following error messages are displayed:

“Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close”

The first thing you need to [...]

Windows 7 RC1 Breaks Some Antivirus Software

Windows 7 RC1 breaks compatibility with some antivirus/anti-malware programs that were compatible with previous pre-release builds of the operating system. Users are reporting problems with:

avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free
Symantec AV Corporate Edition

Some developers are already working on Windows 7 RC1-compatible updates to their antivirus programs. A post in the AVG forums, for instance, states “This [...]

Antivirus Software Conflicts Can Cause Internet Problems

As we have noted, the presence of two overlapping antivirus or antimalware/spyware/firewall tools can cause various conflicts. Users should install one (and only one) strong anti-virus package and make sure it’s up-to-date.
One problem that can result from the presence of conflicting protection tools is an inability to connect to the Internet. This issue is [...]

Protect Yourself Against Conficker in 3 Simple Steps

April 1st is here, and early indications are that the much-ballyhooed Conficker worm is more bark than bite. Aside from a modest increase in junk mail that may be completely unrelated, users have yet to report any rise in infection or other adverse effects. Regardless, there is a drop-dead simple process you can use to [...]

Sign That You Have Malware: Flashing Windows Keep Popping Up

Determining whether or not malware is to blame for any given troubleshooting issue can be tricky. Some malware-caused issues manifest as simple application instability, slowness or seemingly random freezes. However, there are a few instances in which malware is a more-than-likely culprit. In this series of articles (“Signs That You Have Malware”), we’ll explore some [...]