Fix Annoying Popups in 5 Minutes or Less
by: John R. Ashburn
What are "Annoying Popups"? "Popup" is the most commonly used term to refer to unwanted popup windows or dialog boxes.
Annoying popups are windows or any type of dialog boxes that pop up when you don't want them to.
The two most common types are: popup advertising on webpages (not necessarily spyware) and popup advertising from programs installed on your computer (usually spyware)
Fixing popup advertising is usually a matter installing a free popup blocker or removing spyware.
Since most unwanted popup windows come from advertising, the quickest way to solve a severe problem of this nature is to run scans for spyware or adware on your computer.
FixTool recommends the following absolutely free (to run and fix) scans:
1) Microsoft Anti-Spyware (Requires a legitimate copy of Windows)
2) Lavasoft Ad-Aware
3) Panda ActiveScan
Both Microsoft Anti-Spyware and Lavasoft Ad-Aware are listed on the quick access menu at PcFixTool.com for your convenience.
A) Are you receiving the popup message(s) on bootup?
Popup messages on bootup, unless they blatantly seem like advertising, are usually caused by faulty software.
If the message is regarding a missing file, please see our missing file tutorial (on pcfixtool.com).
If the message is a general error, you just need to optimize what happens when your computer boots up. It's easier than you think, read the FixTool bootup guide for more information.
B) Are you receiving the popup messages(s) while browsing the internet?
A lot of legitimate websites use standard popup and popunder advertising because it's the highest paying form of per-impression advertising on the internet.
Luckily, there are several FREE solutions to your problem. The best way to cut down on popups is the use a popup blocker. A popup blocker is included in the latest version of Internet Explorer.
(The easiest way to Update Internet Explorer is through Windows Update.)
Alternatively, you may download a free toolbar from one of the following credible companies:
(recommended in order)
1) Google Toolbar
2) Alexa Toolbar
3) MSN Toolbar
C) Are you receiving the popup messages(s) while trying to run a program?
Popup messages of this type are almost certainly error messages. Your first course of action should be to contact the vendor responsible for the application. Be sure to include a detailed description of the error message. If this is not an acceptable option:
1) Do you have the original CD or setup file? Try Re-Installing the Application.
2) Try typing the message into google exactly as you see in on screen. This will likely give you more information about the specific problem you are experiencing.
About The Author
John Ashburn has been involved in computer technical support for over seven years. He has worked in many positions and is skilled at providing clear and easy to digest information to end users about everyday problems with a unique minimalistic writing style.
John occasionally writes for the popular computer repair portal pcfixtool.com.
Read more of his work at:
http://www.pcfixtool.com.
