Thursday, October 29, 2009

Troubleshooting Internet explore

Internet Explorer 5 & 6 Troubleshooting


  1. How do I stop the Kernell32.dll errors from happening?
  2. EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in MSHTML.DLL
  3. Porn Sites are Attaching to my Favorites
  4. Error 35: Incompatible Version of the RPC Stub
  5. Unable to view web site HTML source code.
  6. A pop-up window was blocked error
  7. How can I have a window open maximized?
  8. Appname: iexplore.exe Appver: 6.02800.1106
  9. Homepage and Favorites Hijacked
  10. Clicking a link opens a blank window
  11. When accessing websites, I show a red X instead of a picture
  12. When trying to access certain sites, I get a "page cannot be displayed" message.
  13. How can I permanently delete the Links folder in my Favorites menu?
  14. I can't get rid of "about:blank" messages!
  15. Unable to access secure sites after SP2 download.
  16. How do I clear Auto-complete entries?
  17. Cannot click links on web pages
  18. Runtime Error Message: C:\Program files\Internet Explorer\EXPLORE.EXE
  19. Lost Internet Explorer uploading bar?
  20. Remove a specific URL from address bar
  21. Red X appears when trying to organize favorites

  22. My Address Bar Has Disappeared

  23. Unable to reset my home page

  24. Drop down menus not appearing

  25. How can I stop employees from accessing the Internet?

  26. IE opens and then closes.

  27. Advanced options missing

Use the information below at your own risk. See "Terms of use"

How do I stop the Kernells32.dll errors from happening?

The following has solved many people's Windows Explorer KERNEL32.DLL crashes. It is given solely as information.

In the root directory of C:\, modify or create a CONFIG.SYS file to include the following lines:

FILES=65
BUFFERS=40
STACKS=64,512

If the error persists, try adding this line to your SYSTEM.INI file in the [386Enh] section:

; Increases default stack pages from 2 to 6
MinSPs=6

(The default is 2. If required, increase by increments of 2 until you find a value that solves the problem. The ; [semicolon] works the same as REM works in AutoExec.Bat.)

Click Edit, Save, Edit, exit. Shut down and restart for the changes to take effect.

Additionally, repeat KERNEL32.DLL errors can often be resolved by deleting your Windows swap file, WIN386.SWP, and letting it rebuild itself.

[Top]

EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in MSHTML.DLL

There are quite a few possible remedies for this problem:
  1. Uninstall Yahoo Companion. This seems to be the biggest culprit for this error lately.
  2. Go to IE, Help, About. Check what patches and updates have been applied then check to make sure that the version of mshtml.dll on your computer is correct. For example, the June 2003 cumulative patch (Q818529 - MS02-020) included mshtml.dll version 6.0.2800.1170, 6.0.2726.2500, 5.50.4926.2500 or 5.0.3516.2800 depending on your operating system and version of IE as per its knowledge base article:
    http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;EN-US;q818529

If incorrect, uninstall and reinstall the patch.

  1. In IE, go to Tools, select Internet Options, click delete cookies, click delete files and accept the option to delete all offline content and clear history, reboot the system.
  2. Error Message: Internet Explorer Has Encountered a Problem and Needs to Close (Mshtml.dll)
  3. Internet Explorer or Outlook Express Quits Unexpectedly with an Error in Mshtml.dll
  4. An Error Occurs in Mshtml.dll in Internet Explorer 6 on Windows Me

[Top]

Porn Sites are Attaching to my Favorites

Problem:

A few obscene sites have attached to my favorites . I cannot removed them, can you help please.

Possible Solution:

There are a couple of options that may work well to fix this problem:

  1. Try cleaning out the adware and spyware files using:
  1. Try using this handy little utility:

A manual registry fix: (backup the registry first)

Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe)
Go to the following location and check each GUID sub-key. One of which is
the malware toolbar entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions

Also, check here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions
(check the values in the right-pane to identify the malware toolbar.)

Spot the entry and delete the appropriate key

[Top]

Error 35: Incompatible Version of the RPC Stub

This error occurs when trying to use the "Find" function with Internet Explorer. It is caused by a fault in v3.50.5041.0 OLEAUT32.DLL. Replace it with an earlier version to fix the problem. Since it is a system file, you will have to replace it using DOS. Copy the older version to C:\. Then go to the start button and restart your computer in MS-DOS Mode. If you have WindowsME, see below on how to do this.

Once in DOS Mode, type the following (no quotes): "copy C:\OLEAUT32.DLL C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\OLEAUT32.DLL". When asked if you want to overwrite, type "Y". It will then say "1 file copied". Then restart your computer (alt+ctrl+del or you can just load windows by typing "win" at the DOS screen).

For Windows ME Users: To load WinME in DOS mode, copy "COMMAND.COM" and "IO.sys" from "C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD\" to a formatted floppy disk. Then restart your computer with the floppy disk in the floppy drive and DOS will boot.

[Top]

Unable to view HTML source code

Problem: I can't read the HTML source codes from any web site. I go to view/source and the HTML page does not come up.

1) [All Windows] This is a common problem. When you have too many temporary internet files stored in your browser, you will notice this behavior in Internet Explorer. To fix this issue, simply clean out the temporary internet files. Here's how:

Bring up your browser;
  1. Select Tools>> Internet Options>> Delete Files.
  2. Check the box titled: "Delete all offline content" and click OK
  3. After all of the files are deleted, you should work normally.

2) [NT 4.0] Cause: Your Cookies folder is located on an NTFS file system partition and you do not have at least Change permissions for the Cookies folder.

To resolve this issue, configure your profile to use permissions that include the Change permission for the Cookies folder. The default the permission settings for the Cookies folder is Full Control (All).

3) [All Windows] This behavior can occur when the path specified for the TMP environment variable is invalid.

If the folder specified by the TMP environment variable is invalid, the file cannot be copied to the temporary folder, and therefore cannot be displayed.

To resolve this issue, specify a valid path for the TMP environment variable. To do so, follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- click System.
Click the Environment Tab.
In the User Variables For box, click TMP, type a valid path in the Value box, and then click Set.
Click Ok.

4) [All Windows]

This behavior may occur if Notepad is not installed. The View Source command uses Notepad.exe to display a source file.
Extract or expand the Notepad.exe file from your original Windows disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder.

The Notepad.exe file is located on:

Windows version Media Location
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows 3.1 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch disks disk 3
Windows 3.11 3.5-inch disk disk 4
Windows 3.11 5.25-inch disk disk 5
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 3.5-inch disk disk 6
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 5.25-inch disk disk 5
Windows 95 3.5-inch disk disk 3
Windows 95 CD-ROM Win95_02.cab

Expanding or Extracting the Notepad.exe File Use the method appropriate for your operating system.

Windows 3.1 and 3.11 or Windows for Workgroups:

  1. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the following line

    cd \

    where is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed.
  2. Insert the appropriate disk in the floppy drive.
  3. Type the following line:

    expand :\notepad.ex_ notepad.exe

    where is the drive letter of the floppy disk drive containing the Windows disk.
Windows 95:

Use the method appropriate for the media on which you have Windows 95.

Extracting Notepad.exe from the Windows 95 CD-ROM:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
  2. Type: cd\, and then press [ENTER].
  3. Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then close the Windows 95 screen if it appears.
  4. Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press [ENTER]

    extract /a :\win95\win95_02.cab notepad.exe /l c:\

    where is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive, and where is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed.
  5. Type exit, and then press [ENTER] to return to windows.
Extracting Notepad.exe from the Windows 95 Floppy Disks:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
  2. Type: cd\, and then press [ENTER].
  3. Insert disk 3 of the Windows 95 disks into the floppy disk drive.
  4. Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press [ENTER]

    extract /a :\Win95_03.cab notepad.exe /l c:\

    where is the drive letter assigned to the floppy disk drive the Windows 95 floppy disk is located in, and where is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed.
  5. Type: exit, and then press [ENTER] to return to windows.

Information above compiled mostly from Microsoft

[Top]

A pop-up window was blocked error

When a web application attempts to open an additional Internet Explorer 6 window, the browser returns the error message "a pop-up window was blocked".

Since IE does not have a popup blocker, it must be one of a few things causing this:

  • Check your anti-virus and firewall for an option to block popups.
  • Disable the popup blocker on your Google toolbar.
  • You might have an application on your system that blocks popup windows. Check if you have any Internet security applications running in the Taskbar.

As a possible work-a-round:

Many of the popup blockers have the option to bypass them by holding down the Ctrl key when you click on a link.

[Top]

How can I have a window open maximized?

When opening a new window in IE ver 6 the new window opens minimized. I want all windows to open maximized so I don't have to go to task bar and right click and then hit max. any suggestions?

Sure. Windows has a memory, it will reopen a window the same way you had it last. You can take the minimized window and drag the edges by holding your mouse arrow over the edge of the window until you see two arrows, then left click and hold the left button while dragging the window to the desired size. Now close the window. It will now reopen each time with that setting.

To keep Windows functionality correct, drag the window into a small position while the minimize button in the top right corner (next to the "X") of the window is selected and drag the window to a large position while the button is in the maximized position. Make sure you perform this procedure one at a time so that Windows will save each setting.

[Top]

Appname: iexplore.exe Appver: 6.02800.1106

When I double click the explorer icon, it gives me an error message that states, "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." "If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost.

Error Signature: AppName: iexplore.exe
AppVer: 6.02800.1106
ModName: winshow.dll
ModVer:1.0.0.1 Offset: 00009901

-or-

Error Signature: AppName: iexplore.exe
ModVer: 5.1.2600.1217
Appver: 6.02800.1106
Offset: 0003381b
Modname: ntdll.dll

It is possible that a third party spyware may have been possibly installed on your machine. try some spyware cleaning utilities such as Adaware or Spybot S & D for a possible fix.

Also you can try:
Winshow.dll Spyware:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/w/winshow.asp

Listed below are some MSKB articles pertaining to:

Iexplore.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=293623

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316085
(IE 6. XP/ME/2000)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318153
(IE 6. ME)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321923
(IE 6, W98/se/NT4/2000/ME/XP)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813181
(IE 6. XP)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=810887
(MSHTML)

[Top]

Homepage and Favorites hijacked

Symptom:
  • A rogue web site attaches itself as your homepage and you are not able to change it.
  • Web sites that you have not saved as favorites have attached to your favorites folder and are not able to rid them.

Possible Solution:

There are several adware/spyware scanners that may be very affective in riding your system of this problem. I recommend the following:

  • Adaware 6.0
  • Spybot S&D
  • CWShredder

All of these scanners can be downloaded from the Virus Information page for free.

[Top]

Clicking a link opens a blank window

Problem:

When I'm on the Internet using Internet Explorer, I click on a link and the second window pops up for that link but nothing happens, it's like the second window just freezes up, it wont load.

Solution 1:

From Internet Explorer go to: Tools>> Internet Options>> Advanced>> Browsing. Uncheck "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts."

Solution 2:

It could be that you have a popup blocker blocking new windows from loading. examples of such programs could be; Yahoo Companion, Google toolbar, a firewall, Earthlink... etc. You may need to uninstall the program or turn off the feature that is blocking new windows.

Note: With some programs of this type, using Ctrl+click or Shift+click will allow
a new window to open.

Solution 3:

From Internet Explorer go to: Tools>> Internet Options. Select Advanced tab and click the "Restore Defaults" button. Click OK

-OR-

From Internet Explorer go to: Tools>> Internet Options. Select the Programs tab and click the "Reset Web Settings" button. Click OK.

Solution 4:

From Internet Explorer go to: Tools>> Internet Options. Select Advanced tab. Scroll down and un-check the box that says "Re-use Windows for Shortcuts". Click Apply then OK.

Solution 5:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281679

Solution 6:

Open Windows Explorer. Go to Tools>> Folder Options>> File Types. Scroll down to URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol and select it. Click Edit or Advanced, depending on your Windows version. Select "Open". Click Edit.

"Application used to perform this action" should read:

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\INTERNET EXPLORER\iexplore.exe" -nohome
(Check the path to iexplore.exe to make sure that is correct and use the double quotes.)

DDE should be checked and in the boxes below it you should have:

#1:
"%1",,-1,0,,,,
#2
IExplore
#3 (blank)
#4
WWW_OpenURL

URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy should be the same.

Sometimes it is necessary to uncheck Use DDE.

If you get a blank page:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type:

regsvr32 urlmon.dll

3. Click OK, and then click OK again when you receive the following message:

DllRegisterServer in urlmon.dll succeeded.

[Top]

When accessing websites, I show a red x instead of a picture

Most of the time, clearing out your temporary internet files fixes this issue:

Start Internet Explorer> Go to Tools>> Internet Options>> General >> Delete files and Delete offline content. Then while still in the "Internet Options" windows, select Settings under the "Temporary Internet Files" section and reset the "Amount of disk space to use" to 50MB. Be sure to keep your Temporary Internet Files cleaned out periodically.

If the above did not work, then try this Microsoft article for possible help:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283807

[Top]

When trying to access certain sites, I get a "page cannot be displayed" message.

Problem:

When I try to access a certain web page it says that the page can not be displayed. I know this page works because I have tried it on other computers. I've heard it could be because of a firewall but I do not have a firewall on my computer.

Possible Solutions:

Method 1:

Try to ping the site from the DOS prompt like below:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: cmd (or command) [Enter] At the command prompt type:

ping www.google.com

If this returns as 'request timed out', then the site is not reachable. You will not need to do any further troubleshooting.


Method 2:

Delete all the Cookies and Temporary Internet Files to see if it helps.

Delete Cookies:

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click Tools>> Internet Options
  3. Click the Cookies button

Delete Temporary Internet Files:

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click Tools>> Internet Options
  3. Click the Delete Files button
  4. Place a check mark in the Delete all Offline Content checkbox
  5. Click OK

Method 3:

  1. Run the System Configuration Utility. Start>> Run. Type in: msconfig [Enter]
  2. Click on the "Startup" tab and remove the checks from each item in the Name column.
  3. Click the Apply button.
  4. Reboot your computer.
  5. Try again.

If this issue is resolved at this point, reverse the process. However, add one check back at a time to Startup and reboot each time until the issue reappears.


Method 4:

Try running Anti-Spyware scanners such as; Ad-aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, CWShredder all of which can be downloaded for free at 5 Star Support's Virus Information page.

Also, try here: Microsoft's Anti-Spyware for another quality freeware utility.


Method #5:

Try restoring your Winsock stack as it may have become corrupt.

For Service Pack 2 the best way to restore the Winsock stack is simply:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: netsh winsock reset [Enter]
Then reboot.

-OR-

For Windows XP try downloading this Winsock fix:
Download Winsock Fix Here

To reinstall Winsock2 in Windows 98/ME:

Note: You will need to have access to your Windows 98 installation CD and the network card drivers install CD or floppy.

CAUTION: Please edit or modify the registry with extreme caution; removing an incorrect key or value from the registry can cause serious problems with your computer's Windows Operating System. Be sure to make a backup copy of your registry prior to making any changes. Perform this procedure at your own risk.

  1. Right-click Network Neighborhood.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Highlight the offending network card. Click Remove.
  4. Remove the TCP/IP protocol from the card if it does not disappear with the network card entry. Click Ok. Do NOT reboot yet.
  5. Right-click My Computer and select Properties > Hardware > Device Manager.
  6. Verify that the network card is gone. Do NOT reboot yet.
  7. Click Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter].
  8. Navigate to the key HKLM\System\Current Control Set\Services\VXD
  9. Delete both the WINSOCK entry and WINSOCK2 entry.
  10. Navigate to the key HKLM\System\Current Control Set\Services.
  11. Delete the WINSOCK and WINSOCK2 entries there as well.
  12. Exit regedit and reboot the system.

On reboot, Windows will find the network card again. Reinstall the driver and Windows files when requested.

[Top]

How can I permanently delete the Links folder in my Favorites menu?

Below, you will find two methods that can be used to stop seeing the Links folder in your Favorites menu. In the first method, the Links folder will be permanently deleted. In the second method, the folder will just be hidden from view but will not be deleted from your system.

First method:

Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter]

Drill to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar

  1. Click once on "Toolbar" to empty its contents into the right pane.
  2. Double click on "LinksFolderName".
  3. Remove the default word "links" from this string value leaving it blank.
  4. Exit the Registry editor.
  5. Open IE and delete the Links folder from the Favorites menu.

The next time you start Internet Explorer the Links folder will not be recreated.

Second Method: (Using File Attributes)

Using Windows Explorer find the location of your Favorites folder (e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Favorites) within that folder will be a sub-folder named Links.

Right click the "Links" folder and select Properties. Check the Hidden checkbox and click OK.

From now on the Links folder should be hidden from the Favorites list. This works for any other folder or link on the favorites menu as well.

[Top]

I can't get rid of "about:blank" messages!

Problem:

I can't get rid of about:blank messages when trying to visit sites. I've tried a variety of spyware scanners but they do not help. Any thoughts on how to get rid of this annoying problem?

Solution:

Many people have been able to solve this problem using a combination of two different spyware scanners: HijackThis and About:Buster. Both can be downloaded at the Virus Information page for free. If you have any questions on how to use these scanners, please do not hesitate to fill out the Free Support Form and ask us.

[Top]

Unable to access secure sites after SP2 download.
It is possible that your firewall is blocking port 443. Try this:

Go to Start>> Run, type in each of the following and press Enter after each one:

Regsvr32 SOFTPUB.DLL
Regsvr32 Wintrust.dll
Regsvr32 Initpki.dll
Regsvr32 Dssenh.dll
Regsvr32 Rsaenh.dll
Regsvr32 Gpkcsp.dll
Regsvr32 Sccbase.dll
Regsvr32 Slbcsp.dll
Regsvr32 Mssip32.dll
Regsvr32 Cryptdlg.dll

For further help on this issue, visit the following Microsoft Knowledgebase Articles:

[Top]

How do I clear Auto-complete entries?

Question: How do I clear out all the auto suggestions it comes up with every time I start typing in a textbox?

Answer:

To modify your settings for the AutoComplete feature or clear all items from the list of form or password suggestions, follow these steps in Internet Explorer:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  2. Click the Content tab.
  3. Click AutoComplete.
  4. Click the appropriate AutoComplete check boxes, or click Clear Forms or Clear Passwords to clear all saved items from the appropriate AutoComplete history.
  5. Click OK, and then click OK.

To clear individual items from the list of form or password suggestions, click the item in the list of suggestions for that field and then press DELETE. The AutoComplete list automatically appears when you perform any of the following actions on a previously populated form:

  • Type the first character in the field
  • Press the UP or DOWN keys in the field
  • Double-click a blank area in the field

MSKB Article:
How to use the AutoComplete feature in Internet Explorer 5 and 6:
http://support.microsoft.com/?­kbid=217148

[Top]

Cannot click links on web pages

Question:

When I open up a web page, I point my mouse over what should be a hyperlink. However, it does not indicate that there is a hyperlink their. This is the case with any web site that I visit.

Answer:

  • Make sure that Internet Explorer and Outlook Express are closed.
  • Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regsvr32 urlmon.dll [Enter]
  • Go to Control Panel>> Internet Options>> Programs tab. Click "Reset All Web Settings"

Open Internet Explorer and Outlook Express and retry the hyperlinks.

[Top]

Runtime Error Message: C:\Program files\Internet Explorer\EXPLORE.EXE

Problem:

I am unable to access Internet Explorer. A message states:

"Run time error! prog: C:\Program files\Internet Explorer\EXPLORE.EXE
This application has requested the runtime to terminate it in an unusual way."

Possible Solution:

It is possible that you have been attacked by some malware/spyware. Install and update:
  • Adaware SE
  • Spybot S&D

Download these for free here:

http://www.5starsupport.com/info/virusinfo.htm

Then, perform a complete system scan using the free anti-virus scanner listed below:

http://www.housecall.antivirus.com

After completing system scans using the two listed scanners and anti-virus scanner, reboot your computer and see if your problem has been resolved.

If it has not, then try uninstalling your Google toolbar, here's how:

1. Go to Start>> Control Panel>> Add/Remove Programs.
2. Scroll the list until you find "Google toolbar for Internet Explorer".
3. Remove the program and reboot your system.

[Top]

Lost Internet Explorer uploading bar?

Question:

I have just reinstalled my Windows Operating System. Everything seems OK, except now when I download things, the download bar at the bottom of the window no longer shows the progress of the download. How can I get this back?

Solution:

It is unknown why this setting changes from time to time. Or, perhaps the setting was changed by accident. In any case, the fix is an easy one:

1. Open Internet Explorer and select View from the toolbar.
2. Make sure that the entry titled "Status Bar" has a check mark next to it. If it doesn't, then just click it once.

[Top]

Remove a specific URL from address bar

Question: I would like to be able to remove only certain web site addresses from my Internet Explorer address bar. Is this possible?

Answer: Yes, there is a small utility called URL Remover for IE that can be downloaded right here at 5 Star Support for free. See below:

Author: Quinqsoft Version : 1.0 File Size: 667KB Windows 95/98/XP

URL Remover for IE6

[Top]

Red X appears when trying to organize favorites

Question:

With my Favorites menu in the left pane of my browser window, I click the "Organize" button and it produces an empty window with a small red X in the top left. What could be causing this and how do I fix it?

Answer:

The "Organize Favorites" sub menu is not displaying your Favorites list (see illustration below) due to one of the following reasons:

  • Missing Shell Name Space registration
  • The Shell Name Space has been disabled from "Manage Add-ons" (XP SP2 only)
To correct this problem:
  1. Be sure you are logged in as Administrator (Windows 2000/XP)
  2. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regsvr32 /i shdocvw.dll [Enter] or click OK

-OR-

If you've disabled the Shell Name Space from Manage Add-ons, re-enable it.

Click to enlarge
Shell Name Space

[Top]

My Address Bar Has Disappeared

Question:

My address bar has disappeared and I don't see any way to get it back. How can I get it back?

Answer:

There are a couple of different ways to get the address bar back. I have outlined the two most common methods below:

Method #1:

Change the Toolbar settings:

  1. Start Internet Explorer
  2. From the top toolbar, click View, then select Toolbars
  3. Make sure that there is a check mark next to the Address Bar entry. If there is no check mark, then simply click the Address Bar entry to activate the Address Bar. Clicking it once again will uncheck this entry.
  4. If the Address Bar appears in the upper right corner but is not available, right click "Address" and uncheck the "Lock The Toolbar" entry by clicking it once.
  5. Now, click "Address" and while holding the click down, drag the Address Bar to a desired location.

Method #2:

Delete the WebBrowser registry key:

Warning: Making mistakes in the Windows Registry can cause serious problems with your Windows Operating System. Be sure to make a fresh backup copy of your registry prior to making any changes to it. Use the Registry Editor at your own risk.

  1. Go to Start>> Run, type in: regedit [Enter] or click OK.
  2. Drill down to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER>>Software>>Microsoft>>Internet Explorer>>Toolbar

  1. Click once on the Toolbar entry to empty its contents into the right pane.
  2. Right-click the WebBrowser key, then select Delete and confirm with a Yes answer when prompted.
  3. Exit the registry editor and reboot your system.
  4. Open Internet Explorer
  5. Select View>> Toolbars

You will see that Internet Explorers toolbar settings have now been restored back to the default setting.

[Top]

Unable to reset my home page

Question:

For some reason I am not able to reset my homepage in IE6. I have scanned my computer for possible adware, malware, scumware but my scanners do not show anything is wrong. Do you have any idea what may be causing this and is there a fix?

Answer:

It could possibly be that the Lavasoft products (Ad-Ware / Ad-Watch) could be causing this. Here is how to fix the issue:
  1. Start Ad-Watch. Right click on the Ad-Watch icon in the system tray and select Settings.
  2. Turn on all the desired blocking options then ensure that Automatic is turned off (the red cross).
  3. Open Internet Explorer and make the change to your home page (Tools>> Internet Options>> Home Page).
  4. Ad-Watch will alert that a change has been made. When you accept this change, Ad-Watch will use this setting as the default setting.
  5. If you would like Ad-Watch to automatically correct any future changes to your system, turn the Automatic feature back on.
  6. Start Ad-Ware SE. Click on the Gear icon. Select "Default". Click the "Read current settings from system" link. Check to make sure that these settings are correct. Click Proceed when finished. Ad-Aware SE will use these settings as the replacement values if a browser hijack is found.

[Top]

Drop down menus not appearing

Question:

In IE and Outlook express, when I go to the menus at the top of the page (file, edit, tools etc.), and left click, the drop down menus do not appear (open, print, cut, copy etc.). Only when I move my curser down under the menu do I then see the options under the menu. I want to get it back like normal when you left click on the menu and see all the options without having to move your curser down to see the options.

Answer:

You may have a corrupt or missing file. You can repair both Internet Explorer and Outlook Express at the same time. Here's how:

  1. Click Start >> Run. Type in: sfc /scannow [Enter] or click OK.
  2. This will start the System File Checker process. It will look for corrupt and missing files in those programs.

Note: You may need to have your Windows CD handy to complete the process.

[Top]

How can I stop employees from accessing the Internet?

Question:

I have a small business running multiple terminals all running Windows XP and using Internet Explorer. I have been having a lot of trouble keeping my staff focused on their work due to their web surfing habits. Is there a way that I can keep these terminals from accessing the Internet?

Answer:

There are a couple of ways that I know of that could accomplish this:

1. Check your firewall for a setting that could password protect Internet access.

2. You could modify/change the Group Policy Object settings:

First, be sure that all terminals do not have administrative privileges. Next, you'll need to be logged in as Administrator to add/edit/modify the settings. Then, go to Start>> Run>> Type in: gpedit.msc [Enter] or click OK. Once the Group Policy Editor loads, go to User Configuration>> Administrative Template>> Desktop>> Control Panel>> Network>> System.

Warning: Be sure that you record all of the changes that you make as mistakes can have very adverse effects on your operating system.

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IE opens and then closes

Question:

Suddenly today, when I click on IE on my laptop it starts up, gets to the homepage, and then shuts down about time the page comes up or starts to come up. I have run spyware and had 6 items but nothing seemed to serious. What can I do?

Answer:

It seems that Yahoo did some changing over the past few days that has caused some corrupt toolbar issues. Uninstall your Yahoo toolbar and Internet Explorer should return to normal.

Start>> Control Panel>> Add or Remove Programs>> Scroll the list until you find the Yahoo toolbar. Click it and select remove.

[Top]

Advanced options missing

Question:

While in the Internet Explorer, I go to Tools/Internet Options/Advanced. Once I click the Advanced tab, it pops up with a blank page. How can I restore the options that were listed here?

Answer:

Try this:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regsvr32 /n /i inetcpl.cpl [Enter] or click OK.

The Advanced options should now be restored.

You receive an error message in Internet Explorer: "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"

General troubleshooting

This section is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user. If these methods do not resolve your problem, you can try the methods in the "Advanced troubleshooting" section.

Note If you are using Internet Explorer 8 in Windows 7, follow Method 9 before you try the remaining methods.

Method 1: See whether you can view another Web page

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. In the Address bar at the top of the browser window, enter one of the following addresses:
If you do not receive a similar error message after you enter one of these addresses in the Address bar, contact the owner of the Web site where you see the problem. The site may be temporarily offline or experiencing other issues.

If you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Method 2: Run the Network Diagnostics tool in Internet Explorer

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Internet Explorer, and then try to access the Web page that is displaying the error message.
  2. On the page that displays an Internet Explorer error message, click the Diagnose Connection Problems link. The Network Diagnostics tool will run. When the tool has finished running, it will report one of the following results:
    • It was unable to find a problem.
    • It has detected a problem. Additionally, the tool will provide guidance about the next steps to take to troubleshoot the problem.
    Note Internet Explorer 6 users click Detect Network Settings
  3. Click IP Address, and note the IP Address. You may need it for future troubleshooting.
  4. Follow the steps in the Network Diagnostics tool to fix any connection problems.
  5. Start Internet Explorer.
If you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Note You cannot use this method in Windows 7. The Network Diagnostics tool has been improved upon and replaced with the Internet Troubleshooters. Follow Method 8 to run the troubleshooters.

Method 3: Reset the modem or the router

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Disconnect the cable that connects the computer to the modem.
  2. Turn off the modem and the router.
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    Note If the modem or the router does not have a power switch, disconnect the power to the modem or to the router.
  3. Restart the computer.
  4. After your computer has restarted, turn on the modem or the router, connect the cable from the computer to the modem or the router, and restart the computer.
  5. Make sure that all network cables are securely connected.
  6. Start Internet Explorer.
If you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Method 4: Use the Delete Browsing History feature

If resetting the modem or the router did not resolve the problem, deleting your browsing history might help. Follow these steps to remove your temporary Internet files, history, and form data:
Internet Explorer 8
  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  3. Under Browsing history, click Delete.
  4. Select the check box next to Preserve Favorites website data.
  5. Select the check box next to Temporary Internet Files.
  6. Select the check box next to Cookies.
  7. Select the check box next to History.
  8. Select the check box next to Form data.
  9. Select the check box next to InPrivate Filtering data.
  10. At the bottom of window, click Delete.
  11. Close Internet Explorer, start Internet Explorer again, and then try to access the Web page.
Internet Explorer 7
  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Delete Browsing History.
  3. Select the check box next to Temporary Internet Files.
  4. Select the check box next to History.
  5. Select the check box next to Form data.
  6. Select the check box next to Cookies.
  7. At the bottom of window, click Delete.
  8. Close Internet Explorer, start Internet Explorer again, and then try to access the Web page.
Internet Explorer 6
  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  3. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete files, and then click to select the Delete all offline content text box and click OK.
  4. In the History section, click Clear history, and then click Yes.
  5. Close Internet Explorer, start Internet Explorer again, and then try to access the Web page.
If you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Method 5: Use the Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) mode

To do this, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).

Note Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) mode is only available for Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8.

If this resolves the issue, follow these steps to isolate the browser add-on that is causing the issue:
  1. Click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
  2. Click the Programs tab, and then click Manage add-ons.
  3. Click an add-on in the Name list, and then click Disable.
  4. Repeat step 3 until you identify the add-on that is causing the issue.
If the methods in the "General troubleshooting" section did not resolve your issue, you can try to use the methods in the "Advanced troubleshooting" section. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=12357 (http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=12357)

Advanced troubleshooting

Method 1: Temporarily disable the Internet security suite or firewall

Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make the computer or the network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you decide to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Temporarily disable the Internet security suite or firewall. For instructions, see the product documentation, or contact the product manufacturer. See the "More information" section for contact information.
  2. Start Internet Explorer, and check whether you receive the same error message.
  3. Immediately re-enable the Internet security suite or firewall.
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    CautionLeaving your Internet security suite or firewall disabled may make the computer or the network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by software such as viruses.

If this method resolves the issue that you are experiencing, please contact the product manufacturer for help with resolving the issue. See the "More information" section for contact information.

If you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Method 2: Check whether Windows assigned you an automatic IP address

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Check the IP address that you noted in step 3 of "Method 2: Run the Network Diagnostics tool in Internet Explorer" in the "General troubleshooting" section.
  2. Select from the following scenarios:
    • If the IP address starts with 169.x.x.x: Windows has assigned you an automatic IP address (Automatic Private IP address) because your Internet server provider (ISP) did not provide an IP address. This configuration prevents you from accessing the Internet. In this case, there may be a hardware configuration issue. Contact the ISP for help. See the "More information" section for contact information
    • If the IP address does not start with 169.x.x.x: You may be experiencing a software conflict or a configuration issue. Go to Method 3.
Note If you’re unable to determine the IP address from the steps listed above follow the steps listed below for your operating system:
Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 users
  1. Click Start, and type cmd in the Start Search text area
  2. Right-click Cmd.exe and select Run as administrator.
  3. In the command prompt window type ipconfig and press the Enter key
  4. Look in the resulting information for the IPv4 Address and take note of the IP address listed.
  5. Close the command prompt window.
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users
  1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd and then click OK
  2. In the command prompt window type ipconfig and press the Enter key
  3. Look in the resulting information for the IPv4 Address and take note of the IP address listed.
  4. Close the command prompt window.

Method 3: Test Internet Explorer by using a safe mode startup option that enables networking

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NoteIf you cannot connect to the Internet in safe mode, skip Method 3, and go to Method 4. You will be unable to connect to the Internet in safe mode if the following conditions are true:
  • You have a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) connection that requires a user name and a password. This is true for most DSL and dial-up connections.
  • You do not have a persistent connection to the Internet, such as a cable connection.
To test Internet Explorer in safe mode, follow these steps, as appropriate for your situation.
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users
  1. Restart the computer. When the screen goes blank, press the F8 key repeatedly.
  2. Click Safe Mode with Networking, and then press ENTER.
  3. If you see a prompt to select a version of Windows, select the appropriate version, and then press ENTER.
  4. After the computer has restarted in safe mode, start Internet Explorer, and see whether you receive the same error message.
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    NoteThe result in step 4 determines which method to perform after you restart the computer in step 5. See the "For all users" section at the end of Method 3 for more information.
  5. Restart the computer.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista users
  1. Click Start, and then type msconfig in the Start Search box.
  2. In the Programs section, click Msconfig.exe.
  3. In the System Configuration dialog box, click the Boot tab.
  4. Click to select the Safe boot check box, click Network, and then click OK.
  5. In the System Configuration dialog box, click Restart.
  6. After the computer has restarted in safe mode, start Internet Explorer, and see whether you receive the same error message.
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    NoteThe result in step 6 determines which method to perform after you restart the computer in normal mode in step 7. See the "For all users" section at the end of Method 3 for more information.
  7. Restart the computer in normal mode. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, and then type msconfig in the Start Search box.
    2. In the Programs section, click Msconfig.exe.
    3. In the System Configuration dialog box, click the Boot tab.
    4. Click to clear the Safe boot check box, and then click OK.
    5. In the System Configuration dialog box, click Restart.
For all users
Able to connect successfully

If you were able to connect to the Internet successfully when the computer was in safe mode, a third-party service or program may be conflicting with Internet Explorer. Go to Method 4.

Unable to connect successfully

If you were unable to connect to the Internet successfully when the computer was in safe mode, there may be a problem with the network adapter. Skip Method 4 and Method 5, and go to Method 6.

Method 4: Check whether a third-party service is conflicting with Internet Explorer

To check whether a third-party service is conflicting with Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Services tab, disable all non-Microsoft services, and then click OK.
  3. Restart the computer, and test Internet Explorer.
Depending on the result that you receive in step 3, go to the "The connection works" section or to the "The connection still does not work" section.
The connection works
If the connection works, a third-party service may be conflicting with Internet Explorer. To identify the conflicting service, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Services tab.
  3. Click to select half of the listed items, and then click OK.
  4. Restart the computer.
  5. Test Internet Explorer.
  6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 until you identify the service that is conflicting with Internet Explorer.
  7. If you are not using the conflicting service, we recommend that you remove it, or configure it not to start when the computer starts.
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    NoteYou may have to contact the developer of the service for information about how to remove it or to configure it not to start. See the "More information" section for contact information.

The connection still does not work
If the connection still does not work, re-enable all services, and then go to Method 5. To re-enable all services, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Services tab, enable all the services, and then click OK.

Method 5: Check whether a third-party program is conflicting with Internet Explorer

To check whether a third-party program is conflicting with Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Startup tab, disable all the programs, and then click OK.
  3. Restart the computer, and test Internet Explorer.
Depending on the result that you receive in step 3, go to the "The connection works" section or to the "The connection still does not work" section.
The connection works
If the connection works, a third-party program may be conflicting with Internet Explorer. To identify the conflicting program, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Startup tab.
  3. Click to select half of the listed items, and then click OK.
  4. Restart the computer.
  5. Test Internet Explorer.
  6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 until you identify the program that is conflicting with Internet Explorer.
  7. If you are not using the conflicting program, we recommend that you remove it, or configure it not to start when the computer starts.
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    NoteYou may have to contact the developer of the program for information about how to do this. See the "More information" section for contact information.
The connection still does not work
If the connection still does not work, re-enable all programs, and then go to Method 6. To re-enable all programs, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
  2. Click the Startup tab, enable all the programs, and then click OK.

Method 6: Use Device Manager to verify that the network adapter is working correctly

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
  2. Double-click Network Adapters.
  3. If no exclamation mark icons appear, and the latest drivers are installed, this method will not work for you. In this case, skip the remaining steps in Method 6, and go to Method 7.
  4. If an exclamation mark icon or a question mark icon appears next to the network adapter in Device Manager, double-click the device, and then note the error message that appears. The following list describes three common error messages that appear together with possible resolutions.
    • Code 10
      This device cannot start. (Code 10)
      1. Click Update Driver to update the drivers for this device.
      2. Click the General Properties tab of the device, and then click Troubleshoot to start the Troubleshooting Wizard.
    • Code 28
      The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)
      1. Install the drivers for this device.
      2. Click Update Driver. This starts the Hardware Update Wizard.
    • Code 1
      This device is not configured correctly. (Code 1)
      1. Update the driver by clicking Update Driver. This starts the Hardware Update Wizard.
      2. If updating the driver does not work, see your hardware documentation for more information.
    If the network adapter does not work correctly or if the network adapter is incompatible with Windows, contact an independent hardware vendor, and obtain updated drivers or a compatible network adapter. See the "More information" section for contact information.
If you test Internet Explorer, and you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Method 7: Run System Restore

If you are still unable to resolve the issue, and the problem is a recent one, you can perform a System Restore. Although this method may not help identify the issue, it will restore the operating system to its previous working state.
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Note When you restore the system to a previous state, any programs or updates that have been installed since that date will be removed.
For more information about how to restore the system to a previous working state, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
306084 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084/ ) How to restore the operating system to a previous state in Windows XP
936212 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/ ) How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista
Note Follow the same steps for Windows 7.

If a System Restore does not resolve the issue, you can try to select an earlier date as the restore point. Or, you can follow the steps in these articles to undo the restoration.

If you test Internet Explorer, and you receive the same error message, go to the next method.

Method 8: Reset Internet Explorer configuration settings

Caution When you use the Reset All Settings feature in Internet Explorer, you will disable all browser add-ons. Therefore, must re-enable the add-ons that you want to use afterward. Typically, an add-on is not re-enabled when you reinstall it. You must manually re-enable the add-on.

To perform this method, follow these steps:
  1. Start Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
  2. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
  3. In the Internet Explorer Default Settings dialog box, click Reset.
  4. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
    In Internet Explorer 6, click Restore Defaults , and then click OK .
  5. When the settings have been reset, click Close, and then click OK to restart Internet Explorer.
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NoteIf issues are not resolved when you reset Internet Explorer, you can also reinstall Internet Explorer 8 to make sure that it is installed correctly.

Method 9: Windows 7 – Troubleshooters

To runn Internet Explorer Troubleshooter, follow these steps:
  1. Close all programs.
  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  3. Under System and Security, click Find and fix problems.
  4. On the task pane on the left, click View All.
  5. Click Internet Explorer Performance. This opens a new window.
  6. Click Next.
  7. The troubleshooter will run and fix all identified issues automatically. Click Close.
After the troubleshooter has successfully run, try to browse to the Internet again.

If the issue is not fixed follow the steps in Method 9 to run Internet Explorer Safety troubleshooter.

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