Cant see internet explorer 5

[Almin]

Hi. Im running win xp pro but came home today and wanted to search cor something but wasnt able to get to IE. When i click on it is looks like its loading but i never see it down on the windows bar. When i go to task manager under application i dont see it but when i go under processes i see it running. This is an older pc that i havent used in 2 years. I did system restore and upgraded to service pack 3. It also downloaded and installed IE 8 as well. I had to put firefox on via flash drive go see if ghat will open. That works normal the only thing is that i need to use IE because some of the websites i go to dont lile fire fox and everything gets squashed together. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Diancecht]

Maybe the shortcut is doing something strange.

What happens with Start > Run > iexplore ?

Cheers,
Dian

 

[Almin]

Tried taht allready, goes straight to processes. This happend sometime when I was douing the Windows Update to Service pack 3 I belive because I was able to get on it before that. Should I try and remove the IE from Windows Components and install again?

 

[LilBob]

Try going into Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs & click on Show updates @ the top. If IE 8 is there, click Remove. That should revert you to IE 7, see if that resolves your problem.

Bob

 

[goombawaho]

I wouldn't remove ANYTHING to start with. That's not troubleshooting, that's taking a guess. Verify you don't have any malware first.

Download, install and run this scanner.

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

Remove everything it finds and then reboot. Report back.

If that doesn't work, install Firefox and try that to see if internet access works with Firefox. Report back.

 

[vacunita]

It may be an add-on or plug-in causing trouble in IE.

Does IE run in Windows Safe mode (with Networking)

Have you tried running it in IE's own safe mode:

start->run: iexplore -extoff
This will attempt to start IE without any add-ons or extensions loaded.




----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[Almin]

Hi

Thanks for the replys

I will try it as soon as I get home from work

 

[goombawaho]

That's a GREAT first thing to do - what Vacunita said - Safe Mode. It's probably an Add-On that is causing the problem.

You can do the old Mac trick of disabling the first 50% of the Add-Ons and then launch IE in regular mode. If it doesn't error out, you know the problem Add-On is in the first 50%.

If it still errors out, re-enable the first 50% and then disable the last 50%. Then you have to keep cutting it down until you find the ONE ACTUAL add-on that's bugging you.

Since I switched to Firefox, this type of thing just doesn't happen to me.

 

[linney]

You could also try booting to "Safe Mode with Networking" to see if it runs via that?

If it does you can look at these.

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560

In Normal Mode have you tested with another user?

You mention removing IE via Windows Components in Add or Remove. All this does is remove access to IE from the Start Menu or Desktop, reticking it afterward replaces that access. Still if it was just a problem with faulty shortcuts that would be one step to try.

Internet Explorer stops responding, stops working, or restarts [Guided help]:

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/pc_ie_intro:

How to use Reset Internet Explorer Settings (RIES)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737#appliesto

Tips for solving problems with Internet Explorer

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/8038f9ac-9bf9-4809-8d75-fc42818d8af71033.mspx

Repair IE8 (IE7)

http://iefaq.info/index.php?action=artikel&cat=42&id=133&artlang=en

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Try it first by not checking either box (this will run it in a Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems. If it does, restart it by ticking both boxes, and rerun it to allow it to attempt to fix any found problems.


Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/en-us

 

[Almin]

Hi I tried all that It seems that it's not working. I downloaded malwarebytes and it seems that it cant delete some of the items found.

When I did a system restore before I did the Service pack 2 upgrade the exploer works. So I figured that there is something that went wrong when I did Windows update to service pack 2 or service pack 3 as well.

Now should I try to update it again? I know it would be a good thing to have but if I cant use IE than I will leave it like it is

 

[linney]

What does AntiMalware say that it found and that you cannot delete? Have you tried scanning in Safe Mode?

Don't ignore the obvious problem (malware) before considering SP2 or SP3 as a problem. Millions of people have been running both SP's with IE 8 without a problem.

Get rid of the malware first is my suggestion.

 

[Almin]

ok now in safe mode everything seems fine so maybe it did delete all on reboot.

I do have a diffrent issue now. I cant connect to the internet anymore. I know it's not the cable or the switch because when I plug in my notebook it works fine. I also went and put in a new NIC card no luck. When I go under Network connections and check the TCP/IP settings everything seems fine (automaticly obtain IP address) is checked. When I go out of there and right click on the adapter and select Status I get

!!!-- Connection --!!!
Connected,
Duration 00:30:23
Speed 100.0 Mbps

!!!-- Activity --!!!
Packets Sent: 63
Packets Recived: 0

when I do ipconfig in cmd I get this

Autoconfiguration IP Address: 169.254.141.223
Subnet Maks : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway ............: blank

when I plug in my notebook to that ethernet cable I get

Autoconfiguration IP Address: 192.168.50.2
Subnet Maks : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway ............: 192.168.50.1

which is what it should be.

On the desktop I get the same error if I use the NIC card that is build into the motherboard same exac output as above. What is blocking this?

 

[linney]

Your IP Address looks wrong, as does the Subnet Mask and Default Gateway. You should see something similar to what your Notebook is recording, except that the the IP Address would be slightly different.

See if the Winsock fix in this article fixes your troubles.

WinXP Connectivity Issues
faq779-4625

 

[goombawaho]

Instead of reading that thread - run this utility then shut down your PC.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html

The, unplug your router and modem to reset them. Wait 30 seconds. Turn the modem on first and wait 5 minutes. Then turn the router on (if you have one) and wait 5 minutes. Finally, boot the PC and give us the IPCONFIG /ALL results from the CMD prompt if internet is still not working.

Once everything is working for a week, install XP SP3 please. I doubt it was the source of any of these problems.

Even better for you, start using Firefox instead of IE. Less problems, better security.

 

[Almin]

Hi that fix did solvebthe problem. I am now in process of updating to SP 3

thanks

I will let you know of the outcome

 

[goombawaho]

................And award stars to those that were helpful in your endeavor.

 

[Almin]

..... oooo sorry I forgot how this forum works

 

[Almin]

Ok after installing Sp2 problem returns with IE. I cant get it to open up. I also noticed once i try to open ot up and would like to open anything in windows explorer ( such as my computer or controll pannell) i cant get to it. I have to end proccess of IE in order to view those. Something is going wrong here. I did get a message when installing that the system is not stable but i klicked on continue. No viruses,spyware or adware have been detected

 

[Almin]

Probibly the best thing for me to do is to format the hard drive and find a windows xp copy to install since i dont have the re overy disks because they were lost and hp told me today that they dont have a copy enymore so.....

 

[linney]

You could redo that Service Pack, or jump to SP3. When you install make sure nothing but the Microsoft Services are running, temporarily disable all other third party Services and all Startup programs.

Use the MsConfig tool to achieve this.

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560