IE is buggered

[mubs]

Firefox is my main browser, but I have to use IE for Windows update, Office Update etc. It's buggered enough that it doesn't even fully load pages at MS that FF can load in a flash. It's up to date. How can I fix it? (please, reformat/reinstall Win2k is not possible at this time). TIA.

 

[timwhit]

Try running Hijackthis, remove all unnecessary entries. It was able to fix IE on my computer when it would not open Windows Update or Housecall.

 

[Tannin]

Tim's advice is good. Run Hijackthis and also Spybot in safe mode. That fixes most things.

 

[mubs]

Thanks Tim and Tannin.

IE has been buggered for months. My AdAware and Spybot scans (and Housecall, with their spyware scanning option) say my system is clean. I am, however, running Spywareblaster. My problems started after installing it, and integrating it with Spybot -- immunizing, running IE resident protection, etc. I'll have to disable or uninstall these and see what happens. IIRC, I tried this before and it didn't help. I'll try Hijack this as suggested. I quite sure it won't find anything blatant, and the problem is that HJT shows so many legit things as suspect, that the S/N ratio gets pretty bad. I'll run it in a day or two and report back here.

 

[Tannin]

But are you scanning in safe mode?

 

[mubs]

Did that too. I have a gazillion icons on my desktop, and they all get buggered when I run in safe mode and I have to rearrange them when I'm back in normal mode. IIRC there's a program somewhere on the web that saves the positions of the icons and restores them on boot; I'll have to find it.

The weird thing is that it's not something one can uninstall and reinstall. I really, really wouldn't care except for the few times that FF won't work on M$'s site.

 

[time]

IIRC there's a program somewhere on the web that saves the positions of the icons and restores them on boot; I'll have to find it.

If you find it, let me know. I know someone who would kill for that.

 

[Will Rickards]

IIRC there's a program somewhere on the web that saves the positions of the icons and restores them on boot; I'll have to find it.

If you find it, let me know. I know someone who would kill for that.

Here's one I found on a search.
http://www.iconsaver.com/index.html
I think Charles Petzold did one in the Programming Windows book.

 

[timwhit]

Have you tried reinstalling IE?

 

[mubs]

I have in the past, Tim. MS now has only the piddly small download for use with online install. Maybe someone knows where I can download the whole thing in one go.

I'm sorry I haven't tried the other suggestions yet.

 

[timwhit]

I can't find a link to the full download. But, if I remember correctly someone posted links to these files a while back around here.

There is also supposed to be a string that will tell IE to download everything.

Try this: http://www.petri.co.il/download_the_full_ie_package.htm

 

[Mercutio]

If nothing else, grab the IE6 Administrator's Kit of Microsoft's site. That will let you download the whole thing in one shot.

I have a full copy of the install and yes, it does fix problems on machines that have been particular screwed by spyware.

 

[LiamC]

IE is buggered

Nothing really to add except the obvious--You are only just realising this?

 

[mubs]

Gee, thanks for the skewer, William, I guess I asked for it :wink:

Well, first things first.

Tannin, I updated (as much as I could) and ran in safe mode the following; keep in mind I only checked drive C, where the OS and all proggies are installed:

AVG AV 7.0.344, defs dated 2005/09/16 (today): found nothing
Spybot 1.4, with defs dated 2005/09/09 (latest available): found nothing
AdAware SE 1.06r1, defs dated 2005/08/31 (couldn't download current defs): found nothing

I do keep a clean m/c, but it always helps to be sure. Didn't run HiJackThis, though.

Tim, thanks for the links to download all of IE, it worked like a charm. After the virus/spyware checks, I rebooted from safe mode, ran the IE install, and it said I was up to date, but I asked it to reinstall anyway. Auto update then wanted to download and install some stuff. Another reboot later, IE seems snappy, and doesn't sit there saying it is waiting for more items to download on the page.

So all seems to be well so far. Thanks to everybody for their help, and especially Tim for the download link. (Thanks to you to Merc; I had already downloaded from Tim's link in the meantime).

Thanks Will for the link to the Desktop Icon position saver prog. I'll try to check it out when I have some time.

 

[mubs]

Here's another Desktop Icon Layout Save/Restore program, freeware.

If the mod Gods think this is useful perhaps it can be moved to the Toolbox section.