Unable to browse with IE6

[Guest]

I am using Windows XP Professional, Version 2002 SP2. I had installed IE7 a
couple of months ago and it would not let me browse. I normally use
Firefox, so it was not a big deal. I did uninstall IE7 and went back to IE6,
but I was still unable to browse. I have never had a problem with Firefox,
Netscape or Opera. I am able to browse with no problems in those clients.

However, I am now trying to get to the Windows Update site and download
critical updates. I am unable to do so. Apparently, Microsoft only allows
you to use IE to get to that site and since I am unable to browse in IE, I am
unable to get the updates. None of the other browsers are able to open the
site at all. I can, however, browse Microsoft's web site to my heart's
content, other than the Windows Update site.

I have re-registered the security and browser dll files, I have cleared my
browser history, cookies and temp files, I reset web settings. There are no
proxies in use. Again, I have no problem browsing in Firefox, Netscape or
Opera. Ie Will not open any page at all. It doesn't appear that it ever
tries. I have the local area network icon in my system tray so I can watch
activity on the LAN and when I open IE, it doesn't light up at all. I reset
tcp/ip, winsock, deleted the arp cache and flushed dns to no avail. I
disabled my Firewall (using COMODO Firewall Pro) but that didn't make any
difference.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've done all that I can think of.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Rock]

I am using Windows XP Professional, Version 2002 SP2. I had installed IE7
a
couple of months ago and it would not let me browse. I normally use
Firefox, so it was not a big deal. I did uninstall IE7 and went back to
IE6,
but I was still unable to browse. I have never had a problem with
Firefox,
Netscape or Opera. I am able to browse with no problems in those clients.

However, I am now trying to get to the Windows Update site and download
critical updates. I am unable to do so. Apparently, Microsoft only
allows
you to use IE to get to that site and since I am unable to browse in IE, I
am
unable to get the updates. None of the other browsers are able to open
the
site at all. I can, however, browse Microsoft's web site to my heart's
content, other than the Windows Update site.

I have re-registered the security and browser dll files, I have cleared my
browser history, cookies and temp files, I reset web settings. There are
no
proxies in use. Again, I have no problem browsing in Firefox, Netscape
or
Opera. Ie Will not open any page at all. It doesn't appear that it ever
tries. I have the local area network icon in my system tray so I can
watch
activity on the LAN and when I open IE, it doesn't light up at all. I
reset
tcp/ip, winsock, deleted the arp cache and flushed dns to no avail. I
disabled my Firewall (using COMODO Firewall Pro) but that didn't make any
difference.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've done all that I can think of.

You might want to post to the internet explorer newsgroup.
microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

 

[Dennis McCunney]

However, I am now trying to get to the Windows Update site and download
critical updates. I am unable to do so. Apparently, Microsoft only allows
you to use IE to get to that site and since I am unable to browse in IE, I am
unable to get the updates. None of the other browsers are able to open the
site at all. I can, however, browse Microsoft's web site to my heart's
content, other than the Windows Update site.

The Windows Update site downloads an Active-X control that examines your
PC to determine what updates you *need*. Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape/Opera
deliberately do not support Active-X controls because of security
issues. So yes, IE is the only thing that will access Windows Update.

Personally, I turned on Automatic Updates, and get them delivered
automatically on "Patch Tuesdays", so I normally don't care if IE works
or not. Once you get IE functional again, I'd recommend turning on
automatic updates on your machine.

I have re-registered the security and browser dll files, I have cleared my
browser history, cookies and temp files, I reset web settings. There are no
proxies in use. Again, I have no problem browsing in Firefox, Netscape or
Opera. Ie Will not open any page at all. It doesn't appear that it ever
tries. I have the local area network icon in my system tray so I can watch
activity on the LAN and when I open IE, it doesn't light up at all. I reset
tcp/ip, winsock, deleted the arp cache and flushed dns to no avail. I
disabled my Firewall (using COMODO Firewall Pro) but that didn't make any
difference.

Have you tried re-installing IE 6?

I "upgraded" to IE under XP here, figuring my downside was limited,
since I use Firefox as my browser, and dual boot 2K where IE 6 still
exists. IE 7 connects fine here.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've done all that I can think of.

I think you need to uninstall and re-install IE.

Thanks,
Bill

______
Dennis

 

[Tech Support]

you can get most windows updates with firefox or opera form this website:
http://www.windizupdate.com/

 

[Rock]

you can get most windows updates with firefox or opera form this website:
http://www.windizupdate.com/

Updates should be obtained directly from MS.

 

[Ron P]

you can get most windows updates with firefox or opera form this website:
http://www.windizupdate.com/

I found a button when I right clicked in the tool bar of FireFox that shows
IE tab filters...pressing that while in the Microsoft site seems to allow me
to the update site and it appears to work.

 

[Guest]

Well, I have tried everything that everyone has suggested in this thread and
in other threads. I uninstalled and re-installed IE. I uninstalled, edited
the IE entries in the registry and then re-installed IE. Still no good. I
also found that if I turn on the IE tab filter in Firefox, I am unable to
browse in that client. I am able to open web pages locally in IE, but it
will not open anything outside of a local drive.

I guess I'll give up. I've got automatic updates turned on now so I am able
to get the updates that I need. It just puzzles me as to what has happened
to IE.

Oh, I also ran Ad-Aware and Spybot and there is no malicious software on the
PC. I use Avast AV and it updates nearly every day. I guess I could run a
full scan and make sure there is nothing there. I'm confident that there is
not, though.

It's just not worth the headache to try to figure it out anymore. I'll
probably be backing up all my stuff soon and formatting drive c: anyway. So,
I'll just live a broken IE until then. Not that it really matters since I
despise it anyway. I'll continue to use Firefox, Netscape and Opera. I have
no problem with those clients.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Bill