Very slow IE6

[Jim Mantle]

I am helping a friend clean up their computer. After deletion of much excess
software, ensuring it is virus-free, and running Ad-Aware, Spybot, and
SpySweeper, it is much improved. HiJackThis shows not much excess software
running on the computer, other than the usual call-home-for-an-update
programs (Java, MSMoney, Real, Quicktime, etc).

The one remaining problem is that Internet Explorer is very slow. The other
computers in the local network (same Internet connection) are faster,
including a Win98 64MB 466Mhz computer (the slow computer is a 3.0GHz
512MB). I installed Firefox on the slow computer, and it runs very fast, so
I believe the problem is isolated to IE.

So I am presuming that IE is damaged, or something remains attached to IE. I
thought that maybe a fresh "overlay" installof IE6 would improve things,
just to jam in a new release with new parameters and registry, but when I
downloaded the 432KB program iexplore6.exe, to do the install, ir refused to
run saying that the currently installed IE is already more current.

I am requesting suggestions, on either forcing-in a clean IE6, or on where
to look to remove whatever is slowing down this installation.

Jim

 

[R. McCarty]

Just a few things might help - First, Dump the whole IE cache. Log in to
the Administrator account and "Completely" delete the profile's IE cache
contents (Might backup Cookies before hand). Also, I would probably
reset all IE Zone Security settings to Default. Finally, I take a look at
the
ActiveX table in (C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files) [View Details]
and remove any suspicious ones.

 

[jim.mantle]

As part of my cleanup: the cache was emptied (it's only 20MB), the
ActiveX controls were mostly deleted (the ones remaining are things
like Windows Update, Acrobat Reader, and others whose presence seemed
reasonable and were not damaged).

In the Restricted Zone there were some 2500 entries thanks to Spybot
S&D - but my home computer has a simlar number and it shows no
performance problems. I also disabled all unknown BHO's and Add-ins.

And I emptied the Temp folder.

IE 6.00.2900.2180 Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP SP2, and WinXP
Home is Service Pack 2 with all updates downloaded and installed.

And slow she still be.... sigh.