Windows Internet Explorer - This Program is Not Responding

[Merlin]

Recently, I've been getting a lot of occasions when Internet Explorer 7
freezes while I'm looking at a web page and when I try to close it I get the
message "This Program is Not Responding". It happens on so many differnt
sites that it's difficult to identify one that it hasn't happened on.

I can't be sure when it started, but I think it was after a routine Windows
update or after I downloaded the latest Windows Live update and the first
application it froze on was when I was trying to check gmail. Since then it
has frozen dozens of times.

Does anyone have any suggestions how I can fix this problem?

 

[axm]

I also used to have similar problems, including some real nasty virus
attacks. Then one fine day, I just got rid of Windows and all
Microsoft products and installed Linux and Mozilla Firefox. Since then
I have no problem.

 

[Jean Rosenfeld]

Does it happen if you open IE7 with no addons? (there is a shortcut in the
system tools folder, or click start, run, type
iexplore.exe -extoff
click OK

If it is stable without addons, try enabling them again one by one or in
small groups, until the problem recurs. By a process of elimination you can
then find the one causing the problem.

 

[Merlin]

I've often felt like doing the same myself, but, unfortunately, I have just
too many Windows applications and the users of my computers have too much
background in Windows to make that switch practical. I just keep hoping that
one day Windows actually do what it's supposed to. Wishful thinking, no
doubt!

 

[Merlin]

Thank you, I've started IE7 via the tools shortcut and, so far, no problem,
so I'll continue with your suggestion and try enabling them again one by one.

Do you have any suggestions for how best to go about that process - I use
Google as my search engine and have Norton as my Anti-Virus and Internet
Security provider?

 

[Jean Rosenfeld]

The easiesr way is to cloe IE, then Control panel, intenet options, programs
tab, click manage addons.
The most likely culprit will be a third party addon, so I would start by
enabling all the MS addons and disabling the others.
Then use the normal IE shortcut to test for stability.

 

[nass]

Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Tabs:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Re-enable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
Run disk cleanup and check disk on startup.
HTH.
nass

 

[Merlin]

Until I checked I had no idea just how many addons were cluttering IE and I
have even less idea how many of them got there in the first place. Anyway, I
disabled almost all of them and now have finished up with just Google and
Norton. IE now works correctly once more and much more quickly as well.

Many thanks for your help.

 

[Merlin]

Thanks for the additional suggestions. As a matter of interest you might
like to know that I had already cleaned up the caches, and files, and deleted
cookies etc. but this hadn't cured the problem. However, now I've disabled
most of the IE addons IE seems to be working correctly once more.

Thanks for the advice.

Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Tabs:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Re-enable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
Run disk cleanup and check disk on startup.
HTH.
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

Thank you, I've started IE7 via the tools shortcut and, so far, no problem,
so I'll continue with your suggestion and try enabling them again one by one.

Do you have any suggestions for how best to go about that process - I use
Google as my search engine and have Norton as my Anti-Virus and Internet
Security provider?