Cannot change IE homepage

P

pebso

Hello

I am unable to change my IE homepage which keeps defaulting to MSN.
Whatever I do to internet options/change homepage is ignored once I
close the browser down & reopen it.

I am using Win XP Home on a Toshiba laptop.

Any suggestions please as to what can be preventing my changing the home
page?

Pebso
 
J

JonathanMCorbett

My first thought would be spyware type stuff changing it, but I would
expect that to change the site to something other than MSN. I dont
mean to insult your intelligence, but you are clicking apply once
you've put the new site in correct?
I guess I would go the route of running some spyware checkers like
SpyBot and/or AdAware
www.lavasoft.de (adaware)
http://spybot.safer-networking.de/ (spybot)

-Jon
 
W

Wesley Vogel

IE Home page grayed locked.

If you are using Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - S & D
[+] Tools
IE Tweaks
Miscellaneous locks
UNCheck: Lock IE start page setting against user changes (current user)
---

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
63. Home Page Lock - Home Page Unlock
Click on Home Page Unlock
---

If you have XP Pro, check this setting in Group Policy.

Disable changing home page settings
http://www.boyce.us/gp/gpcontent.asp?ID=700

---

Or check these registry settings...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
Value Name: HomePage
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Not locked
1 = Locked

Home page setting changes unexpectedly, or you cannot change your home page
setting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320159

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
P

pebso

My first thought would be spyware type stuff changing it, but I would
expect that to change the site to something other than MSN. I dont
mean to insult your intelligence, but you are clicking apply once
you've put the new site in correct?
I guess I would go the route of running some spyware checkers like
SpyBot and/or AdAware
www.lavasoft.de (adaware)
http://spybot.safer-networking.de/ (spybot)

-Jon
Oh you can't insult my intelligence; I'm the first to overlook the
obvious :) however in this case I haven't. Not only can I not change
it in IE, the option in my chosen homepage - bt.yahoo - to set that page
as my homepage doesn't work either. I will run a couple of anti spyware
programs to see if they weed anything out.

Pebso
 
P

pebso

Wesley said:
IE Home page grayed locked.

If you are using Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - S & D
[+] Tools
IE Tweaks
Miscellaneous locks
UNCheck: Lock IE start page setting against user changes (current user)
---

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
63. Home Page Lock - Home Page Unlock
Click on Home Page Unlock
---

If you have XP Pro, check this setting in Group Policy.

Disable changing home page settings
http://www.boyce.us/gp/gpcontent.asp?ID=700

---

Or check these registry settings...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
Value Name: HomePage
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Not locked
1 = Locked

Home page setting changes unexpectedly, or you cannot change your home page
setting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320159
Thank you.

I've tried the registry entries & in both cases the values arte : 0 x
00000000 (0) unlocked

I've run the Kelly's Korner Patch.

I've followed the instructions in ?kbid=320159

I've scanned with AVG, AdAware & Spybot S&D

all to no avail; I still cannot get rid of MSN as my home page. I've
set my chosen homepage as a favourite so can get to it easily; it's just
a bit frustratiin that IE will not open at it. The BT Yahoo browser
(BTY is my ISP) will open at the page I want however I don't like that
browser.

Perhaps I'll try Firefox.

Pebso
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Pebso,

I do not have Ad-Aware anymore, but there is an option that I kind of
remember that sets your home page to MSN. I cannot look this up myself,
you'll have to do it. Look in Ad-Aware help for home page or start page. I
seem to remember that it happens when your first run Ad-Aware and do not pay
enough attention to the Settings. Maybe look Settings up in Ad-Aware help
also.

Sorry that I cannot remember more and I did not keep any notes.

I seem to remember that there was some kind of an option to use current or
something.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
pebso said:
Wesley said:
IE Home page grayed locked.

If you are using Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - S & D
[+] Tools
IE Tweaks
Miscellaneous locks
UNCheck: Lock IE start page setting against user changes (current user)
---

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
63. Home Page Lock - Home Page Unlock
Click on Home Page Unlock
---

If you have XP Pro, check this setting in Group Policy.

Disable changing home page settings
http://www.boyce.us/gp/gpcontent.asp?ID=700

---

Or check these registry settings...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
Value Name: HomePage
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Not locked
1 = Locked

Home page setting changes unexpectedly, or you cannot change your home
page setting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320159
Thank you.

I've tried the registry entries & in both cases the values arte : 0 x
00000000 (0) unlocked

I've run the Kelly's Korner Patch.

I've followed the instructions in ?kbid=320159

I've scanned with AVG, AdAware & Spybot S&D

all to no avail; I still cannot get rid of MSN as my home page. I've
set my chosen homepage as a favourite so can get to it easily; it's just
a bit frustratiin that IE will not open at it. The BT Yahoo browser
(BTY is my ISP) will open at the page I want however I don't like that
browser.

Perhaps I'll try Firefox.

Pebso
 
G

Guest

pebso said:
Wesley said:
IE Home page grayed locked.

If you are using Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - S & D
[+] Tools
IE Tweaks
Miscellaneous locks
UNCheck: Lock IE start page setting against user changes (current user)
---

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
63. Home Page Lock - Home Page Unlock
Click on Home Page Unlock
---

If you have XP Pro, check this setting in Group Policy.

Disable changing home page settings
http://www.boyce.us/gp/gpcontent.asp?ID=700

---

Or check these registry settings...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
Value Name: HomePage
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Not locked
1 = Locked

Home page setting changes unexpectedly, or you cannot change your home page
setting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320159
Thank you.

I've tried the registry entries & in both cases the values arte : 0 x
00000000 (0) unlocked

I've run the Kelly's Korner Patch.

I've followed the instructions in ?kbid=320159

I've scanned with AVG, AdAware & Spybot S&D

all to no avail; I still cannot get rid of MSN as my home page. I've
set my chosen homepage as a favourite so can get to it easily; it's just
a bit frustratiin that IE will not open at it. The BT Yahoo browser
(BTY is my ISP) will open at the page I want however I don't like that
browser.

Perhaps I'll try Firefox.

Hi Pebso,
Uninstall the following the S&D spybot and the Anti_Spyware they the Culprit
of your Problem and clean their traces on your computer by put the
File/Folder name in the Search engine and Shift+ DEL and Reboot and try to
set your Home page in IE Properties.
Or Read on:
This simlar Case we did have on IE6 General newsgroup and this Cut and Paste.

change the Home page in the following KEYS:
Click on *Main* and look in Right Pane/Window and Locate *Start Page* Right
Click on it and select Modify and enter the Data say for ex;
http://www.myweb.com as your Home page and Locate also this *Local Page* and
Right Click on it and select Moddify and put the following;
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\blank.htm
[+]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
The same with this KEY on the *Start Page* change it into http://www.myweb.com
Leave the *Local Page* as is if have this string of Data:
http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}...... etc
[+] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

<Snip>
Are you the Admin of the computer, if not Asign yourself as the admin or in
the admin group, to that go to the Control Panel and Accounts and do the
appropriate changes.

Then in the Registry Right click:
[+]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
[+] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

and select Permession and see if you have Full Control on the Key (Main).
and if you do not have then asign yourself Full control, if you have and
still can't change the Value then proceed to this step;
In the IE Properties Click on Programs and Click on Manage Add-Ons in the
Add-Ons window click on the Drop down and select : The Add-Ons that being
used by Interent Explorer.
and disable Browser Helper Objects or Toolbars for Non-MS (i.e.
Anti-Spyware, AV, Spybot...etc).
Then on General Change the Home Page and click Apply/OK and then Reboot and
see if you will have the new Page.
If no joy Uninstall Spybot, spy shierf or whatever Anti-Spyware or
Anti-Virus you have from the Contrl Panel or if they have Uninstall Utility
came with them.
Delete the left Folder behind in the Windows Explorer by locate or search
for them by name.
In the Registry Right click on the KEYs and Select Find and Delete any left
over from these Apps ( be careful to not delete Sys Folder, always backup
before delete in the Regs).
Reboot and Do the changes for the Home page in either Reg or IE Window.
HTH
Regards
nass
</snip>
 
W

Wesley Vogel

OK, I just downloaded and installed Ad-Aware SE Personal.

I updated to Definitions File SE1R113 28.06.2006

1. Open Ad-Aware
2. Click the gear at the top (opens the Ad-Aware Configuration window)
3. Click on Defaults on the left
4. Default Settings opens
5. Default homepage defaults to: http://www.msn.com
6. Default searchpage defaults to: http://ie.search.msn.com
7. If you click on Read current settings from system, nothing happens. Hmm.
8. I had to manually change to about:mozilla for Default homepage.

From Ad-Aware SE Manual (C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE
Personal\manual.chm)

[[Default IE Pages
Default homepage: Ad-Aware SE uses the defined homepage when recovering from
a browser hijack

Default Search Engine: Ad-Aware SE uses the defined search engine when
recovering from a browser hijack

Read current settings from system: Changes the default homepage and default
search engine entries above to the current settings on your computer. This
option is an easy way for you to reset your defaults without having to enter
the paths manually ]]

9. I use Mike Burgess' MVPS HOSTS file from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
10. Click the gear at the top (opens the Ad-Aware Configuration window)
11. Click on Scanning on the left
12. Scan settings opens
13. Had to UNCheck: Scan my Hosts file

From Ad-Aware SE Manual (C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE
Personal\manual.chm)

[[Scan my Hosts file: Ad-Aware scans of the hosts file. Edits to the Hosts
file are most often used by home page hijackers*

* Special note to those who use Hosts file blocking! If you use a Hosts file
edit to block content, this option can cause some of these entries to be
detected and then presented for removal. Please be sure to review this
content at the end of a scan and select those entries that you wish to
ignore in subsequent scans with Ad-Aware SE. This will avoid any unwanted
changes to your Hosts file. ]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
nass said:
pebso said:
Wesley said:
IE Home page grayed locked.

If you are using Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - S & D
[+] Tools
IE Tweaks
Miscellaneous locks
UNCheck: Lock IE start page setting against user changes (current user)
---

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
63. Home Page Lock - Home Page Unlock
Click on Home Page Unlock
---

If you have XP Pro, check this setting in Group Policy.

Disable changing home page settings
http://www.boyce.us/gp/gpcontent.asp?ID=700

---

Or check these registry settings...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
Control Panel
Value Name: HomePage
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Not locked
1 = Locked

Home page setting changes unexpectedly, or you cannot change your home
page setting
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320159
Thank you.

I've tried the registry entries & in both cases the values arte : 0 x
00000000 (0) unlocked

I've run the Kelly's Korner Patch.

I've followed the instructions in ?kbid=320159

I've scanned with AVG, AdAware & Spybot S&D

all to no avail; I still cannot get rid of MSN as my home page. I've
set my chosen homepage as a favourite so can get to it easily; it's just
a bit frustratiin that IE will not open at it. The BT Yahoo browser
(BTY is my ISP) will open at the page I want however I don't like that
browser.

Perhaps I'll try Firefox.

Hi Pebso,
Uninstall the following the S&D spybot and the Anti_Spyware they the
Culprit of your Problem and clean their traces on your computer by put the
File/Folder name in the Search engine and Shift+ DEL and Reboot and try to
set your Home page in IE Properties.
Or Read on:
This simlar Case we did have on IE6 General newsgroup and this Cut and
Paste.

change the Home page in the following KEYS:
Click on *Main* and look in Right Pane/Window and Locate *Start Page*
Right Click on it and select Modify and enter the Data say for ex;
http://www.myweb.com as your Home page and Locate also this *Local Page*
and Right Click on it and select Moddify and put the following;
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\blank.htm
[+]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
The same with this KEY on the *Start Page* change it into
http://www.myweb.com Leave the *Local Page* as is if have this string of
Data: http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}...... etc
[+] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

<Snip>
Are you the Admin of the computer, if not Asign yourself as the admin or
in the admin group, to that go to the Control Panel and Accounts and do
the appropriate changes.

Then in the Registry Right click:
[+]HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
[+] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

and select Permession and see if you have Full Control on the Key (Main).
and if you do not have then asign yourself Full control, if you have and
still can't change the Value then proceed to this step;
In the IE Properties Click on Programs and Click on Manage Add-Ons in the
Add-Ons window click on the Drop down and select : The Add-Ons that being
used by Interent Explorer.
and disable Browser Helper Objects or Toolbars for Non-MS (i.e.
Anti-Spyware, AV, Spybot...etc).
Then on General Change the Home Page and click Apply/OK and then Reboot
and see if you will have the new Page.
If no joy Uninstall Spybot, spy shierf or whatever Anti-Spyware or
Anti-Virus you have from the Contrl Panel or if they have Uninstall
Utility came with them.
Delete the left Folder behind in the Windows Explorer by locate or search
for them by name.
In the Registry Right click on the KEYs and Select Find and Delete any
left over from these Apps ( be careful to not delete Sys Folder, always
backup before delete in the Regs).
Reboot and Do the changes for the Home page in either Reg or IE Window.
HTH
Regards
nass
</snip>
 
D

dustinmasset

First check if you have "windows defender", it is a free antivirus
program from Microsoft, If you have WindowsDefender, I believe there is
an option in Internet Explorer under "Tools > Advanced Options", to
keep your homepage as msn.com....

Also, Do you have "Live messenger"? this is Microsoft's new msn
messenger program. I encountered this problem and found it was because
when I installed LiveMessenger, there was an option to "keep msn as
homepage" I'm not positive on how to fix it but I would guess you could
uninstall then reinstall with that option unchecked..... good luck!
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

First check if you have "windows defender", it is a free antivirus
program from Microsoft,


No, WIndows Defender is *not* an anti-virus program. It's an anti-spyware
program, and does not protect you against viruses.
 

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