how to repair damaged IE6

[Guest]

I run Windows XP SP2 and IE/OE 6.00.2900.2180 (or at least I did).

This morning, a 3rd-party virus/adware scanner detected and deleted
something (don't know what). System Restore was off, so I can't undo. Now:

1. If I try to access services.msc or any other MMC component, I get the
message,

Microsoft Management Console
MMC will not run with a version of Internet Explorer earlier than Internet
Explorer 5.5.

Because I had previously turned off Automatic Updates and can't now manually
turn it on through services.msc, I can't access Microsoft Update (which might
or might not be able to diagnose and solve my problem). I CAN turn on AU
through the AU Coontrl Panel, but that isn't being recognized by Microsoft
Update.

2. Even stranger (IMO), if I select any text in, e.g., Excel or Word, then
use Ctrl-C or any other method to copy the selected text, I get the message:

Microsoft Office Word [or Excel]
You need Internet Explorer 3.00 or later to use this feature. You can
download the latest version of Internet Explorer from ... microsoft.com.

I re-installed IE 6 SP1 for Win XP SP2. It successfully installed but (it
said) not completely. No change.

I re-installed MMC 3.0. Again no change (no surprise there).

I browsed through the Download Center and found 100's of updates to IE6, but
nothing that seemed relevant.

I want to repair IE 6. I do NOT now want to install IE 7 as it does not work
well with some sites I need to access.

Can you advise? Thanks.

 

[Jon Kennedy]

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP (Q318378)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q318378

What virus/adware scanner are you using? Some of those have an "undo"
function.

 

[Guest]

Ad-aware, and it doesn't.

A correction to what's below: If I enable Automatic Updiates through its
Control Panel, it does seek and find and will install updates -- and it just
did. However, it only installs new updates; my problems below remain
unchanged.

Since installing IE 6 SP1 had no effect, I suspect that I need either (1) to
go back further, perhaps to the original IE 6, and somehow install and update
that to be current or else (2) find someone who really knows what
component(s) and registry setting(s) were trashed and how to repair or
re-install.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP (Q318378)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q318378

What virus/adware scanner are you using? Some of those have an "undo"
function.
--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)

I run Windows XP SP2 and IE/OE 6.00.2900.2180 (or at least I did).

This morning, a 3rd-party virus/adware scanner detected and deleted
something (don't know what). System Restore was off, so I can't undo.
Now:

1. If I try to access services.msc or any other MMC component, I get the
message,

Microsoft Management Console
MMC will not run with a version of Internet Explorer earlier than Internet
Explorer 5.5.

Because I had previously turned off Automatic Updates and can't now
manually
turn it on through services.msc, I can't access Microsoft Update (which
might
or might not be able to diagnose and solve my problem). I CAN turn on AU
through the AU Coontrl Panel, but that isn't being recognized by Microsoft
Update.

2. Even stranger (IMO), if I select any text in, e.g., Excel or Word, then
use Ctrl-C or any other method to copy the selected text, I get the
message:

Microsoft Office Word [or Excel]
You need Internet Explorer 3.00 or later to use this feature. You can
download the latest version of Internet Explorer from ... microsoft.com.

I re-installed IE 6 SP1 for Win XP SP2. It successfully installed but (it
said) not completely. No change.

I re-installed MMC 3.0. Again no change (no surprise there).

I browsed through the Download Center and found 100's of updates to IE6,
but
nothing that seemed relevant.

I want to repair IE 6. I do NOT now want to install IE 7 as it does not
work
well with some sites I need to access.

Can you advise? Thanks.

 

[Jon Kennedy]

To reinstall IE 6 SP-2 you will have to reinstall Windows XP SP-2 - per the
article I referenced.

Ad-Aware SE (the free version) does have an undo function - if you have it
quarantine items automatically before deleting them (see General settings -
yellow cog icon at the top). To get to the Quarantine section, click the
yellow padlock icon upper right, select what was last deleted, then click
Restore.

However, one thing to check that may solve your problem -

It's possible the UserAgent entry in the registry of that computer is the
issue. The web site looks for that to see what browser you are using and to
change it's web page display as appropriate.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings

For WinXP and IE 6 the value should be - Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;
Win32)

More info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827326/en-us - see the
Resolution section.


--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)

Ad-aware, and it doesn't.

A correction to what's below: If I enable Automatic Updiates through its
Control Panel, it does seek and find and will install updates -- and it
just
did. However, it only installs new updates; my problems below remain
unchanged.

Since installing IE 6 SP1 had no effect, I suspect that I need either (1)
to
go back further, perhaps to the original IE 6, and somehow install and
update
that to be current or else (2) find someone who really knows what
component(s) and registry setting(s) were trashed and how to repair or
re-install.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows
XP (Q318378)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q318378

What virus/adware scanner are you using? Some of those have an "undo"
function.
--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)

I run Windows XP SP2 and IE/OE 6.00.2900.2180 (or at least I did).

This morning, a 3rd-party virus/adware scanner detected and deleted
something (don't know what). System Restore was off, so I can't undo.
Now:

1. If I try to access services.msc or any other MMC component, I get
the
message,

Microsoft Management Console
MMC will not run with a version of Internet Explorer earlier than
Internet
Explorer 5.5.

Because I had previously turned off Automatic Updates and can't now
manually
turn it on through services.msc, I can't access Microsoft Update (which
might
or might not be able to diagnose and solve my problem). I CAN turn on
AU
through the AU Coontrl Panel, but that isn't being recognized by
Microsoft
Update.

2. Even stranger (IMO), if I select any text in, e.g., Excel or Word,
then
use Ctrl-C or any other method to copy the selected text, I get the
message:

Microsoft Office Word [or Excel]
You need Internet Explorer 3.00 or later to use this feature. You can
download the latest version of Internet Explorer from ...
microsoft.com.

I re-installed IE 6 SP1 for Win XP SP2. It successfully installed but
(it
said) not completely. No change.

I re-installed MMC 3.0. Again no change (no surprise there).

I browsed through the Download Center and found 100's of updates to
IE6,
but
nothing that seemed relevant.

I want to repair IE 6. I do NOT now want to install IE 7 as it does not
work
well with some sites I need to access.

Can you advise? Thanks.

 

[Guest]

The registry setting is as it should be (that is, it wasn't changed). I'll
check out the article next. Thanks.

To reinstall IE 6 SP-2 you will have to reinstall Windows XP SP-2 - per the
article I referenced.

Ad-Aware SE (the free version) does have an undo function - if you have it
quarantine items automatically before deleting them (see General settings -
yellow cog icon at the top). To get to the Quarantine section, click the
yellow padlock icon upper right, select what was last deleted, then click
Restore.

However, one thing to check that may solve your problem -

It's possible the UserAgent entry in the registry of that computer is the
issue. The web site looks for that to see what browser you are using and to
change it's web page display as appropriate.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings

For WinXP and IE 6 the value should be - Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;
Win32)

More info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827326/en-us - see the
Resolution section.


--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)

Ad-aware, and it doesn't.

A correction to what's below: If I enable Automatic Updiates through its
Control Panel, it does seek and find and will install updates -- and it
just
did. However, it only installs new updates; my problems below remain
unchanged.

Since installing IE 6 SP1 had no effect, I suspect that I need either (1)
to
go back further, perhaps to the original IE 6, and somehow install and
update
that to be current or else (2) find someone who really knows what
component(s) and registry setting(s) were trashed and how to repair or
re-install.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows
XP (Q318378)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q318378

What virus/adware scanner are you using? Some of those have an "undo"
function.
--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)


I run Windows XP SP2 and IE/OE 6.00.2900.2180 (or at least I did).

This morning, a 3rd-party virus/adware scanner detected and deleted
something (don't know what). System Restore was off, so I can't undo.
Now:

1. If I try to access services.msc or any other MMC component, I get
the
message,

Microsoft Management Console
MMC will not run with a version of Internet Explorer earlier than
Internet
Explorer 5.5.

Because I had previously turned off Automatic Updates and can't now
manually
turn it on through services.msc, I can't access Microsoft Update (which
might
or might not be able to diagnose and solve my problem). I CAN turn on
AU
through the AU Coontrl Panel, but that isn't being recognized by
Microsoft
Update.

2. Even stranger (IMO), if I select any text in, e.g., Excel or Word,
then
use Ctrl-C or any other method to copy the selected text, I get the
message:

Microsoft Office Word [or Excel]
You need Internet Explorer 3.00 or later to use this feature. You can
download the latest version of Internet Explorer from ...
microsoft.com.

I re-installed IE 6 SP1 for Win XP SP2. It successfully installed but
(it
said) not completely. No change.

I re-installed MMC 3.0. Again no change (no surprise there).

I browsed through the Download Center and found 100's of updates to
IE6,
but
nothing that seemed relevant.

I want to repair IE 6. I do NOT now want to install IE 7 as it does not
work
well with some sites I need to access.

Can you advise? Thanks.

 

[Guest]

MS Tech Support provided a fix that was much less arduous than complete
reinstall of XP.

1. Insert Windows XP Pro CD. Exit welcome screen.
2. In Run dialog, enter inf
3. Browse CD for ie.inf. Right-click. Click Install
4. On CD, browse to \Service Pack Files\i386.
5. Run iexplore.exe
6. Setup asks for 5 or 6 files. If they aren't in c:\i386 on the hard drive,
they can be found (perhaps in compressed form) in \i386 on the CD. Browse to
each in turn and say OK or Retry, as Setup may require. Where necessary, use
command-line expand utility to decompress files (e.g., in my case, <cd
drive>:\install.in_ c:\install.ins).

At end of that, IE correctly shows Version:
6.00.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.061219-0316 and other problems I described are
gone.

To reinstall IE 6 SP-2 you will have to reinstall Windows XP SP-2 - per the
article I referenced.

Ad-Aware SE (the free version) does have an undo function - if you have it
quarantine items automatically before deleting them (see General settings -
yellow cog icon at the top). To get to the Quarantine section, click the
yellow padlock icon upper right, select what was last deleted, then click
Restore.

However, one thing to check that may solve your problem -

It's possible the UserAgent entry in the registry of that computer is the
issue. The web site looks for that to see what browser you are using and to
change it's web page display as appropriate.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings

For WinXP and IE 6 the value should be - Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0;
Win32)

More info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827326/en-us - see the
Resolution section.


--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)

Ad-aware, and it doesn't.

A correction to what's below: If I enable Automatic Updiates through its
Control Panel, it does seek and find and will install updates -- and it
just
did. However, it only installs new updates; my problems below remain
unchanged.

Since installing IE 6 SP1 had no effect, I suspect that I need either (1)
to
go back further, perhaps to the original IE 6, and somehow install and
update
that to be current or else (2) find someone who really knows what
component(s) and registry setting(s) were trashed and how to repair or
re-install.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows
XP (Q318378)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q318378

What virus/adware scanner are you using? Some of those have an "undo"
function.
--

Jon R. Kennedy MS MVP/IE
Charlotte, NC USA
(e-mail address removed)


I run Windows XP SP2 and IE/OE 6.00.2900.2180 (or at least I did).

This morning, a 3rd-party virus/adware scanner detected and deleted
something (don't know what). System Restore was off, so I can't undo.
Now:

1. If I try to access services.msc or any other MMC component, I get
the
message,

Microsoft Management Console
MMC will not run with a version of Internet Explorer earlier than
Internet
Explorer 5.5.

Because I had previously turned off Automatic Updates and can't now
manually
turn it on through services.msc, I can't access Microsoft Update (which
might
or might not be able to diagnose and solve my problem). I CAN turn on
AU
through the AU Coontrl Panel, but that isn't being recognized by
Microsoft
Update.

2. Even stranger (IMO), if I select any text in, e.g., Excel or Word,
then
use Ctrl-C or any other method to copy the selected text, I get the
message:

Microsoft Office Word [or Excel]
You need Internet Explorer 3.00 or later to use this feature. You can
download the latest version of Internet Explorer from ...
microsoft.com.

I re-installed IE 6 SP1 for Win XP SP2. It successfully installed but
(it
said) not completely. No change.

I re-installed MMC 3.0. Again no change (no surprise there).

I browsed through the Download Center and found 100's of updates to
IE6,
but
nothing that seemed relevant.

I want to repair IE 6. I do NOT now want to install IE 7 as it does not
work
well with some sites I need to access.

Can you advise? Thanks.

 

[Jon Kennedy]

Glad to hear your issue has been resolved. I was not (nor was the article)
advocating a complete reinstall of Windows XP, just the SP-2. Now that you
have IE reinstalled, visit Windows Update to make sure you have the latest
fixes and patches for IE 6.

 

[Guest]

My apologies for my sloppy usage. I knew you meant SP2. The other nice thing
about the repair below is that it apparently did not take IE back to an
outdated state. There were no additional IE patches at the Update site.