How to stop IE from changing my homepage to MSN

[Developer]

I have created my own local home page that has all the links I ever need.
But now a days IE changes its homepage to MSN.com. I have to then open my
own page, and then go to Tools->Preferences and set the homepage back to
mine. Next time I boot my machine .... homepage is changed back to MSN.

Is IE even capable of stopping this type of behavior? Or is MSN forcing me
into the arms of Firefox?

Developer

 

[cbrunet]

This sort of problem is usually caused by ad-ware or malware. Run
Ad-Aware on the system and see if that helps.

But in all honesty, yes, use FireFox.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

It looks like you have a security program that is protecting the home page.
You will have to look at the options of each and turn off the protection.

 

[PA Bear]

Options/settings in several third-party applications may be disallowing the
change. These include Ad-aware's Ad-Watch, Spybot Tea Timer, SpywareBlaster,
SpySweeper, Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan and/or Antispyware, and Zone
Alarm (Free and Pro).

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

I have created my own local home page that has all the links I ever need.
But now a days IE changes its homepage to MSN.com. I have to then open my
own page, and then go to Tools->Preferences and set the homepage back to
mine. Next time I boot my machine .... homepage is changed back to MSN.

What is the URL? Perhaps MSN is just forcing you to visit it once
and will then restore your preferred Home page?

Is IE even capable of stopping this type of behavior? Or is MSN forcing me
into the arms of Firefox?

In fact, if you are running some spyware prevention software it could be that
it is sabotaging a normally transparent procedure that Microsoft employs
after installing their software to make sure that new users can read all about
any new features. E.g. visit once and then get your Home page back.

You could test both ideas by using RegMon filtering on Home.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Developer]

What is the URL? Perhaps MSN is just forcing you to visit it once
and will then restore your preferred Home page?

Robert, the URL is http://msn.com. It is not the type you anticipated. I
know what you are talking about. Sometimes Microsoft forces me to web sites
such as authenticator installer etc. This is not like that.