IE Address bar search

[vhmike73]

When I enter a website name into the address bar, IE
returns no website (Just a "The page cannot be displayed"
error page, and the address is always prefaced with
http:///? 'microsoft', where 'microsoft' is the word
used to search on.
This behavior began after a bunch of spyware/crap was
downloaded to the system by a family member who allowed
my firewall to be off. Now I can't find any way to reset
IE so it will again search properly out of the address
bar. I've reset search settings, tried to enable
searching from the address bar, all to no avail. Please
help!

 

[Jan Il]

Hi vhmike73

I have provided information on how to restore your Search, however, it will
not work until your system is free of all spyware, adware, malware and
parasites. Thus, you must do the following first. Even if you have run
some of the programs, run them again, and run *all* of the programs
provided, as they each do a different job.

Download and install, then immediately update the programs prior to running
to be sure they have the latest definitions, then run them, rebooting in
between each. They are free and very effective. Be sure to run both SpyBot
and Adaware, as what one does not detect the other may. It is important
that you do all the steps and follow all directions carefully:

IMPORTANT:
Before trying to remove spyware, download a copy of LSPFIX from
the URL below - some malware may kill your internet connection when it is
removed, this program will enable you to regain your connection.
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm

CWShredder: Free (does not need to be updated, containes latest files)
http://tinyurl.com/2l9kl
or
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html

SpyBot Search & Destroy: Free (Update before running)
http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2
or
http://majorgeeks.com/download2471.html

AdAware: Free (Update before running)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
or
http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html

(If needed: AdAware Manual updates only):
Scroll down to Updates Available -
http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download


Then try this to restore your Search:

Restore Search
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG
You must manually restore any Customizations you had afterward.

Hope this helps.

Jan

 

[Duane]

Jan - I have this exact issue. I've followed all of your
suggestions verbatem and no luck (scans at this point all
come up clean). Any additional suggestions or sites I can
look for help?

Many Thanks
Duane

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Duane

Here is a repair that will work for all versions of Windows. Try this and
see if it will work for you. If you have run the AdAware, then your system
should be clean of the ISearch bug that can cause this kind of problem.

Courtesy of Tony Klein, MS MVP:

This will restore the Windows defaults for a whole lot of Search related
registry entries.

CAUTION: BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST!

Close IE, copy the bold to Notepad, save as Search.reg (save as 'all files',
and doubleclick. Answer 'yes' when prompted to add the contents of
Search.reg to the Registry:


REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchasst.
htm"
"CustomizeSearch"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchcust.
htm"
"Default_Search_URL"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=ies
earch"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl]
""="http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\main]
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Bar"="http://search.msn.com/spbasic.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPre
fix]
@="http://"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]
"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

Hope this helps.

Jan

 

[Jan Il]

Hi vhmike73

If the other did not work for you, or you are still having problems, try
this and see if it will help.

Here is a repair that will work for all versions of Windows. Try this and
see if it will work for you. If you have run the AdAware, then your system
should be clean of the ISearch bug that can cause this kind of problem.

Courtesy of Tony Klein, MS MVP:

This will restore the Windows defaults for a whole lot of Search related
registry entries.

CAUTION: BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST!

Close IE, copy the bold to Notepad, save as Search.reg (save as 'all files',
and doubleclick. Answer 'yes' when prompted to add the contents of
Search.reg to the Registry:


REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchasst.
htm"
"CustomizeSearch"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchcust.
htm"
"Default_Search_URL"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=ies
earch"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl]
""="http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\main]
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Bar"="http://search.msn.com/spbasic.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPre
fix]
@="http://"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]
"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

Hope this helps.

Jan