IE pauses when opening page without "http://" prefix

[Chris]

Hello,

I wonder if someone can help with an irritating problem I am having in
IE6 SP1 on Windows XP Home edition?

Since uninstalling a lot of unwanted software, my IE window will take
some time (1-2 minutes) to open a page that I enter on the address
bar. However, if I type in the http:// prefix it works fine. E.g.
www.microsoft.com takes ages whereas http://www.microsoft.com is
instant.

It isn't a major problem since the browser still works, but despite
trying several ways to resolve this it is still occurring and can be
quite irritating. I would assume that one of the applications I
uninstalled removed an IE component that instructs IE to default to
the http transport if the prefix is not included, but I cannot tell
where or how this is set.

If anyone can assist with this it would be very much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Chris.

 

[Mike Burgess]

Chris,
Some program (usually spyware\parasite) may have overridden the URL prefix
setting?
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Includes: Repair the corrupted or altered (spyware) HTTP prefixes
See section: Various Registry Fixes = "RepairDefaultPrefix.reg"
[or - manually]
Open Regedit to the following locations and verify the below default
entries:
Start | Run (type) "regedit" (no quotes)

[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://"

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

Note: edit as needed, *always* Export before editing.
____________________________________________________________
Mike Burgess [MVP Windows Shell\User] http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 12-08-03]
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