IE won't load any pages,

[Stokesy]

Hi there,

I am having some strange problems with IE (and MSN IM).

If I fire up IE and try to load a page it resolves the websites IP
address and then in the status bar just sits there saying "Connecting
to site [IP Address]" where [IP Address] is the actual IP address of
the site I am trying to access. It does this for ALL pages. And it
just sits there. I have not even seen it timeout. Connected to this
MSN Instant Messenger will not log in any more.

Now, the really interesting bit is that if I open up a windows folder
window (lets say My Computer) and then put a website address into the
windows folder window address bar, it changes it' view to IE and loads
the page. But if that page launches a new browser window (like my
internet banking) it donut work. Weird.

If I run the connection troubleshooter in Messenger 7.5 is succeeds all
the way down to "Key Ports" and then fails.

Ok. I think that about covers what is happening (or rather, not!) So
the next question is what did I change just before this happened?
fortunately I know exactly what I changed to cause this! I just don't
know how to fix it.

I Run McAfee Internet Security and have only ever used the Virus
Checker part of it. Yesterday I decided to try out it's other
features, so i installed the Firewall component. Unfortunately it
looked like i had tried it before and had to renew my subscription. I
didn't want to do this straight away so left it. It was at this point
that I noticed IE would no longer connect and MSN Messenger would no
longer connect. I then tried to uninstall the McAfee firewall
component hoping that it would remove any of the rules it must have put
in place to stop IE and MSN IM connecting. It didn't.

Firefox connects just fine, so does outlook and skype.

So, I decided to try renew my sibscription to McAfee firewall and
installed the whole suit, hoping that it would sort out any mess it had
left before.

It didn't. I am in the same position where everything apart from IE
and Messenger connect. Unfortunately, I need to use IE everyday as I
am a SharePoint developer!

I have just tried rerunning XP SP2 setup to see if that would reinstall
/ reconfigure IE to make it work. it didn't. So, I am at a total loss
as to what I can try next. If anyone has any suggestions, i would love
to hear them.

Thanks

Mark

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
The partial install of McAfee may well be the whole problem.

First turn on the Windows Firewall from Control Panel> Windows Firewall. You
don't want to run WinXP without a firewall.

Go to Start> Run> msconfig> Startup and uncheck all McAfee components.
Restart. Does that help? If so, and you stick with McAfee, I'd
uninstall/reinstall it to get a clean start.

It wouldn't hurt to clear the IE cache. IE> Tools> Internet Options>
General> Delete files (and delete offline content when that dialog pops up)
It's often recommended that the TIF folder be kept at about 50 MB
(Settings.)

You might try disabling add-ons from IE> Tools> Manage add-ons. One of them
might be the cause.

Malware can cause problems like this.
See these sites for help:
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
The Parasite Fight http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups: http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.html
What you can do about spyware and other unwanted software:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/spywarewhat.mspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Hi there,

I am having some strange problems with IE (and MSN IM).

If I fire up IE and try to load a page it resolves the websites IP
address and then in the status bar just sits there saying "Connecting
to site [IP Address]" where [IP Address] is the actual IP address of
the site I am trying to access. It does this for ALL pages. And it
just sits there. I have not even seen it timeout. Connected to this
MSN Instant Messenger will not log in any more.

Now, the really interesting bit is that if I open up a windows folder
window (lets say My Computer) and then put a website address into the
windows folder window address bar, it changes it' view to IE and loads
the page. But if that page launches a new browser window (like my
internet banking) it donut work. Weird.

If I run the connection troubleshooter in Messenger 7.5 is succeeds all
the way down to "Key Ports" and then fails.

Ok. I think that about covers what is happening (or rather, not!) So
the next question is what did I change just before this happened?
fortunately I know exactly what I changed to cause this! I just don't
know how to fix it.

I Run McAfee Internet Security and have only ever used the Virus
Checker part of it. Yesterday I decided to try out it's other
features, so i installed the Firewall component. Unfortunately it
looked like i had tried it before and had to renew my subscription. I
didn't want to do this straight away so left it. It was at this point
that I noticed IE would no longer connect and MSN Messenger would no
longer connect. I then tried to uninstall the McAfee firewall
component hoping that it would remove any of the rules it must have put
in place to stop IE and MSN IM connecting. It didn't.

Firefox connects just fine, so does outlook and skype.

So, I decided to try renew my sibscription to McAfee firewall and
installed the whole suit, hoping that it would sort out any mess it had
left before.

It didn't. I am in the same position where everything apart from IE
and Messenger connect. Unfortunately, I need to use IE everyday as I
am a SharePoint developer!

I have just tried rerunning XP SP2 setup to see if that would reinstall
/ reconfigure IE to make it work. it didn't. So, I am at a total loss
as to what I can try next. If anyone has any suggestions, i would love
to hear them.

Thanks

Mark

 

[Stokesy]

Hey,

Thanks for the reply Don. I have just spent the evening cleaning my
laptop. i have uninstalled a bunch of stuff... manually scraped
through the filesystem and at some point I cured the problems!
Messenger is now logging in and IE is one again a horrible browser, but
one that at least shows content!

I am certain it was down to the McAfee install, but as to which bit of
the tidy up cured it, I have no idea.

In fact, the tidy up was long over due and it already feels faster..
and i have even found a few extra gig again!

Thanks

Mark.