IE6 problem: can't close individual browser windows

T

timberlandko

2Ghx P 4, 1 Meg RAM, XP SP2, IE 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr_o50301-15119, NAV
2004, ZoneAlarm Pro, Microsoft Antispyware (Beta), all valid, current and
fully updated.

Now the problem - which cropped up a couple days ago. Opening an IE window
works fine, and clicking links to open daughter windows from that window
works fine. Opening new windows from address bar, either the address bar in
a browser window, or the address bar down in my task bar works fine; no
problem at all opening windows. However, if more than one browser window is
open, clicking the "X" to close any open window results in a hang; the
hourglass just ticks away in that window while nothing else happens - apart
from the "not responding. Clicking into another window to bring it to the
front works fine, and nothing weird happens with the newly selected window -
until I try to close it. Then, same deal; a hang. Holding a click on the
"X" for a few seconds generally closes all open browser windows. Selecting
individual windows from the taskbar grouping of opened windows and clicking
"close" works no better I can close all browser windows with a bit of
effort, but not individual browser windows.

The problem exists whether or not Zone Alarm and/or NAV are running.
Resetting all IE options to default did not have any effect on the problem.
System File Check (sfc /scannow) was no help.
Full System Scans with a², Ad-Aware SE, Bazooka, EWIDO, Housecall, Microsoft
Antispyware, NAV, Trend Sysclean, Panda Activescan, and Spybot S&D come up
clean. Where appropriate, scans have been run while in safe mode, from
normal mode, and immediately following a clean boot. HiJackThis reveals
nothing untoward, nor do Aida32, Belarc Advisor, Everest Ultimate,
SilentRunners, StartDreck, or the system internals scans available through
CCleaner and Spybot S&D. Processor and pagefile useage, Physical Memory,
Kernel Memory, and Commit Charge all appear to remain within normal range
per Windows Task Manager, and no unrecognizable process show up there. IE6
does not appear in Add/Remove Programs, so no repair option from that
corner. I'm stuck. Any ideas?
 
D

Don Varnau

Hi,
As you've been very thorough in looking for a third-party program which may
be causing this, these are longshots, but...

Try re-registering the DLLs listed in this article:
281679 - You Cannot Open New Internet Explorer Window or Nothing Happens
After You Click a Link: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281679

Delete the History and Cache folders for the affected user account.
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

Disable all add-ons from IE> Tools> Manage add-ons.

Disable (MSCONFIG> Startup) any program which might *possibly* be causing
this.

Don
[MS MVP- IE]
 
R

Rob Parsons

Try disabling all your IE Add-ins from the Add-in manager or disable
third-party browser helpers from the Advanced tab of Internet Options and
retest.
You did not mention any add-ins that you may be running.
 
T

timberlandko

Update - turns out it was a corrupted browser extension - fixed it by
deleting the extension and redownloading it (from M$, natch).
 

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