Internet Explorer will not startup

[Guest]

I am having a problem where when I try to start internet explorer nothing happens. Also, when I try to open the control panel, or pretty much anything else on the desktop (recycle bin, add/remove programs, etc.) the screen flashes blue, and then it says my active desktop has been deactivated. Nothing I have done seems to work. There is defintely some spyware/adware that has been installed because I can see it. I can't get rid of it, but I am going to get rid of it with soime utilities. However, will IE work after I do that, or will I have to do something else? Should I get rid of the spyware/adware, and then uninstall/reinstall IE6? It's my girlfriends computer, and she has not antivirus/firewall. She needs it, but the program I have McAfee Internet security 6.0 has been a piece of junk. I've installed, and reinstalled several times with multiple problems after install. I realize that's the core issue, but does naybody have any answers to get it resolved?

 

[Mike Burgess]

Brian,
The first step to resolve your problem:
Control Panel | Internet Options | Advanced [tab]
Uncheck: "Enable third-party browser extensions (requires restart)"
Click Apply\Ok and restart.

If this allows IE to start, see:
Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Don't forget to re-enable the "3rd browser extensions" option (if used)
Many legit applications use that option also.
[more info]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=831432 (XP)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=276393
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826718
____________________________________________________________
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 04-02-04]
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I am having a problem where when I try to start internet explorer nothing

happens. Also, when I try to open the control panel, or pretty much anything
else on the desktop (recycle bin, add/remove programs, etc.) the screen
flashes blue, and then it says my active desktop has been deactivated.
Nothing I have done seems to work. There is defintely some spyware/adware
that has been installed because I can see it. I can't get rid of it, but I
am going to get rid of it with soime utilities. However, will IE work after
I do that, or will I have to do something else? Should I get rid of the
spyware/adware, and then uninstall/reinstall IE6? It's my girlfriends
computer, and she has not antivirus/firewall. She needs it, but the program
I have McAfee Internet security 6.0 has been a piece of junk. I've
installed, and reinstalled several times with multiple problems after
install. I realize that's the core issue, but does naybody have any answers
to get it resolved?