unable to type anything into Internet Explorer search boxes

K

-keevill-

I am experiencing a problem with one of the machines on our network. Users
of this machine cannot type anything into search boxes of Internet Explorer,
for example, bringing up Google we are unable to type anything into search
box. The machine is running Windows 2000 with Office 2003 and is fully
up-to-date with updates and the virus definitions are current. I have run
lavasoft adware, spybot and spysweeper all fully updated and removed various
malware etc but the solution is still eluding me. Does anyone have any
ideas before I format and do a completely new installation.
 
J

Jan Il

Hi keevill :)

Try the following and see if it helps:

Unable to search from IE6 Address Bar

Check the Registry to see if this file is there. Sometime during removal of
hijackers or spyware files in the Registry can get corrupted or removed as
well. If not, try adding this line to this part of the registry.

(watch for the wrap, it should be all on one line)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

or.......

A Single Letter May Be Displayed in the Title Bar
When you run Windows Explorer or start Internet Explorer, the text in the
title bar may be displayed as a single letter (for example, an "M" or an
"E").
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=225123
or
http://www.free-web-browsers.com/support/remove-mysearch.shtml

and........

To Restore Address Search Functions

Restore default Search functions:

In order to restore you default Search functions, download and run the
program below. You will have to redo any customized features you may have
added afterward.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG

or....................

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 (Watch for the line wrap. Each one should be all on on line.)

[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://

or.............................

Download the fix - Reset Search:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/tools/IEFIX.reg
This will restore your default Search functionality. However, if you had
any custom adjustments you have made will have to re-select them.

or.............

Repairs the corrupted or altered (spyware) HTTP prefixes
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/RepairDefaultPrefix.reg

If no joy try the following........

Start> Run> Paste this in the window area and hit enter.
regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll

then do the same with each one of the following and hit enter after each
one.

regsvr32 Shell32.dll
regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 Urlmon.dll

You should see a message after each entry to let you know the file has been
registered

If these steps do not resolve your problem, please post back to this thread
with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

Jan :)
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Please reply to the newsgroup so others may benefit.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
K

-keevill-

Jan Il said:
Hi keevill :)

Try the following and see if it helps:

Unable to search from IE6 Address Bar

Check the Registry to see if this file is there. Sometime during removal of
hijackers or spyware files in the Registry can get corrupted or removed as
well. If not, try adding this line to this part of the registry.

(watch for the wrap, it should be all on one line)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""


I resolved the problem by reinstalling Internet Explorer and all of the
latest service packs and security bulletins which would not update using the
automatic Windows update facility.
 

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