"We can't find...." error message w/o http:// prefix

[Andrew Lang]

I get this error on the XP version of Microsoft 6
whenever attempting to use a URL without "http://" as a
prefix. This was not a problem when I first installed the
browser; and I know that the default is to allow
addresses to be typed in without the prefix. Now, for no
reason I can determine, the prefix is always required.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Sandi - Microsoft MVP]

Here you go Andrew:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers_8.htm#extension

 

[Andrew Lang]

Sandi, thanks for your reply. However, the page of
instructions is incomprehensible to me. I do not know
what "regedit" means, for example. As I said, I haven't
changed any of the default settings on my browser. It
ought not to have spontaneously changed the setting to
require me to insert the http. I'm afraid I'll need a
simpler explanation for a fix.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Andrew Lang]

Sandi, let me amend my previous message. I'll still need
your help. I did find out how to run regedit, and I
followed the path in your instructions. But when I got
there, there was no:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
ion\URL\DefaultPrefix]
Default ="http://"

Sub-key:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
ion\URL\Prefixes]


"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

Instead, only the following appears:

ab (Default) REG-SZ http://[porn site URL follows]

Now, someone used my computer while I was on vacation,
and before I installed a firewall as part of the
MSBLASTER fix. Is it possible that that site got through
the security flaw into my system and changed the settings?

BTW, I still have no idea how to restore the original
HKEY information. There's a mention of downloading a
file, then unzipping it, but (1) I do not have an unzip
program and (2) the instructions, in any case, are
gibberish to me.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Sandi - Microsoft MVP]

Uh oh, you've been hijacked; check out the advice at the URL below, and when
cleaned up run an IE repair:

Troubleshooting:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm#tshoot

IE repair:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers_5.htm#repair_tool