Weirdness with IE 6 Service Pack 1

[Guest]

Apparently Microsoft released an update that screws with websites requiring
log in (see Knowledge Base article KB831167), and I was dumb enough to be
diligent with my updates and installed it. I went to the download page for
the fix (file name Q831167.exe) but when I try to open it, I get an error
message saying "This update requires Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 to
be installed." Well...it IS installed. In fact, my update history shows a
long history of updates I have successfully installed for it. So no clue why
I can't install this one.

And of course because it prevents you from going to any site that requires
log in, I couldn't get to any Microsoft help site for answers. I had to get
on another computer (which I have not installed the service pack upgrade and
will not now). Joy. FYI, the computer with the problem is old -- running
Win98.

A brief review of this issue for those who don't want to look up the
Knowledge Base article:
After installing the update, any website you attempt to log into will show
"This page cannot be displayed" error page. Microsoft admits they sent out a
damaging update and posted a fix. My problem is that for some reason when I
try to open the file Microsoft posted, I get an error message saying I don't
have the service pack, even though I do and have had no problem installing
updates in the past.

Can anyone help? This is really causing problems with last minute ordering
of Christmas gifts. Thanks!

 

[PA Bear]

If the machine's fully patched at Windows Update, I very much doubt anything
in KB831167 applies. Check in at Windows Update and install all critical
and recommended patches. Otherwise...

...prevents you from going to any site that requires log in

Are these Secure Sites (https://xxxxx)? What happens when you try to go to
or log-in at such a page? Does temporarily disabling your anti-virus
application and/or firewall make any difference?

 

[Guest]

Hi PA Bear,

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "fully patched" but I dutifully
installed all the updates up until this last problem. But now I can't even
get updates. After searching for a moment, the Microsoft update site says:
"Windows Update Error. Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot
display the rest of the page." It's like the entire Microsoft site thinks I
no longer have IE6.

This happened after installing one set of updates that sites I had
previously logged into my account (such as Kodak Picture Gallery, Amazon,
etc.) now all provide the same error. I had never had problems with firewall,
etc. preventing access, didn't update them during this problem period, and
disabling those does not seem to help. Https sites are included in the
problem. I'm not sure if additional types of addresses are or not.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks so much!

 

[PA Bear]

Https sites are

included in the problem. I'm not sure if additional types of addresses
are or not.

It'd be helpful to know if it only happens at HTTPS sites.

Run a thorough checking for Hijackware, including posting your HijackThis
log to an appropriate forum:

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/archive/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your log to http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for expert
analysis, not here.**