IE 8 Problems

"The requested lookup key was not found in any active activation context." I get this message every time I try to go to webpage using IE 8 on my Windows XP machine.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling it. It says it needs to download updates, but they don't install so IE 8 doesn't install. After it tells me it failed, it says "Click on the Download button to manually install the update". I click on it and it says "Setup could not start your default browser".

I tried to reinstall IE from my Windows XP Disk and nothing happened.
:confused

 

Is that something that suddenly started?

What is your Windows XP service pack level?

Can you try clearing the browser cache?

 

I reformatted the partition 6 months ago and installed SP3 along with all the latest Windows updates. I only use IE for my ISP's speed test site, Microsoft sites, and sites that don't support Firefox. The problem started about 2 months ago after I removed some malware with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from an infected flash drive.

IE is currently NOT installed although the Windows XP installation disk thinks it is and won't install it from the disk.

 

I am a little confused. In your last post you said IE is not installed yet in your first post you "I get this message every time I try to go to webpage using IE 8 on my Windows XP machine"

Download Complete Internet Repair. Run in an admin account and only select IE in the list then press GO.

http://majorgeeks.com/Complete_Internet_Repair_d7183.html

 

You're right, I wasn't clear. I should have said "I got this message". Following that I uninstalled IE, then tried to reinstall it with the IE 8 download from Microsoft.com but received the message that Setup needs to download updates. It downloads, then after it fails to install it says "Click on the Download button to manually install the update", which I click on and get "Setup could not start your default browser".

I then tried to reinstall IE from the XP installation disk but nothing happens so IE is currently NOT installed on my computer.

I just downloaded Complete Internet Repair as you suggested. I'll run it and post the results.

 

I tried running Complete Internet Repair but I get a Windows message "comintrep.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

 

IE6 is integrated into XP and cannot be uninstalled so I am not sure what is going on. Go to ADD/Remove Programs. In the left pane select ADD windows components. You will need your install CD. If IE is checked, uncheck it and select apply. Reboot and then check the box and hit apply. It should try to install IE from the CD. If it is not checked, check the box and hit apply.

 

My mistake (again :-o) the IE shortcut disappeared from the desktop and Start Menu after I "removed" it so when I didn't see it in Add/Remove Programs, I thought it was uninstalled. I opened it directly from Program Files\Internet Explorer and got the same message.

This is the same way I removed IE before but I did it again anyway and it didn't ask for the install CD. When it was done there was no change.

 

Go to Start>Set Program Access and defaults. Select Custom and check Internet Explorer and apply. If it is already checked, uncheck and apply. Then check it again and apply. Does IE reappear on the Desktop?

If that does not work. Download Microsoft Installer Cleanup and select anything related to IE8 but not IE6. Then try to reinstall.

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4459/

 

IE didn't reappear on the Desktop. But more importantly, when I opened it from the Start Menu, I got the same message as before.

When I run Microsoft Installer Cleanup, IE does not appear in the list.

 

I am afraid at this point you should probably do a repair install. You would need your XP key when you do this. The Install CD would have to have the same SP as what is on your computer now.

 

Since my install disk is SP2 and I installed SP3 from Windows Update which can't be rolled back, either I have t try to find an SP3 install disk or reformat the partition and start over.

Thanks for trying.