IE 6 gone crazy!

I am running XP Pro/SP2, IE 6, and all up to date. When I open IE and type anything in the Google box and click GO, I get a Windows error message:["Windows cannot find '(null)'. Make sure you have typed the word correctly, ...etc...."]. I have no idea what "null" is. When I close the error message window, sometimes 7-8 new IE windows open at once, all of them blank except for the heading, and more of the same error messages about "null".

I downloaded IE7 a few weeks ago and a couple of IE glitches but everything else, including XP ran fine. A couple of days ago I got a Windows message (not in IE) saying 2 files were corrupted and need to insert the XP installatiion disk. I did and it re-installed the whole operating system, also putting me back to IE6. I updated everything (XP and IE) to most recent updates.

That's when the "Windows cannot find '(null)' " mess started. Help from anyone please!?

 

i think in this case "restore" is not applicable and will not be accessible
as in my experinced

try to read this
http://msdn.microsoft.com/ie/releasenotes/

if you can follow this
the uninstall folder is in the windows folder, $NtUninstallie7beta1$\spuninst
(make a back up of this folder in other directory E:\)
of course the folder is hidden, but if you run the uninstaller you see there, it says you must uninstall it from the user account that you installed IE7 under. of course I only use my own account

make a new string
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\Microsoft\internet explorer
after you have made the string edit it and put in your logon user name and you will be good to go

then go back to windows folder, $NtUninstallie7beta1$\spuninst
look for the "spuninst.exe" double click it
then follow the instruction for uninstalling

sometime it needs to do it again thats why you need to have back it up

 

infoseeker,
Thanks, but this will not work. IE7 as a program no longer exists on my computer that I can find...not in the Ad/Remove program list, not in windows explorer Windows file. Therefore I cannot uninstall IE7. You recall that my problem started when I reinstalled my Win XP OS because I got a Windows pop-up telling me to because of 2 corrupted OS files. When I re-installed, the IE7 was gone and IE6 was in it's place, apparently with some residual IE7 file baggage that I now cannot find nor get rid of.

In the website you recommended (...../ie/releasenotes/) Microsoft made this statement:
"• OS Updates--Do not reinstall any version of Microsoft Windows in any way after you install Internet Explorer 7. Do not upgrade in place or upgrade to a new edition. The workaround is to remove Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2, install operating system updates, and then reinstall Internet Explorer."

Too late! Already reinstalled OS and now have a major problem with IE! Maybe if I uninstalled the current IE6 and reinstalled it, but the old IE7 file remnants would probably still be there, if that's what is causing the problem.

Any idea how to find the rogue IE7 files and get rid of them? Or anyone have any ideas how to fix my problem?

Also, the file -- $NtUninstallie7beta1$\spuninst --is not in my Windows folder. I wouldn't expect it to be. It probably went away with the OS reinstall. Need help bad, and thanks for any other help.

 

Are you still getting the errors? If so, try this,

Solution is to delete the key named {C90250F3-4D7D-4991-9B69-A5C5BC1C2AE6} in the registry. To automate this, here is a small REG file - IE7betakey.reg. http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/ie7betakey.reg

Download the REG file and save to Desktop. Right-click the file, and then choose Merge.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ie/905915.htm

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2005/12/16/504864.aspx

Steve

 

Matacumbie (Steve),
You're a genius! It worked! I'm always a little afraid to make changes to my Reg files, but.... I created a restore point first then made the automated change you recommended, rebooted, and tested IE several times. No more error messages no multiple windows opening at the same time.
Will be a long time before I upgrade to a new IE version. Certainly never a Beta version.

Thanks again,
Bill

 

Fantastic! I should have included to backup the registry or create a restore point, just in case. Glad you had the forethought to do that. Sorry.

Anyway, glad you got it fixed Bill. Good job.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. Great solution. I have been looking for this problem for so long. I'm glad I found your answer. My problem is solved now. Thanks

 

Glad you found it and got it fixed.

Steve

 

Hi Matacumbie

I also had the same problem after un-installing the FULL IE7 release and going back to IE6

I think the cannot finds probablty relate to security Patches loaded after IE7 and looking for the now deleted (and forever vanquished .. until there is a somewhat stable .. if ever .. version)

Thanks for your info and help

The_Godson_Uk