IE6 acting like the junk it is

OK where do I start?

First of all search in the address bar doesn't work any more. When I type in "graph" I am told page cannot be found and http:///? graph appears in the address bar.

I then go to Bitdefender website to do an online scan and get the message from Bitdefender
"This web site is not authorized to host this activeX control"

I then go to Trend Micro for an online scan. Everything works fine getting to their homepage. Works fine getting to the online scan page. Works fine in the "accept terms of use page". Click on the "Launching House Call", get to the intro. page and thats where it stops. The intro. page doesn't fit in IE's browser area (page too large), and downloading freezes.

Everything works in Trend Micro including the online scan (which my PC passed with flying colors) if I use Firefox. I'm sure folks would say "then just use Firefox" but I find that browser to be a resource hog (version 1.5.0.2).
Plus I hate it when something doesn't work right whether I like using it or not.
My favorite browser is Maxthon, but unfortunately it uses the IE engine.

I've read about problems with IE due to Windows update KB908531, but when IE has it's problems "verclsid.exe" is not running according to Task Manager.

My system is totally free of any malware, viruses, etc.

Anybody got any ideas as to what could be the problem? Got me baffeled!

Could it be another security update causing havoc?

 

Do you have security update 896358? If so, you may find this knowledge base article helpful.

Also, you SHOULD use firefox. If you don't like it being a resource hog, you can limit the amount of memory it can consume by following the steps below:

1. Open firefox
2. In the address bar, type 'about:config' (without the quotes)
3. Press enter
4. Right click anywhere, and select New --> Integer
5. Type 'browse.cache.memory.capacity' (without the quotes)
6. Click ok
7. Type in the amount of memory you want firefox to use. 16384 for 16 MB is appropriate, double that for 32.
8. Click ok
9. Restart Firefox

 

I don't think it's due to Security Update 908531. I've got it and I just ran the scan from BitDefender with no problem. When you tried it, did you see the yellow bar appear at the top of IE, just below the address bar, alerting you that the site needed to use ActiveX? You have to right click on that and tell IE to allow installation of the ActiveX component. Did you do that?

To see what IE would do if I typed graph in the address box, I tried it and an MSN search page appeared with results for graph. I guess that's what's supposed to happen; I normally keep Google.com set as my home page and just use it for searches.

 

Agreed! I have the update too, and no problems with BD. Although, it doesn't sound like installation problem. Apparently, you can have this symptom after installing security update 896358. The resolution (if this is the case) is:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\HHRestrictions
Note You must create the key if the key does not already exist.
3. Point to New, click DWORD Value, type EnableFrameNavigationInSafeMode to name the registry entry, and then press ENTER.
4. Right-click EnableFrameNavigationInSafeMode, click Modify, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

Of course, you should back up this key if you do find modifying it may help your situation.

 

Seemed to have solved the problem with IE6.

Opened regedit,

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks

Where I found the key URLSearchHooks was totally missing. Created new key "URLSearchHooks", gave it a string value of {CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}.

Restarted my PC. Opened IE6. Everything seems to work fine including no more problems with Trend Micro and Bitdefender web sites.

Thanks all for the replies.

 

Mada_Milty

Thanks for the tip about Firefox. Used it for a long time before I realized how much resources it used. Great browser. Fast, has a lot of available extensions of which I use only a few. Maybe I'll get back into using it more often now.

 

I used to use firefox, then switched to K-Melon, because it was so similar, and very fast. There isn't as many plugins available, but like you mentioned, i as well never used half of what it offered. so I just stayed with K-meleon and am still happy with it. It is so light on resourses and ram and can be set up to work just like FF. Good security too!
just thought I would add FireFox's little Bro to the mix!