IE6 homepage locked on msn

I knowI'm not the only one whose had this problem as I've read dozens of posts on various forums about this.

New HP Media Center PC with Windows Media Center 2005 installed.

IE homepage is fixed at http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome.

I have done numerous virus scans with AVG and found nothing.
Have run Spybot S&D 1.4 and resolved all issues. I have found two references to the above homepage in Tools, Browser Pages. One, I have changed to google.co.uk and the change is accpted and shown on screen. If I try and change the other reference, I can type in google.co.uk and hit OK, but it does not change in the displayed list.

I have also run AdAware and fixed all problems. On the Defaults page, both default homepage and default searchpage are set to google.co.uk

Have also used CCleaner to fix all issues it finds and to clean everything. Looking at Tools, Startup, there is no reference toi the homepage.

Moving on to the Registry, I've looked at HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main. http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome is there under the Start Page. If I try to modify it I get the following error: "Cannot edit Start Page; Error writing the value's new contents." Then when I click OK, the value changes to google.co.uk Needless to say it makes no difference to the startpage though.

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main does exactly the same.

Have also checked HKU\Default\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main but there is no key for Start Page or Default Page.

Now the good bit...
HiJack This shows the default page as google.co.uk and has no reference to a start page.

Now I'm lost! Don't know where to look next. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Lee

 

Just ran into this problem with a fresh install of w2k. Hope someone has a solution.

 

Might be Adwatch (AdAware SE) stopping you from changing your homepage...

Open AdAware SE.
Go to AdWatch User Interface.
Go to Tools and Preferences.
At the bottom of the screen you will see 2 options Active and Automatic.
Active: This will turn Ad-Watch On\Off without closing it.
Automatic: Suspicious activity will be blocked automatically.
Uncheck both options.

change your homepage

Go back to Adaware and reverse the procedure to enable Adwatch again...

Steve

 

Hi,

try this link: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
No 63 in the list.

Simon

 

Thanks for both suggestions above.

I have the personal version of AdAware so don't get the Adwatch part.

Have installed the "unlock home page" registry update too... it still goes to msn...and I still can't change it.

Anyone any other ideas PLEASE !!!!

 

I also was experiencing this exact same problem!

I recently updated to latest version off Zone Alarm (zlsSetup_65_722_000_en.exe ) after doing so it set my IEXP Home Page address to:
http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redi...er=6&ar=msnhome
and locked me out from editing it. Couldnt even change it via registry!

Searching Google I finally found the cause/problem! Zone Alarm!

Solution:
- Uninstall Zone Alarm (zlsSetup_65_722_000_en.exe )
- Activate XP Firewall if not already!
- Install an older version of Zone Alarm such as (zlsSetup_61_737_000_en.exe) if you have a copy!

Futher reading about this topic see:

http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=gen&message.id=34294

 

Thanks to Nicko2u !!!

Although I don't have an older version of Zone Alarm to use, the problem is now at least partly resolved. I have been able to change my homepage by following these steps as posted in this thread...

http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=gen&message.id=34831

I can't quite change the homepage "at will", but at least it's not msn every time I open IE.

Hopefully, Zone Labs will fix the problem pretty quickly.

Cheers guys!
Lee