windows internet explorer

When I go to my desktop internet explorer, I just get a page with Windows internet explorer at the top and connecting...it never connects. The window will not close. I have to Ctrl-alt-delete to close. I have gone to the control panel and internet options and www.msn.com is the home page. However I can go to my mozilla firefox icon and open it. It has the msn homepage and it has no trouble loading...that's how I got to Major Geeks. What's going on?

 

What version of Windows? If XP, do you have SP2 installed? What version of IE?

How long has this been happening? Did you make any changes to your system around that time?

What software do you use for firewall, virus protection, and spyware removal?

 

XP 2003, no SP2 almost killed it when I tried to install about three months ago
IE 7, I think
Just started about 30 minutes before I posted on MG
Nothing added/deleted
I did a restart and the problem began...tried turning off and restarting
Extended and Downloaded McAfee for another year, Wed. afternoon
Have spybot
I don't know how to check the firewall, I think I added one about 9 or 10 months ago, from one of the how-to threads...I think I cut off the McAfee firewall
What bothers me is that MSN IE will open automatically when I open Mozilla Firefox but not from the desktop Icon or when I try to open from other applications. No problems when in Firefox

 

To see what firewall(s) is running, go to Control Panel, Security Center, and expand the section on Firewall. If you have more than one firewall running, disable one so that you're left with just one enabled. Running more than one firewall is not a good thing.

I suggest you download CCleaner and run it's Windows scan and Registry scan. Let's see if that resolves the problem. When the Registry scan prompts you to backup the registry, do so. And, repeat the Registry scan; it sometimes finds additional items in repeat scans.

And, re: SP2, you ought to have it. But, maybe we should focus here on getting IE working again for you.

 

Security center has Firewall/auto update/virus protection checked
Ran McAfee scan...No help
Ran Spybot and rebooted IE is back
I have CCleaner but don't really know what to do on the Registry scan
PS2 is confusing too...I there a way to check to see if I have it already?

 

Windows Firewall is off and McAfee is on

 

a. Just needed 1 minor update
b. I do have SP2
c. I do have IE7
d. I do have Windows Security Center
Thanks for all the help, usafveteran and Steve_East9 from a usarmyveteran. I'm back in business