IE no longer works

[Flashman]

Need some suggestions as to what might fix IE on my wife's computer.

She was installing something that apparently didn't come with spyware... but of course it did. When KPF 4 set off alarms that new things were trying to connect to the web, she shut the installation down. She then ran Adaware and Spybot, and removed a bunch of new junk (she had by chance just run them both a few hours before).

After rebooting, she cannot open IE. Attempting to open it will give you the message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have appropriate permissions to access the item." This occurs even if you try running it from Start->Run or by clicking directly on iexplore.exe in Windows Explorer.

Everying else seems fine, and Netscape works.

Research shows the only way to get the latest version of IE is through SP2. I have SP2 on CD, and so I reinstalled it; but no fix.

I then ran SFC, and it did find a number of files to replace, but did not fix the issue.

I next tried a in place reinstall (repair) of Windows, and so used a version into which I have slipstreamed SP2. Still no fix.

Though I didn't think it would make a difference after all of this, I did reinstall IE off of my WinXP w/SP2 disk by using the command "rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\Inf\ie.inf"

I have run Hijackthis, and found nothing of concern (I use it often to fix other's computers, and generally know what is good and bad).

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks,

Flashman

[soldier1st]

remove ie and reinstall it

[Jeremy]

Use Firefox or Opera.

[unosys]

Try this

Internet Explorer Fix - is a general purpose repair utility for Internet Explorer which repairs Internet Explorer by registering it's core DLL files and through the INF file. Additionally if it detects Windows 2000/XP as the Operating System, it runs SFC to restore missing or corrupt Windows system files. Fixing the COM registration helps in many cases.

What IEFix does?

o Registers the core modules of Internet Explorer - Fixes incorrect COM registration.

o Repairs Internet Explorer using IE.INF method. (Optional)

o For Windows 2000/XP: Initiates "SFC /Scannow". (Optional)

o Repairs two important registry keys which are required to set Internet Explorer as the default browser

Download Link

[Flashman]

Thanks for the suggestion, soldier1st, but I've already tried that.

Interesting tool, unosys. I had basically done everything it does except for re-registring the modules; but I still ran it saying yes to all options. Still no fix.

Does anyone have any other suggestions before I'm forced to stay up all night updating my unattended CD?

[member11]

you gave us this hint "You may not have appropriate permissions to access the item."

right lick on IE.exe in IE folder AND go to permission and make sure your wife has a full permission to run it

[horsecharles]

yeah, the permissions sounds real pertinent....

if still no go, i have repaired it in this manner in the past to fix problems with both Windows Explorer & IE:

Use XPLITE to thoroughly remove IE/OE, and btw it's useful for other things: http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html

I then run autopatcher xp(just got updated a day ago btw), it will reinstall IE/OE for you(accept if/when it asks that some components are already installed, do you still want to proceed): http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-...atcher-XP.shtml

In the past, I've then had to then hit windows update-- since the autopatcher version was dated....

Here's hot to do it MS way, I'd scroll down to the bottom one: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378

good luck.....

[Flashman]

Permissions were fine... my wife is an admin on her machine.

Figured it out. Kerio Personal Firewall 4 not only monitors network connections, it also monitors and allows you to make rules for applications. It is actually very useful... it has stopped many a piece of spyware from being installed. Naturally IE long ago was run, KPF4 asked if we wanted to let it run, and we said to allow it and make that a rule. Either when all this spyware was installed or when the spyware removers were run, the KPF4 setting was changed to "Deny". Changing that fixed everything.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

[horsecharles]

Yes, i like Kerio. Good thing you found that-- good point: checking firewall with those type of problems.....

[matrix0978]

Man all these post about IE. EVERYONE JUST GET FIREFOX OR OPERA!

[soldier1st]

agreed matrix0978

[Astalavista]

download simonsay's firefox and my profile.exe that will set u up.

[member11]

i have firefox and opera and thunderbird installed in my computer along with IE 6SP2