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[Help] Can't set IE6 as Default Browser even after Clean Install


syfer

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I have posted this query to several newsgroups and forums over the last week. So far, no one has been able to provide a solution...

My AMD64 system was infected by several tojans & viruses from "Spy Sheriff". I was able to remove everything, but now IE 6 won't ask to be the default browser. (this worked fine before the malware attack).

A number of options that used to be there also appear to be missing from my BIOS setup listing, including the "Built-in Virus Protection".

Here is what I have already tried without success:

-Virtually every combination of "...should check to see if it is the default browser" in both IE6 and Firefox, both before and after rebooting.

-Every possible combination of settings in Add/Remove Programs > Set Program Access and Defaults, both before and after rebooting.

-"Reset Web Settings" in IE6

-Changing URL file associations in File Types for both IE6 & FF.

-Clicked on Add/Remove Windows Components, then selected Internet Explorer and clicked Next (possible clue: this worked once; Explorer asked to be the default. After rebooting it stopped working. Repeating the process now has no effect.)

-Ran sfc /scannow. (BTW, in my first install it didn't report any errors. Now it always asks for my XP disk to copy files to the DLL cache whenever I run it.)

-Downloaded and ran reg fix from windows.mvps.org/reg/:

IE_Default_Browser.reg

-Typed command shmgrate.exe OCInstallReinstallIE in Run box, hit enter.

-Edited reg key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ http \ shell \ open \ command, replacing the existing (default) value to the text "something.exe".

Rebooted.

-Tried running IEFIX: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/iefix.htm

-Downloaded and ran the following registry fixes from kellys-korner-xp.com:

stbrws14.exe (#88: Set Default Browser In Windows)

defaultbrowser.reg (#106: Lock Default Browser)

checkassoc.reg (#247: Set IE to Check for Default Browser

-Undid all reg fixes above, then tried each one again after rebooting.

-Removed and reinstalled Firefox, once with earlier version, once with latest version.

-Changed registry to reflect that IE6 was not installed, then reinstalled IE6.

-Performed Repair Install (twice)

-Repeated ALL steps above after each Repair Install

-Performed Clean Install (why didn't this fix it???)

Please NOW in Microsoft Windows XP section, use [TAGS] in your topic's title.

See rules

--Sonic

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did you mean a clean install of windows or internet explorer (i'm guessing internet explorer)

I had that problem once too! and it was all because Ms antispy was stoping it from being the defult browser, so i just had to change that checkpoints settings! (check to see if thats your problem.)

Ps: Welcome to the forums! be sure to read The Forum Rules and Zxians Xp Rules

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No, I meant I performed a complete Clean Install of XP sp2.

After that I tried installing just IE6 and Firefox - no Anti-virus, no Anti-spyware programs, nothing. Both still load without asking for the default browser.

Sorry, I don't know what you mean by "check point" settings (please refer to my list of what I have already done).

- Thanks

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No, I meant I performed a complete Clean Install of XP sp2.

After that I tried installing just IE6 and Firefox - no Anti-virus, no Anti-spyware programs, nothing. Both still load without asking for the default browser.

Sorry, I don't know what you mean by "check point" settings (please refer to my list of what I have already done).

- Thanks

:o A complete clean install of XP SP2, well now i'm stumped because it should wipe out all viruses and everything if you do a "clean install"

Edited by wolf74481
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A number of options that used to be there also appear to be missing from my BIOS setup listing, including the "Built-in Virus Protection".

Reflash the BIOS with the newest version from the manufacturer's site. That should remove any virus residing in the BIOS.

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(wolf74481) did you mean a clean install of windows or internet explorer (i'm guessing internet explorer)

I had that problem once too! and it was all because Ms antispy was stoping it from being the defult browser, so i just had to change that checkpoints settings! (check to see if thats your problem.)

OK... WAIT A SECOND! :w00t:

You were right! I had been using Webroot "Spy Sweeper" off & on with my system. While running it to scan my back-up files on a DVD, the elusive "Internet Explorer is not currently your default browser - Would you like to make it your default browser?" suddenly popped up. I answered yes. Keeping in mind what you had posted about your MS anti-spy program, I shut down Spy Sweeper. Now each browser in turn was asking to be the default browser... it was working again!

Apparently Spy Sweeper WAS running in resident status in my previous tests and I had somehow overlooked this. One of it's options - "IE Security Sheild" - was blocking the default browser queries. As soon as I disabled it the queries returned.

THANK YOU!!! :thumbup

Edited by syfer
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OK... WAIT A SECOND! :w00t:

You were right! I had been using Webroot "Spy Sweeper" off & on with my system. While running it to scan my back-up files on a DVD, the elusive "Internet Explorer is not currently your default browser - Would you like to make it your default browser?" suddenly popped up. I answered yes. Keeping in mind what you had posted about your MS anti-spy program, I shut down Spy Sweeper. Now each browser in turn was asking to be the default browser... it was working again!

Apparently Spy Sweeper WAS running in resident status in my previous tests and I had somehow overlooked this. One of it's options - "IE Security Sheild" - was blocking the default browser queries. As soon as I disabled it the queries returned.

THANK YOU!!! :thumbup

no problem :thumbup

glad its fixed

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A number of options that used to be there also appear to be missing from my BIOS setup listing, including the "Built-in Virus Protection".

Reflash the BIOS with the newest version from the manufacturer's site. That should remove any virus residing in the BIOS.

Before I do a flash, I'm wondering if I just need to make sure that all of my BIOS defaults have been reloaded from my motherboard software on my original MSI cd. Does that sound like a possibility?

- Thanks

Edited by syfer
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LLXX -

Follow-up... after studying my motherboard's User's Guide, the BIOS utility setup appears to be correct after all, so I guess I would have to admit that this was "much ado about nothing" on my part.

Thank you for all your help... Sorry about that :blushing:

- syfer

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