IE Not Connecting

Andy02369

Join Date 07/2002

IE Not Connecting

So here's what happen. I downloaded and installed Ashampoo WinOptimizer because it was on Download.com and everything there is checked for spyware and adware. So anyway, yesterday from the date this is posted, there was an update on the program. So I updated it and it brought up a few screens and I accidentally clicked on to install the yahoo toolbar. Well, I thought it wasn't a big deal since I knew how to uninstall it. Well, that's where the problem started. I couldn't get the toolbar to uninstall by clicking on the "Y" button and clicking uninstall, so I had to remove it manually. Ever since the toolbar was installed IE won't bring up any webpages. My internet works because Firefox brings up webpages, but certain programs on my computer require IE to work to get their Internet Connection. So I need help. I've already tried Spybot and Adaware, they didn't find anything. I tried HiJackThis and removed all the things that I know were not supposed to be there. I even scanned my computer for viruses using Nortan and Windows Defender, and they found nothing. So, does anybody have any ideas?

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

I ended up reimaging my PC after a failed IE7 beta uninstall.
Sometimes the scorched earth plan is easiest.

Regular backups are your friend.

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I don't know if this will help or not, but when I d/l ie 7 beta it would not load when i double clicked on the desktop, so i tried the right click IE icon and choose the start witout addons and it loaded right up, then i click on the (gear)on the toolbar right click and choose internet options, programs, manage addons, and it loads right up. thats what i've been doing. maybe I am totally off base with this so maybe i should just shut up now.

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I checked IE settings and the "never dial a connection" is selected. I have a broadband connection and I tried to see if IE works with the setting "Automatically detect settings" checked and unchecked. It failed both ways. I tried running the cleaner programs that xSCORPx suggested and I may need to reboot to see if it works. I'm really hoping I don't have to restore my computer. I have two reasons why I don't want to do this. 1.) It takes 2 to 3 months to get everything back on and settings the way I want them. 2.) What if this problem occurs again? I will never figure out how to solve it.

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Join Date 03/2001

+23

I am still puzzled on why it doesn't work for just IE. It still sounds like a broken plug-in to me.

Maybe try hijack to remove ALL BHO related to IE? Be careful, since not all of listing is related to IE plugins. This also will break everything you has, for example, flash player, etc. You can always reinstall those.

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Join Date 03/2001

+23

Sorry had some connection problems.

(duplicate post)

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Ok, I restarted my computer and I removed everything from IE. It still didn't work. Then I came up with an idea to start the computer in safe mode and see if it works there. Well, it doesn't meaning it's most likely a registry error. Does anybody know any good registry programs that might be able to fix IE?

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re install it. and remove it in add/remove programs.

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I have another question. If I do re-install it by doing the registry change that tricks the OS into thinking it's uninstall, will the IE install from Microsoft install SP2 of IE or not, and if it doesn't install SP2 of IE will the version being install prevent my computer from running?

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Join Date 03/2001

+23

http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/problems-with-lsp-winsock-layer-in.html

Hmm few more options to do. Apparently LSP-Fix isn't only tool.. There's also WinsockFix. I have forgotten about that second tool.

*edit* Did this tool work?

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Hmm few more options to do. Apparently LSP-Fix isn't only tool.. There's also WinsockFix. I have forgotten about that second tool.

It didn't fix IE, I tried everything on the list.

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Join Date 03/2001

+23

Hmm other site did say that you have to try it few times. I have no idea why your IE won't connect to any site.

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Ok, I seem to have gotten somewhere on how to fix IE. Yesterday, or really last night, I reinstalled the yahoo toolbar by removing everything that had the yahoo name through Add/Remove programs. I then reinstalled yahoo messenger and the toolbar. This time it installed in IE. The strange part is that when the toolbar was reinstalled IE showed up in the firewall list as getting a connection. IE still doesn't go to any website. My thinking on the situation is that the yahoo toolbar, which has the "Ashampoo" logo on it, is the one the is stealing the connection away from IE. Now if I could get the toolbar uninstalled and all the "dll"s associated with it gone, then IE might work again. Does anybody know a program that will let me see what dlls are running on my computer?

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Join Date 03/2001

+23

I'm glad it finally worked. I prefer google toolbar myself.

You may be right and yahoo actually hijacked connection between IE and internet?

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

There's ton of good, tiny tools there too. But this one does what you want.

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Well, I have no clue of what to do. IE still doesn't work. I traced what dlls the yahoo toolbar uses and I removed the yahoo toolbar by using add/remove programs. I went into the registry and deleted any traces of the dll files, but IE still didn't work. If anything this has taught me that you should never download Ashampoo products. If anybody knows how to fix IE so that it will connect to the internet, the help will be greatly appreciated.

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OK i think this would be a good time to involve the big guns,at tech republic there is a Q & A section where you can make a post ,the same at the last two tho info packets may give you a direct email to a fix if you email them directly, you might want to sign up to the three for their newsletter emails as they have stacks of tips ,if you poke around tech republic's home page you'll find links to useful downloads

At pc mechanic home page look to the right and a 1/4 way down the page "tips of the day"
http://www.techrepublic.com
http://www.pcmech.com
http://www.infopackets.com/

Found an article at info packets on how to remove and reinstall IE tho it's 50/50 if it works ,at the home page to your left is "article archive" clik on it, on page 1 at the very bottom 2005/09/21, there is a link in that article just below the ads= repair/reinstall internet explorer" also microsofts knowledge base may have the fix.
EDIT: All the newsletters are free and it's free to join

PS: Try a disk error check by right cliking on c drive or whatever letter is assigned to windows, clik tools , clik on "check now" tick the boxes at the next popup and then restart, with any luck it will repair the missing whatever in IE

In the meantime it would pay to invest in another hdd as i have done coz like you i have had my fair share of hassles and use ghost 2003 to make a clone, the backup hdd does'nt need to be bigger it can be smaller so long as the data on the primary does'nt exceed the smallers capacity, go here the load page is a bit freaky and green...lol... it'll redirect, if you need help with ghost their forum is 2nd to none and has downloadble instructions on everything hdd related http://www.radafied.com/

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Wait, before I do this I have an update on the situation. IE will only connect to secure sites. It brings them up just fine (e.g. https://www.logmein.com), but all the rest of the unsecure sites don't work. I have never heard anything so strange before, has anybody here?

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Have a look under internet options and trusted sites is your cookie blocker set higher than medium

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Join Date 03/2001

+23

LOL I had inverse of your problem. I couldn't connect to any secure and insecure sites were fine. I used winsockfix to fix that strange problem.

I guess you broke winsock when fixing the yahoo toolbar mess.

Cookies has nothing to do with being unable to connect to websites. It just stores information.

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You could try a system roll back using a restore point ?? other than that i'm stuffed as what's next

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So, does anybody have any ideas?

am still puzzled on why it doesn't work for just IE. It still sounds like a broken plug-in to me.

Wait, before I do this I have an update on the situation. IE will only connect to secure sites. It brings them up just fine (e.g. Link), but all the rest of the unsecure sites don't work. I have never heard anything so strange before, has anybody here?

I had similar problem like this on my children's computer. After using a registry cleaner. like Ashampoo WinOptimizer(They used Ace Utilites),they also cleaned out the Active X & COM part of the registry. When they restarted the browser they could not open any sites that use Flash or Shockwave (Even after going to Macromedia and verifing that the player were still installed). use this link at Microsoft Help for instructions:
Q302396 Internet Explorer Quits When You Attempt to Browse Shockwave or Flash-enabled SiteLink
I hope this helps.
After you fix this you might want to adjust the setting on your registry cleaner so that it does not do this again. With WinAce Utilities I just unchecked the Active X & COM tab, you might have a similar option.

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Ok, this is very weird. This same behaviour happen on my dad's computer. I just have a few questions on this. Is there any possible way that a virus could be transmitted throught an mp3 file?

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Is there any possible way that a virus could be transmitted throught an mp3 file?

In a word.......YES!

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have you tried using the IE TAB extension in firefox? it uses the IE engine...if it works then your problems are solved

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I tried that IE tab extension on my computer, but it doesn't work when the rendering engine is set to IE because IE can't connect to the internet. So far I'm beginning to think that IE not connecting is the work of a virus and not a registry error. I just don't understand how it can go unnoticed for 2 weeks.

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as can been seen from all these posts, something is very messed up....from a couple of re-installs of XP i had to do, which i really didn't want to do for the same reasons as you in #28....i thought it would take months to get everything back to how it was afters...and, of course, in reality, it only took a day or so, and my XP is very tweaked....it was worth it as it fixed the weird problems i had...just back up everything, re-install and forget it happened...it seems unlikely to happen again to you, as no one else has ever experienced the same thing....you've already wasted three weeks trying to sort it out....go for it !!

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