Repair Internet Explorer when it is no longer working
1 January 2001 by Snakefoot | Comment » | Trackback OffInternet Explorer (IE) can become corrupted, so it no longer works. This usually means that one have to reinstall IE, or worse reinstall Microsoft Windows from scratch (Since it is an integrated part of the operating system). Before exploring these extreme measures, then one should check the following steps, as they might be able to solve whatever issues IE has:
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- Empty Temporary Internet Files cache
The database which controls the Temporary Internet Files can go corrupt. The effect will be considerable slow downs and extensive usage of the CPU. A broken file cache can also block Internet Explorer from saving images in other formats than BMP. To solve this one need to clear this file cache.
Clear the Temporary Internet Files cache
More info MS KB Q260650 - Delete the cookies
Cookies are used by websites to identify you and might be used for storing passwords or spying on your actions. Cookies can become corrupted and affect the access to a web-site. Only solution is to delete the corrupted cookies, which can be located in the directory containing Temporary Internet Files - Restore Internet-Security-Policy to default :
Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Security-tab -> Select "Internet" -> Press "Default Level"-button - Restore Internet Explorer Options to default :
Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Advanced-tab -> Press "Restore Defaults"-button
Note one might want to consider in a repair situation to uncheck "Enable third-party browser extensions (requires restart)" to disable funny 3rd party plugins, but it will also keep other valid programs from integrating with Internet Explorer.
More info MS KB Q298931 - Restore Internet Explorer as the default browser :
Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Programs-tab -> Tick "Internet Explorer should check to see if it is the default" and press Apply-button
More info MS KB Q177054 - Restore the toolbars:
Use the registry editor (regedit) to delete the following values (Perform an export first):[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Internet Explorer \Toolbar \Explorer]
ITBarLayout = ?
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Internet Explorer \Toolbar \ShellBrowser]
ITBarLayout = ?
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software \Microsoft \Internet Explorer \Toolbar \WebBrowser]
ITBarLayout = ?
- Scan computer for Adware and Spyware:
Spyware/Adware can lock up your browser or reset your default homepage.
Windows Live - Safety Center (Online automated tool by Microsoft)
Lavasoft Ad-Aware (Automated Tool)
Spybot - Search & Destroy (Automated Tool)
Merijn - HijackThis (Manual detection and cleanup)
BHODemon (Manual detection and cleanup)
Note one should also check for other 3rd Party software (Ex. Browser Helper Objects), which might "integrate" with Internet Explorer (Ex. popup stoppers), check Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and uninstall anything that might affect Internet Explorer.
More info MS KB Q320159 - Check that the HOSTS file do not contain any extra entries
If having trouble accessing certain sites or pictures, then it might be caused by the hosts file blocking access. Check that it only contains a single entry "127.0.0.1 localhost". - Check if firewall or antivirus is blocking access :
If disabling the firewall/antivirus makes things work, then it is probably a good idea to reinstall those. - Re-Install Windows Scripting Engine :
Download the Windows Script-package that matches your Windows version. - Re-Register some DLLs which IE uses :
Close all instances of IE and open a Command-prompt or use Start-Button -> Run.. to execute each of the below lines. (Note shell32.dll is only used in Win2k/XP)
Note if using WinXP SP2 then one can just run this command:regsvr32 Shell32.dll
regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 Ole32.dll
regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 Urlmon.dll
regsvr32 Inseng.dll
regsvr32 Browseui.dll
regsvr32 Msjava.dll
regsvr32 Jscript.dll
regsvr32 mobsync.dll
More Info MS KB Q180176"%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" /rereg
More Info MS KB Q870700
More Info MS KB Q281679 (Previous Q272322) - Try the IE Repair Tool
There is a repair function in Internet Explorer(IE) which can check if you have gotten incorrect files installed or wrong registry entries.
If you have installed IE then you should be able to activate the repair tool by entering "Add/Remove Programs" in the control panel. There you can select the IE installation and press Change. This pops up window which among things allow you to repair your IE.
If having IE installed without having such entry in your "Add/Remove Programs" list then you can also activate it. Press the Start Button and select "Run..." and execute this line:
If using IE5+ :
If using IE6+ :rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE5Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "%WINDIR%\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"
The result of your repair is logged in this file "Fix IE Log.txt" which is created in your Windows folder.rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "%WINDIR%\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"
In WinXP the IE Repair tool doesn't work, one can instead try to Reinstall IE.
More info MS KB Q194177
More info MS KB Q236579
- Restore some DLLs which IE uses :
More Info MS KB Q321915 (mcrepair.exe)Shdocvw.dll
Shell32.dll
Oleaut32.dll
Actxprxy.dll
Mshtml.dll
Urlmon.dll
Inseng.dll
Browseui.dll
Related Use extract.exe to restore a system file in Win9x/Me
Related The System File Checker in Win2k/WinXP
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Updated: 20 October 2008
Comment by David - 11 July 2008 @ 3:30 Reply
A really good set of tools to repair IE. Hope it works……….