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General discussion

Cannot Download or Uninstall Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1?

Sep 15, 2005 4:04PM PDT

I use IE 6.x SP1 for browsing with no problem. However, recently, I cannot download anything from the internet. I, either, get a blank page with a little icon box or or I get redirected.

I'm using Win98SE and have clicked on the "add-remove programs" icon in the control panel to uninstall Internet Explorer but the only option is to "repair" the browser. I tried this "repair" utility twice but still could not download.

Next, I tried a new install of IE6 from my DSL installation cd without uninstalling the old Internet Explorer. Same result: no downloading possible.

I searched my computer for "uninstall" software, hoping that I would have better luck with a fresh installation after removal but cannot find any "uninstall" program for IE.

Should I just ask someone to download another browser for me like Mozilla or Netscape and forget about this microsoft trash? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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The redirect is a common spyware issue.
Sep 15, 2005 9:47PM PDT

It's the new plague. Start your cleanup.

Bob

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RE:
Sep 15, 2005 9:56PM PDT

1. The Copying dialog (containing two folder icons with page images moving between them) may appear when attempting a download but the File Download dialog may not. In any case, a download does not happen.

a. A possible reason is if the McAfee Safe & Sound is installed on a system, you will need to contact McAfee for a resolution or patch or remove the program McAfee Safe & Sound through the Add/Remove Programs applet.

b. With IE open, click Tools, Internet Options, and then click the "Security tab" (Click to see an example screenshot), click each of the four "zones". Click the button Custom Level... and in the Settings: section check all items for a dot denoting an item as Disabled and if one is founded concerning "Downloads", Enable that option.

Note: You may want to keep hand notes just in case you want to return anything to the prior setting for some reason.

2. If the download option "Always ask before opening this type of file" is null - empty, files downloaded are automatically saved in the Temporary Internet File (TIF) folder and opened by the associated program. You are therefore not prompted for a location, [Q177976].

a. Instead of clicking a file to download, right-click instead and choosing Save Target as.... (a context window will be rendered where you can check the box for that option).

b. If you want to be prompted for a download location for a given file type:

? Open My Computer or Explorer, click View, Folder Options.

? On the File Types tab, click the appropriate file type in the Registered File Types box wanted -- this is the file extension that follows the period in a name.

? Click Edit, and then select the Confirm Open After Download check box. Click OK twice to close.

3. When you try to download a program (.exe) or zip (.zip) file, Internet Explorer may display a blank Web page that contains an ActiveX icon in the upper-right corner which can occur if an add-in program or ActiveX control on a computer has been uninstalled or deleted and entries for the add-in program or ActiveX control remain in the registry. To resolve this issue, close Internet Explorer, start the Registry Editor and delete the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Plugins\Extension

Note: When viewing the system registry key at this location, the only recommended value key which should be listed in the right window is (even thouth the entire Extensions key itself may be removed):

{Default} ""

a. To start the System Registry Editor, click Start, Run, type regedit, and then press Enter.

Note: The Registry Editor display resembles "Windows Explorer somewhat" (Click to see an example screenshot) both in feel and in "concept" (Click to see an example screenshot).

b. Click the Plus box in front of HKLM to expand it and continue clicking/expanding appropriate folders (each word preceded by a backslash in the above address) until reaching the last, "Extension". Click it, to bold/highlight.

c. When you have this key bolded/highlighted, click Edit in the Toolbar, and then click Delete. Then click Registry and select Exit to save the session. Or simply click the x in the URHC of the window to close the Registry Editor tool. Respond with an affirmative to save the editing and to close the editor.

4. You might step through the information published at the "Download problems" site. Hopefully, you'll find the solution there otherwise.

5. Supplemental reading:

a. "Error Locating Object Handler (Q180553)" to include internal hyperlinks, and "Error Message: Error Locating Object Handler (Q309300)."

b. "Internet Explorer Window Closes When You Click a Download Link (Q268976)."

c. "Internet Explorer 5.5 Browser Window Closes When You Click a Link to Download Files (Q275290)."

d. "Cannot Download with Internet Explorer (Q29932Cool."

e. "Blank Web Page with Placeholder Icon and You Cannot Save a File to Disk (Q316537)."

6. Part 5, "Changes to Functionality in WinXP SP2" explains that when a user downloads a file it is checked for publisher information and the file may be blocked from download unless the publisher is unblocked (Tools, Options, Content tab, and then remove the publisher's name from the Untrusted Publisher list). The download dialog box that appears has the following changes:

? A file handler icon has been added.

? A new information area has been added to the bottom of the dialog box that provides slightly different information, depending on whether the downloaded file type is of higher or lower risk.

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Re: Irksome Internet Explorer and Upgrading toXP Mid Crisis?
Sep 18, 2005 4:24PM PDT

Hey, Bob and Cursorcowboy, Howdy:

...and thanx, you guys, (again,Bob)for the ''IE'', ''Information and Encouragement''!

The only a-spyware weapons at my disposal, at the moment, are Adaware SE and Spybot Search and Destroy since I'm, now, prevented from downloading anything from the Internet (temporarily, I hope...).

This pc that we're working on is my backup, temp, courtesy of my ''ex'', which I've had to use until I can, again, access my main frame'', an (Intel) P-4 3000 MHz, HT, 800 FSB, Intel Mobo, 512 MB ddr Ram,300w ps,dual 7200rpm hds, with standard periphs, running(formerly) on the XP Home OS, until it locked me out at start up on my password!

My related question, considering all the ''registry'' interaction you're suggesting, Cursorcowboy, is: Should I upgrade this old Compaq running on Windows 98SE [Celeron 600 MHz, 128 Ram, 12 gig hd...]to XP Home with my licensed MS cd to take advantage of the reset features on XP?

[...and by the way, I'm very impressed by how fast this ol' Compaq performs on the web compared to my last two P-4's, which are, supposedly, 3 and 5 times faster, at 1.7 ghz and 3.0 ghz, respectively...]

I can build 'em myself, but I'm a little skitterish when it comes to flashing the bios or tinkering with the registry?

What do you think?

I'll repost when I hit paydirt, or the wall, on resurrecting the IE 6.x on the Compaq.

Thanks, again.

yawni

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RE:
Sep 18, 2005 10:11PM PDT
My related question, considering all the ''registry'' interaction you're suggesting, Cursorcowboy, is: Should I upgrade this old Compaq running on Windows 98SE [Celeron 600 MHz, 128 Ram, 12 gig hd...]to XP Home with my licensed MS cd to take advantage of the reset features on XP?

I'm not sure whether suggesting anything will be of benefit or not. Your original question was that downloading wasn't happening with IE. Now the question is the above but I don't relate to the wording reset features exactly.

Win9x has a restore feature and many tools such as "System File Checker", "System Configuration Tool", "Maintenance Wizard", "Hardware Information Utility", or the "System Information Tool" that could be run but since I have no clue as to what troubleshooting has been accomplished concerning my first submission, I really have no further recommendation other than I'd ensure a working Win9x system before sticking another OS on there. Besides, most agree, it's better to have a clean slate rather than XP over Win9x. If you're willing to loose and then install everything, consider Win9x for the time being.
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Re:Changing OS Mid-Crisis
Sep 23, 2005 8:58AM PDT

Gotcha- thanks.
I'm still working through your first set of suggestions...
-yawni