Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS "The operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

Mar 2, 2004 12:24PM PST

This message came up when I tried to open Options under the tools menu of Explorer. My computer is not part of a network, but is cable connected. I run anti virus and internet security software and nothing illegal seemed to have happened. I went to Microsoft support and found a report on this but nothing to tell me how to get rid of it. Can anyone help?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS
Mar 4, 2004 8:56AM PST

soemthing on your machine has changed the priviledges on your computer so that you can't make any changes. the only way you can get them back is to sign on with administrator priviledges and change them back. that means you have to know the password for Administrator or have another logon that has Administrator priviledges. if you don't have such an id or don't know the password for Administrator, you will have to take the computer to a place that knows how to crack the password. to see the list of IDs on your system, go to Settings|Users and Passwords.

Herb....

- Collapse -
Re:Re:MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS
Mar 5, 2004 6:27AM PST

The problem is this is a stand alone machine in my house. There is no administrator of any kind and never was. Someone told me I may have been highjacked, so I ran all sort of adware program remover and antivirus registry cleaner and despite that I still can't figure out what is going on.

ASAPGOALIE

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS
Mar 7, 2004 9:41AM PST

it does sound like you have been hijacked. there always is an administrator ID on Windows. it forces you to make one when you install. the question is, what is its password if it's not the ID you use when you login. a good computer shop can crack the password for you and fix things up. if not, your only choice is to wipe the computer and do a clean install. at least you have access and can save your files. you need to get a firewall box, not a software firewall, if you are on a broadband connection. for dialup, you can only use a software firewall.

Herb...

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Re:MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS
Mar 31, 2004 11:09PM PST

I just started having the same problem. I also have stand alone computer (XP home version, IE 6). I connect to the internet through a modem, have Norton virus utility and Spybot S&D. I am always logged on as the administrator but do not recall ever needing to set up a password. I'm confused. If I am already logged on as the system administrator, why wouldn't IE recognise me as such?

I think I may have been hijacked. However, the hijacker reset my homepage to MSN!!! Through Spybot I was able to reset the homepage but still can't access my IE settings. Is Microsoft hijacking its own browsers? They do not have a fix for this on their support web.

It's really expensive and very difficult for me to take my machine into a shop. Any other suggestions? Would a complete uninstall/reinstall of IE solve this? I noticed that the IE 6 download MS is offering is a later version than the one I have now.

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS
Mar 31, 2004 11:15PM PST
- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:MS EPLORE TOOLS AND OPTIONS
Apr 1, 2004 9:52AM PST

if you think you have been hijacked, you will have to cut yourself off from the Internet, run the latest virus and spyware programs and clean up anything you find. you should install a software firewall if you are connecting using a modem. if you are using DSL or cable modem, you need to have or configure your hardware firewall to hide and disable everything possible. go to http://www.grc.com/ and run ShieldsUp to see how well you are protected.

Herb...