You've definitely chosen the wrong forum for your question. It should have been the browser forum, not the MS Office forum.
However, try if applying the registry fixed explained in http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=23833&messageID=259469&tag= rectifies the situation. It defines default prefixes used. If it doesn't help, repost on the XP-forum or on the browser forum.
Hope this helps,
Kees
I am running Internet Explorer 6 on a windows XP pro box. If I start IE through any of the shortcuts I cannot visit pages from typing into the URL box, I am automatically redirected to the MSN Search page. I can vist sites from my favorites, the home page and if I type in the entire url including the http:. If I try to type in something like www.ebay.com I will automatically be redirected to the MSN search page. If I open the windows explorer windows I can access the internet normally, the error only occurs if I use the shortcuts to IE. How can I rectify this?

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