Internet Explorer REFUSES to allow me to set my own start/home page

OK, most of the time I use Firefox, but there are times when I do use IE7, but every time I do the fact that it automatically opens to the start page IT wants to use and will not allow me to change it completely infuriates me.

I have gone start/control panel/internet options and put in the start page I wanted there, hit apply, and closed it. Open IE and guess what? It's using the Google Dell start page!

I have told it to remove that start page, and it is still there.

I deliberately opened IE with "run as Administrator" since this stupid machine doesn't seem to KNOW I am the Administrator, and it still refuses me to choose what I use for a home page.

I have run my antivirus program in a boot scan and it found nada.
I have run Spybot S&D, it found nothing.
I ran a-squared.........found nothing
I ran AVG antispyware and found nothing
I ran Malwarebyes Antimalware.......and IT found nothing

But SOMETHING is hijacking my start page and it will not let go!

No such problems with Firefox..........thank goodness.

Any suggestions? And yes, I do have UAC on now, although it obviously is ignoring my Administrator wishes!!!!

 

Well, I did that and it got me nowhere. And I can't use XP since my OS is Vista.

I also did the Internet Options - advanced- reset
That didn't work either.

It is a conspiracy between Google and Dell, and I have always respected both in the past, but no longer!!

 

Are you sure you aren't running any third party apps that are blocking any changes to your start page? It may be worth checking properties of some of those you mentioned if you use any advanced settings.

 

Sandilew, Spybot S&D may be locking your home page. Start Spybot S&D, click on the "Tools" tab, then on "IE tweaks" and look to see if the box for "Lock IE start page.....etc is checked. If so uncheck and restart IE and try to change the page.

Let us know if this works.

 

OK, it took me a while because it's been a busy weekend, but I finally figured it out.

I use System Mechanic, but I guess I didn't realize all the little settings in this program and so I had system guard set up to block the changing of my homepage. I unchecked that one little box, and now I am good to go. I have the start page I want. That little box checked did a super job of stopping me. I'm impressed. And you see, I just began using the system guard part of System Mechanic recently. So I guess that is why I didn't notice the problem earlier. Now I know what caused the problem, I'm going to set it back on, but now, to protect the start page I really want in IE7 or any other Browser.

I have to admit, I do love System Mechanic, and I would not have a computer without that program running to watch over some of my stupid errors. But it does help to learn all of the in's and out's of such a dependable and strong program before using it. LOL

Live & Learn, right?

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. And PeteC, I was going down the steps in your suggestion and that was how I found what was causing my problem. So I appreciate all of the help. You folks come through every time.

Have a great day!
Sandie