[Resolved] IE8 Win7 does not open links. Firefox is OK

RogerOhio · 14th December 2009

I have a problem of Links not working in IE8. Here is the status. Note I cannot even get IE8 links to work at MS Support sites so it is very difficult getting supoport.

I am running Win7 64 bit so I have to either use IE8 or a 3rd party browser.

I have done a number of "Turn-Off" & Turn-On" of IE8. Reinstalled Jave & Activx, set Security to the default and am in Compatability view. Also a number of hard boots over the past couple of weeks since problem started as I try and resolve the two most bothersome issues.

1. In Yahoo mail, Gmail and MS Support sites and some others, clicking on imbedded links does nothing. I can only follow a link by opening a new Tab and copy the properties of the link & then paste the URL in the new TAB

2. in eBay I cannot add any pictures to an item i want to sell. (To add a picture a new window opens in ebay to manage pictures)

So it appears that IE8 does not want to allow me to open a new window by clicking a link.

Some specific MS site examples
http://support.microsoft.com/GP/PC_IE_EnvAutoDetect2100

Did not correctly ID my OS.

https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...id=14496&&st=1

Could not get my ID number

AND the link for "How to find your Product ID number does not work.

These are clearly IE8 issues as when I use Firefox or GoogleChrome none of these problems occur.

It is also the result of some Win7 and or IE8 update as the problem started about two
weeks ago as before that, the links worked and I could click and open a new window and also add pictures on eBay.

Additional efforts:

Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - IE with no Addons - Did not fix

IE - Tools - Internet Options - Advanced Tab - click Restore then click Reset -and
IE - Tools - Internet Options - Security Tab - click reset all zones to default - Apply
Close and restart IE and/or IE with no addons Did not fix

Confirmed SSv removed as Add-On Did not fix

Ran Windows defender Report all OK

Ran Malwarebytes and found one questionable entry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explo rer\NoActiveDesktopChanges
removed it, Reboot - Did not fix

Tried running with Protected Mode OFF - Did not Fix

Disabled Norton Internet Security - Did not Fix

So far, I Consider this a Win7 problem as IE8 is part of Win7 and there are no versions of IE that can be installed other than 8.

Have a few more ideas but quickly running out of possible fixes other than report this as a MAJOR malfunction on Win7-IE8

NOTE I have none of these problems with Foxfire or Chrome

MS Answers has not provided a solution

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...quired&lc=1033

**PeteC** · 14th December 2009

Have you thought of using System Restore to a date prior to the problem occurring?

**Arie** · 15th December 2009

Originally Posted by RogerOhio

Some specific MS site examples
http://support.microsoft.com/GP/PC_IE_EnvAutoDetect2100

Did not correctly ID my OS.

Neither did that link mine, but starting from the beginning at http://support.microsoft.com/gp/pc_ie_v8intro did get to the correct ID @ http://support.microsoft.com/GP/PC_IE_EnvAutoDetect3000

RogerOhio · 15th December 2009

I did look for a Rerstor point which I thought had been made (more than once) but none were found.

RogerOhio · 17th December 2009

I thought I had fixed the problem but I was wrong...

I spent 3 hours making a full Backup then did a re-install of Win7.
All seemed to work ok for about 30 hours. Links would work in IE8 till about 6:15 this evening.
I set the PC to Sleep. After dinner the links in IE8 no longer work.

I deleted History & temp files and re-started the PC but IE8 STILL DOES NOT WORK.

Sorry but this is getting real frustrating. Noone else in the World seems to be having my problem. All the other "Fixes" that worked for others do not work for me.

**Arie** · 17th December 2009

I have no other suggestions then to contact Microsoft Product Support

RogerOhio · 17th December 2009

Arie
I just did another Re-Install of Win7 and links are now working. Will try and monitor all downloads etc over the next few days so IF or When the problem occurs again i will have more info to give to Customer Support.

kmendenhall · 17th December 2009

Originally Posted by RogerOhio

I thought I had fixed the problem but I was wrong...

I spent 3 hours making a full Backup then did a re-install of Win7.
All seemed to work ok for about 30 hours. Links would work in IE8 till about 6:15 this evening.
I set the PC to Sleep. After dinner the links in IE8 no longer work.

I deleted History & temp files and re-started the PC but IE8 STILL DOES NOT WORK.

Sorry but this is getting real frustrating. Noone else in the World seems to be having my problem. All the other "Fixes" that worked for others do not work for me.

Roger, you are not alone!
I have EXACTLY the same problem, which began at the same time!

bioh · 16th January 2010

I don't know if your problem has been resolved or not, but I had a similar experience. I am running Win7 64 bit with IE8 using Thunderbird for email. I was unable to get the links in Thunderbird mail to bring up IE8. I would get an error message that IE8 experienced an error and was closing.
The solution I finally found was that using the 64 bit version of IE8 was my problem. I changed to IE8 32 bit and that problem went away and did not come back. Looking in TOOLS, OPTIONS, PROGRAMS in IE8, there was a comment that 64bit IE8 cannot be used as the default browser. I still have not found out why this is. It could be an incompatibility problem with Thunderbird or some other software app.

**PeteC** · 16th January 2010

bioh - Welcome to WindowsBBS

If you look at the thread title at the top of the page you will see that it is Resolved.

Thanks for your input