IE Freezing

After changing options in IE, then clicking OK, IE stops responding. The only way out is ending the task in task manager. The change does not take/install and from that point forward, any change in the options ends with IE freezing again. Now Windows will not update. The solution offered by MS does not work either. Error code: 0x8DDD0001 reports back Sorry, we couldn't find any pages containing Error: 0x8DDD0001.

All links to re-install IE6 will not execute stating a newer version exist. AND you cannot remove the application either.

Any and all suggestions/ideas are appreciated.

 

Hi Steve,

Gone for the weekend--sorry for the delay. The o/s is XP SP2 w/all critical patches. Any options changed in IE by going to tools, Internet Options.

It is possible to browse the internet/web. Last patch installed for the month of March was "Defender" update. (Defender being the AntiSpyware application.) It cannot be removed.

Any suggestions?

Suzette

 

Have you tried a System Restore to just prior that update?

Regards - Charles

 

I don't believe a restore is acceptable now. The update was installed on the 15th of March and too much time has gone by. There would be unknown data to backup. Will that unknown data be lost?

 

File extensions monitored by SR:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/sr/sr/monitored_file_extensions.asp

The .doc - .txt - media files such .jpg - .bmp are not.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Charlesvar:

As I guessed. The user stated that there are too many files from the udpated time to current for him to remember where they all are. So the restore is not acceptable to him. Any other suggestions will help.

Also, there is another strange occurance. The "active title bar" on IE only will display the first character of the website. In otherwords, if I'm at cnn.com, it will show C or Microsoft.com it will show M. Any ideas for this issue?

Suzette

 

Hi Suzette,

As I guessed. The user stated that there are too many files from the udpated time to current for him to remember where they all are.

I assume that the user's stuff is in folders, including the user folders in Documents and Settings (My Doc - My Pictures - Favs), can't they be backed up? And any programs installed/updated (such as AV's) are going to have to be re installed/re updated and MS updates as well. I would give SR a shot before trying the repair I mentioned below.

You can try looking at IE add-ons, a long shot though: IE Tools > Manage Add-ons and either disable them all, or disable one at a time.

Otherwise, you're looking at a repair: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks Charles,

The user is out of town which makes it very difficult for me to know where and/or what files should be backed up. Usually he is pretty good backing up his own files. But, taking advantage of him being gone is what he requested.

Wow. I will read and re-read the link you sent me and decide if that's the way to go. It's unfortunate that one program cannot be uninstalled and re-installed like the rest.

I will report back with the results. Again thanks for the suggestion.

Suzette

 

results from Charles suggestion-another issue

When I booted into the Administrator's profile, IE did "not" have any problems. I was able the change the options needed without the application freezing the pc. It looks as if the users profile is somewhere corrupted. I will suggest that he backup data, create another administrative profile and rebuild.

Another IE problem on another pc: The "active title bar" has dissappeared. The Title Bar displays one character only. Have you ever seen this?

It's too bad Microsoft has not created a repair procedure for it's own product, like uninstall and reinstall.....;(

Again, thanks for the help,
Suzette