Can't install IE7 correctly - No tabs. Looks like IE6.

Edit: The issue has been solved...

Hello all.

I've tried to fix this problem several times over the past several months, so I'm hoping someone here can help out.

I've installed IE7 many times now -- probably 20 at this point. Whenever I connect to Windows Update, it always has IE7 as a high priority update. So it will download and install every time I update, but it never actually installs correctly. I do pass the WGA validation every time as well, so no worries there.

Here's what IE7 looks like on my computer: http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ie7aboutew0.png

Notice it looks exactly like IE6, but reports that it's version 7.

Here's a look at the menu system: http://img248.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ie7menuza5.png

Notice, not even an option to open a tab. (CTRL+T doesn't do anything either). What's strange is in Tools -> Internet Options, it -does- have a Tab Settings menu. I can check and uncheck the boxes in there, but it doesn't do anything because I can't open any tabs!

Additionally, the IE icon is still the same as IE6... not the new IE7 icon.

It's been exactly like this every time I've tried installing IE7 since it was first released. Tonight I finally decided to upgrade from Windows Media Player 9 to 11, and after installing, WMP doesn't work at all anymore! I click on the WMP shortcut, and nothing happens. I believe these may be related.

Things I have tried already in the past that haven't changed anything:
- Start a brand new administrator account, install IE7 from there.
- Run xmllitesetup.exe.
- Set every service to either Manual or Automatic (none disabled) in case any of them are needed for installation; then install IE7.
- "End Process" on every program/service that it would allow me to end; then install IE7.
- The subinacl.exe procedure (fixing permissions) documented elsewhere in this message board; then install IE7.

None of those have worked.

Please, I'm desperate for help. I would greatly appreciate it.

Cheers.

 

Replying to my own...

I found IE7 on my computer. For some reason, my computer never updated the IE shortcut and never got rid of the IE6 engine.

But I -do- have an apparently fully working version of IE7 on my computer! Not sure why I also have the IE6/IE7 hybrid, but I just won't use it anymore.

Now I just have to figure out how to get WMP working!