IE8 + "http://www.adobe.com/" freezes

Hello all!

In june, on Windows XP pro, I upgraded from IE6 to IE8. Everything seemed to work just fine. No problems with neither Java nor Flash Player ... ... until I, in july, went to Adobe (http://www.adobe.com/) to check if the installed version of Flash Player is current (which I found out elsewhere that it is, 10.0.22.87).

On some occasions, the page loads until the "Flash Player stuff" is due but then IE8 stops responding. Clicking the red cross brings up the "close program dialog window ". Clicking "close now" triggers completion of the page (displaying the FP stuff) but then IE8 closes.

On other occasions, the page doesn't load at all but stays "white" or anything "in between ".

The same applies when trying a direct link to the Flash Player downloads (http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html).

(I have rolled back using Ghost to prior to installing IE8, uninstalled Flash Player, installed IE8 and went to Adobe to reinstall Flash Player but the result is the same without Flash Player. I have also disabled all the Norton stuff but it makes no difference.)

Anyone else, on Windows XP pro + IE8, experiencing the same?

(I'll be at home on an irregular basis but will try to keep up with the thread.)

 

I tried the links in my first post and using them is different compared to the links in My Favorites.

Clicking a link in my first post opens the page in a new window (not tab but browser window). This window is reduced size and it works fine, loading the "Flash Player stuff" as it should, until I maximize the window ... ... when it freezes.

When starting IE8, it opens maximized. I clicked to reduce the size of the window prior to clicking the link in My Favorites and it works ... ... until maximizing.

It seems to be connected to a maximized browser window ... ... but only at Adobe.

 

Adjusting (increasing by dragging the edges) the reduced size of the window too much has the same effect as maximizing. Could it be a monitor problem?

 

It seems to be connected to the screen resolution. On my Samsung SyncMaster 753DF, it works maximized on any resolution except 1024x768.

I'm using the default drivers installed by XP SP3 (slipsteamed, clean installation) labeled NVIDIA 56.73 but will check out the NVIDIA site for an update (if there are updates for this old graphics card, working better than the drivers "provided" by Microsoft).

 

I had NVIDIA scan the system and the result was that the drivers are the most current ones (for the actual hardware).

 

Substituting a LG Flatron LCD 563LE for the Samsung made no difference.

The answer to the question on everyone's mind is YES, I only have old hardware! Maybe it's time for something new but I still want to figure out why it suddenly doesn't work with the old stuff ... ... and only at Adobe?

I've found a "work around" (reduced size window) but that's not good enough. I will not mark the thread as "resolved ".

 

What video card?

 

NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200 manufactured by InnoVision.

 

Yup, that's an old video card.
Not sure the cause of the issue, but I'd snoop around the Internet Options and see if there's something there that could be affecting thenigs. The options in IE8 have changed a bit.
I had IE8 on a Vista pc a year ago and got rid of it becuase it was quirky.

 

That old video card has a hard time keeping up with YouTube in full screen mode. The whole BOAC is eight years old ... ... but it still does what I want it to, browsing and some office work in Word, Excel and Access ... ... and I'm payed by the hour!

However, I'm considering a new build but it has been put off by not wanting to go for Vista. Now I'm waiting for Windows 7 to mature. After the first service pack, maybe ... ... ?

 

Strange behaviour - I would point you to MS's Troubleshooting for IE8 .....

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/pc_ie_v8intro

 

Hello firestormbringe,

Did you have the problem at Adobe or any other site(s)?

Neither do I but I don't want to leave any stone unturned.

I restored a Ghost Image (created prior to installing IE8) which took my system back to IE6 and there was no problem at Adobe.

 

Thanks Pete,
I'll have a look tomorrow!

 

I have System Restore disabled and use Norton Ghost 2003 for system backup. After restoring the most recent Image, created when still on IE6, I verified that IE6 was working as it should at Adobe. Next, I once again installed IE8 (and all missing updates) with the same result. One test I can do is to restore the Image of a virgin XP SP3 installation (no updates, never been online) and install IE8 (and all missing updates). I doubt that the result will be different but "no stone should be left unturned ".

 

I gave feedback to your suggestion in my previous post but if you want to know anything else, just let me know.

You mention "Adobe Air ". Should I take that as confirmation of your problems being at Adobe? Anywhere else?

 

Pete,
I went through the steps at "MS's Troubleshooting for IE8" and ended up with a suggestion to try compatibility mode. I had already done that, needless to say, without any luck. The final suggestion was to contact support ... ... preferrably "credit card in hand" ... ... but I don't think they would get to a solution.