Resolved Missing Related Icon/Button in Customize Toolbar

I just did a clean install of Windows XP Professional. I righted clicked on the toolbar and and added the Related button to the toolbar. After I finished installing all my programs. I noticed that the Related button was missing from the toolbar. So I right clicked on the toolbar and chose customize I scrolled down the list and it was no longer on the list. Is there a way to get it back on that list so if I decide to readd it to the toolbar at a later time I'll have that option.

 

The related button is an available Standard toobar button that can be an extremely helpful tool for users who need to access related information quickly. Clicking the Related Icon opens the Explorer Bar and offers a list of other internet sites that contain information that is similar to what the user is currently viewing.

 

That seems to be an IE Enhancement provided by Netscape Navigator. They call it "Netscape Tuneup for IE." I can't imagine why it was on your "clean" install initially. Anyway, you can get it here.

If you still have it installed and merely turned it off inadvertantly, Ramona in the Netscape forum can probably assist you in getting it up and running again.

 

This Related toolbar button/icon is the one that is a part of the Windows XP OS and not the one that may be associated with Netscape version. I never used Netccape. I can't seem to find a fix for it anywhere not even in my MCDST Manuals. I right clicked on the toolbar clicked on Customize in the Available toolbar buttons I scrolled down the list there was an icon named Related. So I added it to the toolbar. Now it's not on the toolbar or on the Available toolbar buttons list. Could NIS 2004 or SP2 have removed it and be treating it as a potential security risk. I searched the files and folders on my computer and found: related.htm C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$ 1KB HTML Document. It's a hidden folder.

 

FWIW, when I first installed XP on this computer I had the related button too. Netscape's never been installed. I just had a look at mine and see that the button is now missing from mine too. I have no idea when it dissappeared as it was one of the first things I removed from the IE toolbar. I never use it so I got rid of it. I wonder if it could have something to do with spybot or adaware. It's somehow related to Alexa which is (or at least used to be) considered spyware. Maybe that's where that pesky Alexa entry in the registry that always comes back, comes from. I don't know if I still get it back anymore or not as I don't pay much attention to it anymore. Guess I'll have to run adaware and spybot and see if I have the entry again.

 

The 'related' menu and button options are as Zander said, part of the Alexa toolbar. It is considered spyware by some anti-spyware programs, such as Spybot and/or Ad-aware, targeted and removed. It is also installed with certain new Dell computers, with Windows XP, with IE6, and available for download at the Alexa website. More info here.

I do encourage you to read their privacy statement. Below is an exerpt.

 

Thanks for the heads up Dave!

 

I built this computer. I never use Alexa, Google, Netscape, or any other toolbar only what is installed with OS. I recently installed a larger HDD then a full version Windows XP Professional which I had on my old HDD. I had the Related toolbar button/icon available on the customize toolbar Available toolbar buttons list. So I added it to the toolbar. When I completed installing all my programs which included Norton Internet Security 2004 and SP2 the related toolbar icon was gone from the toolbar and was no longer available on the Customize Toolbar\Available toolbar buttons list. Could SP2 or NIS 2004 be treating it as a potential security risk and restricted its use. It's a handy tool to have when your searching related sites for technical information.

 

The feature appears to have been dropped from SP2.

Google's advanced search offers a similar feature.

 

Regardless, the related button is related to Alexa. It comes with Internet Explorer and so does any Alexa technology that it uses. If you want to get it back I'm not really sure how you go about it. Perhaps reinstall IE. Maybe somebody else will know.

 

It was just one of those what happen to this icon thing. Just Curious I guess. Thanks to all who responded.

 

It was possibly installed as part of a browser hi-jack (BHO). It would be interesting to see a HiJackThis scan log of your system previous to you losing the feature/button icon.

As a test, I disabled my SpywareGuard program and allowed the download of the item I linked in my first post and it installed the feature on my IE6 browser just as you described it. It took only a few seconds to download since it's only an ActiveX control file. It has all the features you outlined. It also uninstalls quite easily.

http://home.netscape.com/smartupdate/su_tuneup.html

 

To get the icon back try this page. Looks promising.
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/IEFAQ.htm#Related

 

Thanks Zander. I was at that page at one time during my search but couldn't remember what site it was. Downloaded it so far so good. I haven't tried to use it yet but its back on the Available toolbar buttons list. I'll let you know if it actually works.

 

Ok. Thanks for posting back. It'll be interesting to know if it works for you.

 

hi all...i'm doing the same thing. i managed to get the related button back on my list but it is not working. does anyone have further advice?

 

You could try downloading the Alexa toolbar. There is a link on the page I linked to in my previous post.

 

After restoring that feature and then running Ad-Aware, I get the following report:

Alexa Object Recognized!
Type : Regkey
Data :
Category : Data Miner
Comment :
Rootkey : HKEY_USERS
Object : S-1-5-21-2857422465-927890586-840360825-1003\software\microsoft\internet explorer\extensions\{c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a}

Vendor:Alexa
Categoryata Miner
Object Type:Regkey
Size:126 Bytes
Location:...\extensions\{c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a}\
Last Activity:9-12-2004
Risk Level:Low
TAC index:5
Comment:
Description:Installed with Internet Explorer and some Microsoft updates. Alexa is the "What's Related links" feature on your Internet Explorer toolbar. Alexa technology uses a 'web crawler' (bot) only when the toolbar is in use.


So, if you have that feature and want to keep it, don't run Ad-Aware and allow it to dump the key above. The "feature" is considered a browser hi-jacker by Ad-Aware!