OT - AAAAaaaaaaaaaargh - problems with IE6

[pammy]

Help pleeeeeze - IE6 is doing my head in. It's crashing out so often, just as I'm tryping in a new url, revisiting a much used site or a new one, it don't care, just determined not to let me browse and surf as I want.

Any ideas chaps. I'm using IE6 sp1 with Win98 - loads of RAM and processor and this is a recent prob.

 

[bropa09]

Are there any error messages when it crashes out? Is it since SP1 was installed, or have you installed anything else recently about the time that it started to crash?

The thing is, Win98 is not very friendly when it comes to error recovery (long story, but it's based on a different core kernel than WinXP) - sometimes when these things happen, an OS reinstall is necessary. Don't want to scare you though! Hopefully we can get to the bottom of the problem before you have to think about that route

 

[pammy]

Are there any error messages when it crashes out? Is it since SP1 was installed, or have you installed anything else recently about the time that it started to crash?

The thing is, Win98 is not very friendly when it comes to error recovery (long story, but it's based on a different core kernel than WinXP) - sometimes when these things happen, an OS reinstall is necessary. Don't want to scare you though! Hopefully we can get to the bottom of the problem before you have to think about that route

waaaaaaaaaaaah the last thing I want is a re-install.:cries: Sorry - thanx for the reply, hope you or Fuzzer can help - or anyone else

Haven't changed anything, that's what's so puzzling, and I don't get any error messages, just chucked out, oh and it resets the desktop to recovery mode

If it comes to it, would installing the XP upgrade solve the problems, or do I need to sort this first? Only ask as I'm thinking of going to XP anyway. It's on my lads PC and we will want to network his into mine and the daughter's.

 

[bropa09]

Well, I would recommend XP to anyone still running Win98/95 anyway - but it can be quite an expensive upgrade. However, if you've already got it then I would recommend it It will put the base OS on if you upgrade, and then you'll need to do a Windows Update to patch the OS with the service packs and security patches (always advisable and ok if you've got broadband, otherwise could be painfully slow!).

In theory, it should solve your problem almost certainly if it's software related

 

[RichardM]

Have you tried running Windows update to see if there are any patches available? I'd take ie to the highest patch level before giving up.

 

[andy_k]

Pammy, head for the control panel and select "add remove programs". When the list pops up select IE6 and it will open a dialogue asking you if you want to uninstall or repair. Take the "repair" option and see if that solves your problems.

I had no issues with IE6 and Win 98SE.

HTH

Andy

 

[fuzzer]

Just caught this thread.

Im not a fan of SP1 on IE6 , ive had it on my computer and refotmatted because i felt it was that bad. Im still running IE6 regular all patched up.

I don't know of any fixes to that problem you have but i will ask about for you and see what i can do.

Upgrading to XP might well solve the problem but again it might well just take the problem with you. I always like starting with a blank hard disc.

I would say the best way to get round about this is to wipe the hard drive and install a fresh copy of XP

Windows 98 isnt the best to use if youre wanting to network the two computers together. Windows XP would be ideal with a small broadband gateway inbetween them. Maybe even go down the wireless road and save running the wiring.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Tried reinstalling IE 6 to do a repair before you start wiping hard disks? Seems drastic. There is always a way.

 

[pammy]

Thanks chaps - I'll have a look at repairing it when I get home this afternoon.

We already have two pc's networked and must say, although it has worked, it's not been the most stable so perhaps now is the time to just run to XP on them all.

Now for the naughty question - on the new PC, it's an e-machine so the XP install had AOL and all that other cr*p which I've taken off, it has a restore disk and then a sealed XP package that looks to have the disk inside for XP. Is XP clever enough to know if you've been naughty and used the same code on more than one machine, or should I just go to the PC shop and buy two more copies?

 

[Jukie]

Pammy,

Let's just say XP is good, but it isn't THAT good!! Or should I say intelligent.

 

[scotth_uk]

I always find that having a second browser (firebird or similar) installed is a great way to sanity check the problems that I am having in IE.

Can't say that I have any complaints at all about IE6 - any revision.

 

[jaymanek]

Well my Packard Bell, Dell, Sony or Acer versions of XP didnt work when i tried installing it on a pc that i built myself, it just said this is not the pc this cd is to go with or something along those lines... worth a try tho

 

[fuzzer]

Tried reinstalling IE 6 to do a repair before you start wiping hard disks? Seems drastic. There is always a way.

Depends if youre getting paid by the hour of not

 

[Steve_Perry]

Pammy,

I agree with Scott... my PC has IE6 and I never use it. I use Netscape 7.1 for my browsing needs and it hasn't let me down, there are quite a few alternatives to IE these days: Opera & Mozilla Firebird are another two that spring to mind.

S.

 

[jimmy]

To my peril I have found that XP is clever enough to know what you are doing!!

MS allows you to activate XP a few times and then it won't without having to ring a customer help line.

I tried to use the recovery disks on my Compaq laptop after I installed a new HDD but it new that the HDD was not the original so I had to install a stand alone version of XP.

 

[Satch]

If IE has developed a mind of its own, you may have picked up some vile Spyware. The worst may also manage to completely hijack your browser, stick an unwanted advertising "toolbar" in, change your homepage and keep making all your searchs route through a crappy site which advertises online gaming, Viagra, etc, etc, etc.

But there is an answer and it is free. You use it at your own risk but since many people I know have used it without problem I intalled it a few months ago to get rid of any Spyware, which is more common than many people believe possible. I certainly though that since I have XP with all security updates and a full suite of constantly updated Antivirus & Firewall software I would be OK but no! My first scan threw up 38 pieces of spyware, some Microsoft update thingys to be sure but many obnoxious items which had crept in.

I use Spybot. That & useful collection of links to all sorts of utilities found here

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/collection/0,collid,1247,00.asp

 

[PJH]

Pammy
When you did the last IE update did you disable your virus protection during the update ?
Anti-virus software can prevent an update completing even if Windows thinks
the update was successful.
Also, get a copy of Belarc Advisor from www.belarc.com
This will show you if all your installs/updates have been successful.

As per Andy_k post, try a repair with the virus protection disabled, or
remove one of the updates so that you can update again.

 

[pammy]

wow - thanks chaps.

Have done the Spybot S&D bit - and all is now running so much better:bannana:

Also did the belarc thing - had no idea I had accumulated so much junk on this thing. Almost daren't do it on daughter's PC

You are true stars

 

[Satch]

wow - thanks chaps.

Have done the Spybot S&D bit - and all is now running so much better:bannana:

Glad to hear it. Chalk up another minor victory against Spyware Scum. Pity that Spammers are not quite so easy to deal with.

 

[pammy]

wow - thanks chaps.

Have done the Spybot S&D bit - and all is now running so much better:bannana:

Glad to hear it. Chalk up another minor victory against Spyware Scum. Pity that Spammers are not quite so easy to deal with.

no - but I am trying some software called Motino which is looking good. Doesn't stop the mails coming through but quarantiines them and learns from what you say is good or bad mail. Then from the vault, you can double-check the cr*p before deleting it. It's on a free trial at the mo, then will cost $20 - which galls, but if it works and makes the PC less of a aaaaargh zone, then it'll be worth it.

I'll let you know how it goes.