IE6 Advances to Next Page, Then Just Sits There

[sburtchin]

IE6 advances to next selected web page, but the title bar is grayed out. Then I have to <alt><tab> to it or click in the IE window to reactivate it before I can scroll with up/down arrows or select a link to go to another page (ie. I have to double click hyperlinks!:mad: - if the IE window has not been activated), etc. I think this might have occured occasionally in past, but now it is all the time. Same behavior at all websites. Please help! Thanks.

[Paul Komski]

Are you deliberately trying to open links in a new window or is that what is happening by default? Personally speaking - IE is such a dinosaur that I practically never browse with it.

[sburtchin]

In more detail:
1) I go to a new webpage, either by clicking a link on previous page or selecting a favorite, does'nt matter
2) the page comes up, everything looks normal except the title bar is grayed out, but the IE window stays on top of everything else
3) If I click anywhere in the IE window or hit <alt><tab> the title bar activates (turns blue)

NOTE: At step "2" keyboard and mouse inputs are ignored. At step "3" keyboard and mouse have control again.

Biggest annoyance is that I have to do something to get to step "3" before I can use up/down arrows to scroll. Another annoyance is that links on the new page have to be clicked twice (the first click is to get to step "3"). There is no problem with any links.

NOTE: The problem seems to have corrected itself during the course of today. There have been no configuration changes or restarts. Stop Sign threat scanner just finished scanning. This is the free version that only finds, but does not fix. It runs in the background, I think continuously. Maybe this is related. Next time I notice the problem I will kill the StopSign process and see if it goes away.

NOTE: I also have a liscenced installation of eTrust A/V running that is bundled with my RoadRunner account.

Addendum: I think the problem was occasional for quite some time, but became persistent about the time I added the external USB HD. Things in general seem slower since then.

[Paul Komski]

Only one window can be active at any moment in time (and holding down alt while toggling tab lets you see all open windows) but it is odd that something other than the browser becomes active when clicking on a link unless it is some pop up or pop under or other dialog that has started up but is hidden by the IE windows screen. Sounds like suspicious behaviour or something is trying to pop up and is being inhibited by a security app such as a firewall.

[sburtchin]

:) Found it! "Show Privacy Advisor" was selected in my EZ Firewall privacy settings for cookies. It says: The Privacy Advisor informs you when privacy settings interfere with a Website you are visitingSounded like a good idea.:rolleyes: I had selected this when I was trying to debug cookie problems with my login to the PC guide. It is a small pop-up that fades away. Apparently this was becomming the active window (and remained so indefinitely), although not listed when holding down <alt><tab>.:confused: