Internet Explorer gone KAPUT!!

[alpinemonkey]

I may have already answered my own questions about this, but thought it best to ask you guys before I go taking any drastic action.

Here's what's happened:

I recently put a version of IE7 onto my Windows XP Pro PC. It was working all fine and dandy although started to clash with some other progams I run on there, and also seemed a little slower in loading-up web pages. Then suddenly it started not giving me any access to secure sites (in particular, online banking sites). A problem.

I searched all over and discovered all the usual ways of trying to fix this problem (including clearing my cache, running several commands like "regsvr32 softpub.dll" that I was advised to do, running all my virus software...amongst many others). Well, I thought, why not just sod Internet Explorer and try it with Firefox instead, since so many folk rave about it. I did this and the same problem occured.

So I got rid of Firfox and decided to start from scratch. I rolled-back IE7 to IE6 and hoped that I would come to some sort of conclusion, with things the way they used to be. However, what has NOW happened is that I STILL can't access secure sites AND the desktop icon for IE doesn't work (when you double-click on it, it brings up the "Open With" dialogue box!?!).

So, my personal thoughts are that I need to reinstall Internet Explorer 6, as explained here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378).

But is this the right thing to do?:confused:

Thanks.

[alpinemonkey]

PS: I just found this (http://www.theeldergeek.com/repair_ie6.htm). Will that solve it, do you think?

[alpinemonkey]

Okay....I did as the link in the above post instructed and that fixed my desktop icon problem.

To get onto the secure sites though I got rid of my Lavasoft Personal firewall and am now using Windows Firewall, as I noticed that the functionality is better in that you can choose to manually open ports if you so wish, and is also a bit more user-friendly.

So...my problems are no more.

This thread may be deleted, unless you wish to keep it for prosperity's sake?

[Laguna]

Surely there would have been a setting in the Lavasoft firewall you could have changed to get rid of this problem and allow you to view said sites?

I have never even seen let alone used the Lavasoft firewall so I'm afraid I can't be of any help to you on that note.But it is recommended you use a bit more of a strict firewall than the built in Windows one, as it doesn't monitor any out going traffic.

There are lots of other free alternatives, Zone alarm and Sunbelt's kerio fireall both have one.I use Kerio myself and recommend it as Zone Alarm has become quite bloated and is known to cause slow downs.

[alpinemonkey]

Well, if there WAS a setting to change then I certainly couldn't find it...and I'm no PC-phobic, neither am I a n00b to these kind of problems.

Anyway, I totally see what you're saying about the Windows Firewall. Think I might take a look at the Kerio one.

Thanks.

[jlreich]

I agree with Laguna. The problem was with the firewall not setup to allow IE7 and Firefox. It was simply doing it's job. The firewall sees IE7 as a different program from IE6 (because it is) and treats as such and has no pre-configured settings for it.

I also agree about using a better firewall than windows firewall. And also recommend the free version of Kerio. Or reinstall Lavasoft's firewall. Anything is better than windows firewall. ;)