Can't change my Internet Explorer homepage?

danmanchester

Just done a fresh install of Windows XP pro, activated it downloaded all Windows updates and everything's working fine - except Internet Explorer! (again!!!)

This time it has "stuck" the homepage at http://uk.msn.com/
and no matter how many times I've tried to either manually change it to Google.co.uk or navigate to Google and click "use current" then apply/ok the next time I open IE it's back to the msn homepage.

This is the page that keeps loading:
http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome ??

Any suggestions please? Thanks

albertross_2

Save this as a .reg file and click on it, or use regedit to manually change it. Do you have any anti-spyware apps preventing homepage hijacks installed?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]

"Start Page"="http://www.google.co.uk/"

leesmithg

danmanchester wrote:

Just done a fresh install of Windows XP pro, activated it downloaded all Windows updates and everything's working fine - except Internet Explorer! (again!!!)

This time it has "stuck" the homepage at http://uk.msn.com/
and no matter how many times I've tried to either manually change it to Google.co.uk or navigate to Google and click "use current" then apply/ok the next time I open IE it's back to the msn homepage.

This is the page that keeps loading:
http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome ??

Any suggestions please? Thanks

Just select tools>internet options and click use blank.

danmanchester

Tried that registry fix but it won't allow or apply the change?



I'm pretty sure that nothing from the internet has hijacked the browser - I installed onto my system security(ZoneAlarm free, Ewido 4 anti spyware and Eset Nod32 2.5 antivirus) before I even set up my broadband connection.

Incidentally, don't think this is related - but I'm wondering: I can't access my email - I have my own domain so use that for emails via fasthosts, and I can't get www.fasthosts.co.uk/ page to open - can anyone else access that website? If not that explains why I can't get my emails ! Their site must be down or something.

danmanchester

leesmithg wrote:

Just select tools>internet options and click use blank.

That doesn't work either.

I've actually gone into registry editor and tried to change but it won't allow me to ?

danmanchester

Just done a HijackThis scan and here's what it found:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 18:46:09, on 25/06/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\guard.exe
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDLL32.exe
C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PRISMSVR.EXE
C:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\ewido.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S4I0F2.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Dan\My Documents\Drivers\Security Stuff\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.google.co.uk
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.google.co.uk
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.google.co.uk
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.google.co.uk
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - !!06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - !!761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nod32kui] "C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32kui.exe" /WAITSERVICE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PRISMSVR.EXE] "C:\WINDOWS\system32\PRISMSVR.EXE" /APPLY
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!ewido] "C:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\ewido.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus Photo R300 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_S4I0F2.EXE /P30 "EPSON Stylus Photo R300 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus Photo R300"
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - !!08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - !!08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.google.co.uk
O16 - DPF: !!6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1151201939609
O16 - DPF: !!6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1151202026062
O18 - Protocol: livecall - !!828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - !!828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: ewido anti-spyware 4.0 guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\guard.exe
O23 - Service: NOD32 Kernel Service (NOD32krn) - Eset - C:\Program Files\Eset\nod32krn.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
________________________________________________________________

Even though it's showing I have tried to set homepage to Google whenever I open IE it's still on MSN homepage!

leesmithg

danmanchester wrote:

That doesn't work either.

I've actually gone into registry editor and tried to change but it won't allow me to ?

Did you press apply after inserting about:blank ?

danmanchester

Yes - apply/ok - done it numerous times it's just ignoring me!

leesmithg

Ohh geez, do a spy bot scan.

See what that doood shows up!

danmanchester

Spybot found nothing as well!

This is the first time I've ever had this "Homepage stuck" problem, and I know it should be simple to fix. I've taken pc's to pieces, rebuilt them, built from scratch and never had any problems....until I come into contact with Microsoft software :rolleyes: ..that's when I get problems! :rotfl:

I just get annoyed when something isn't working as it should - even something as minor as this but I suppose in the grand scheme of things it's no biggie.

Oh well...c'est la vie !

alanrowell

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