Internet Explorer problem

Takes very long time to start

[Sinner_G]

Im using Win2k and IE 6 SP1. Whenever I try to start IE, nothing happens. After a while I open the Task Manager and see that the process IEXPLORE.EXE is indeed running and using 99% of CPU. This goes on for several minutes, until I give up, end the process and start Opera. However I need IE sometimes, e.g. to check pages or to use the windows update. So, has any one already had that problem and how did you get rid of it?

Thanks
Sinner

P.S.: Tried to do a search on Google for 'internet explorer problem and site:www.webmasterworld.com, but this shows some 1800 results....

[hartlandcat]

Is this something that happens every time (even after you reboot) or just something that's been happening today?

On a slightly offtopic note... am I really the only person that doesn't bother with Windoze updates?

[Sinner_G]

Happens every time, even after reboot, started about a week ago. Just went all the way and needed about 6 minutes to get my about:blank homepage.

Well, can't say about everbody else out there, but I do care. Mainly it's for the security updates (and there's always plenty of those).

[jdMorgan]

Flush the Temp files, turn off active scripting, and maybe even run AdAware and SpyBot S&D.

Jim

[Sinner_G]

Had already got rid of the temp files and adaware showed only one alexa entry, so that wasn't it either. In the meantime, patience paid off. After I got IE running, I could do the updates and now (at least at the moment), IE seems to run at normal speed again. Don't know which of the updates did the trick though.

Thanks for the replies anyways.

Sinner

[tedster]

Since Sinner_G's problem was fixed, I'm also straying into the related but off-topic area here, for a bit.

I also used to be very lax about the Windows and IE updates. But after 8 no-trouble years online, I was at long last invaded.

I was forced to spend a completely non-productive week just getting my system rebuilt and back into operating condition. I figure it cost me about $4,000 all told, including lost business productivity and the cost of software I had to replace because of inadequate back-up and poor record keeping.

There was a recent update for IE that plugs a hole that is exploitable -- even if you aren't running IE but only using other browers! All you need to be is:

1) using any browser online
2) using a PC with IE installed (and isn't it always?)

Security holes like that are really rough. And the invasion can come from a website you're visiting with a non-IE browser, it doesn't need to be email. I do hate being hostage to MS Windows, but that's my reality and I had to face it and take proper steps.

[jbinbpt]

Well, Bill G said in an interview the he wants to force updates on users. I spent a lot of time in the last two weeks updating all of the machines in my offices, making sure the patches were up to snuff.
I hate to use a buggy product, but if a fix is available then it needs to be applied.

jb

[Ryan8720]

I usually only use Win update if I need to replace/update a specific piece of software, or if I know a specific virus is on the loose (msblaster).

[canuck]

I had the same problem as Sinner_G with IEXPLORE.exe taking over my CPU & nearly crashing the computer. Ad-Aware found the following 5 scumware programs on my computer:

1) Coulomb Dialer (Malware)
2) IPInsight (Data Miner, Spyware & Serves ads)
3) Transponder/MSView (Serves Pop-up ads)
4) WurldMedia (Data Miner)
5) StopPop (Data Miner, Serves ads)

Once Ad-Aware removed these I've had no further problems. Thought I was more careful about what I downloaded to my computer... :o

- Canuck