Popup Windows (from target=_blank to JavaScript) not working

[analoguesque]

This is weird. I have not changed my IE 6 settings in months but suddenly when I click on links which attempt to load in a new page, they don't work.

If the link is a JavaScript popup, it does not work.
If the link attempts to use TARGET="_NEW" or TARGET="_BLANK", it does not work.
If I use SHIFT-CLICK to open any link in a new page, it does not work.

They all do nothing.

I do not have any popup blockers installed and never have, so I'm stumped by what the problem could be.

I went into TOOLS-INTERNET OPTIONS-SECURITY-CUSTOM LEVEL and checked the options under SCRIPTING, and they are all enabled. Just to make sure, I set them all to PROMPT and tried clicking a popup link. Sure enough, it prompted me and when I clicked YES ..... NOTHING!

I cleared my cache and history and tried the SHIFT-REFRESH and CTRL-REFRESH thing, but it still will not work.

Can anyone help?

Some websites are pretty much useless without the ability to open links in a new window :-(

[analoguesque]

Okay, I just installed SP1 for IE6 and it solved the problem. Bet if I had just re-installed IE6 it would have soled it too.

Checked all the relevant settings and they are still the same as before SP1, so who knows ....?

[tedster]

Sounds very strange - could it be a worm that blocks pop-ups against your will? What would we call it, the "Vigilante Worm"?