unable to access internet options

[L-knot]

Hello. I was referred to this board from Castlecops. Rather than going through solutions again here is a reference to my problem and remedies that were tried: http://castlecops.com/postx149592-0-0.html

I hope someone can help and I really appreciate anyone taking the time to help.


Here is my original post:

Hello, I've exhausted (or I'm exhausted) searching via google and I thought maybe this board would be a good place to seek help.

I run as admin of my computer and it's not on a network. I cannot get to Internet options via IE (AFAIK there is no other route) I see this dialog:
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/5597/restricted7ia.png

I have run ewido and nod32
I unchecked options in spybot, uninstalled counterspy, tried various solutions I found searching google (NoBrowserOptions) and tried to run sfc /scannow - which is my other problem. Scannow displays the progressmeter but it progresses so fast it's over in seconds. That does not sound right according to my past experience with it.

Thanks for your help.

[zimagirl79]

Hi L-knot and welcome to eXPerience Windows. We've got some experts here who should be able to help you out.

The site owner is in the UK but is up at all hours of the night so may see your post this evening yet. If not, it shouldn't be long before someone can help out. Personally, I'm at a loss because you have already done the things I would have started you out with.

Hang in there. Although it doesn't look like a very active board, the members are in and out all the time. We are still new (revived, actually! lol) and are still working on rebuilding our membership.

Again, welcome and thanks for your patience.

[L-knot]

Thanks Jeanne and thank you for the warm welcome. Cool! Another rat.

[Micron]

Hi L-knot

There are a few ways to access Internet options. You should be able to access them from one of these, then use the fix below to fix the issue with the Internet Options menu in IE.

1. Start > Control Panel > Internet Options
2. Start > Run > type inetcpl.cpl and click OK

What version of Windows XP are you using, Home or Pro?

If its XP Home you may have a virus or a registry entry has changed and finding the reg key is a pain but is usually here:

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Inte rnet Explorer\Restrictions]

and System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Int ernet Explorer\Restrictions]

Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction)

http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/images/ie1.gif

Look for this key in both locations: NoBrowserOptions - this is used to Disable the Tools > Internet Options menu. If there double click NoBrowserOptions and set the value to 0. This will reactivate the Tools > Internet Options Menu in IE.

If using Windows XP Professional, try this:

Press Start and go to Run. Type gpedit.msc then click ok and follow these instructions.

1. From the Group Policy Editor navigate to Local Computer Policy > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Browser Menus
2. On the right pane double click Tools menu: Disable Internet Options...menu option
3. Click on DISABLED and click OK.

http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/images/ie2.gif

It should be set as default to Not Configured, but if you have a virus, setting it to default will do nothing, so set it to Disabled.

If this dosent solve it then its probably down to some parasite altering your settings. There are a few other locations that may cause the problem.

Also you could Download (http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/forum/dload.php?action=file&file_id=2) HijackThis from the Downloads section above and click the Scan button, locate and tick the offending entry (06 in the example) and click Fix checked.

http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/images/ie3.gif

Hope this works for you though.

P.S. Your post on castlecops states we are not very Active. Maybe true, but we have only been open for a few months and we don't advertise on google (yet).

[L-knot]

P.S. Your post on castlecops states we are not very Active. Maybe true, but we have only been open for a few months and we don't advertise on google (yet).It just appeared as such as when I registered there was no one online. I appreciate the quick response and warm welcome from Zimagirl79 though. This board has the qualities that will make it successful. I'm glad to have been referred to this board. :)

Xp Pro -

gpedit.msc - negative

Disable Internet Options...menu option - negative

HijackThis - the word "restrictions"is never used in entire log and there is no "06"





[B]

[Micron]

Thanks for your nice comment :)

You mentioned unchecking Options in Spybot, Did you do it like this?

Got to Start > Programs > Spybot Search & Destroy > Spybot S&D (Advanced Mode). Open spybot in advanced mode. Click on the "Spybot S&D" tab then click on "Immunize".

Look at the bottom of the immunize page and you will see the settings to "Lock IE control panel against opening from within IE (current user). Remove the check by that.

http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/images/ie4.jpg

If this dosent fix the problem, Uninstall Spybot and try Internet Options again. Then reinstall if all is ok.

I used to like spybot, but its now very dated, id recommend a-Squared.

[L-knot]

Ok I will uninstall. Mine is different from yours.



http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6931/spy22ks.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spy22ks.jpg)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3508/spy32fj.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spy32fj.jpg)

[L-knot]

uninstalling had no effect. Upon reboot I had a connection problem again and had to use ERUNT to restore my registry to an earlier date. I wondered if my file protection is a symptom of my problem as well (scannow completes in seconds)

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6898/err5ri.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/7839/err21dk.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=err21dk.jpg)

[Micron]

OK, lets see what happening under the hood. Download this http://www.experiencewindows.co.uk/forum/dload.php?action=file&file_id=9 and post the log.

Sounds like you have more than one problem and can all be related.

[L-knot]

I ran it 3 times and every time it would error at this and seem to hang so I don't know if this is a full readout because the busy cursor is still active:

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7351/flags3lw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm not sure what "flags" are. I thought it was the Firefox extension I installed. Perhaps someone installed something I'm not aware of. I am primarily the only user of this computer but sometimes my niece and nephew..............grrrr


********************edit - I fixed the flag issue - deleted it************* this is new******************

[L-knot]

I was going to install this patch -

http://www.determina.com/security_center/download/DETCVE-2006-1359.msi

Description:
This is the unofficial fix for the IE 5.01 and IE 6.0 "CreateTextRange" vulnerability. This fix will be overwritten when Microshaft manages to release their own fix.

Additional Info:
http://www.determina.com/security_center/security_advisories/securityadvisory_march272006_1.asp

This is how my computer responded:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/3844/patch5my.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[L-knot]

I went through hell today trying to fix this. I had to reinstall outpost 8 times today because every single time I would lose my connection necessitating a registry recovery which did not include outpost.

I tried First Defense ISR. The copy of primary is no good as it remains stuck on welcome screen.

I am unable to install certain software as they are restricted as well.


Problem not solved.

[AmericanWoman]

I ran into this problem a few weeks ago. Nothing could be accessed, including task manager. I also was unable to solve the problem and eventually ended up backing up what files I could and then did a system recovery. I will definately watch this thread closely in case I have this problem again in the future. Crossing my fingers that this gets sorted out for you L-Knot. Wish I could be more help to you.

[L-knot]

Thanks AM. I'm doing a repair install but it seems it's stuck on "Preparing Installation - setup will complete in 34 minutes" it's been stuck here for 30mins.

1. tried to run repair again but option no longer available
2. windows setup is "borked" now. It says "restarting setup" in windows but reboots
3. trying miniPE to see If I can recover..............................
4. using file explorer was able to execute ERUNT (http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/) Registry recovery (got to love this application)
5. windows logon functions however explorer.exe will not execute
6. back to trying to run repair
7 repair option has returned as I think the registry recovery deleted "setup"
8. repair does not work - setup reboots - something about security
9. used minipe's explorer to copy My Documents and Firefox profile over to another partition
10. looked for and downloaded Hirem's boot CD
11. Using True Image to replace partition C - have fingers crossed.

[L-knot]

Worth a thousand words? Unfortunately I didn't learn anything and I have about 6 months of updates and new applications to reinstall but...... I take that back - True Image works but if required some 4-8? hours.

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4414/10005vr.png (http://imageshack.us)

[L-knot]

Wow, what happened? Everyone seems to have disappeared

[AmericanWoman]

Still hanging around, Did everything get sorted out for you?

[L-knot]

Well, not the way I wanted it to. You don't learn much by resorting to fixing your computer with a replacement image. I appreciate the efforts in trying to help though.