Repair Internet Explorer IE7

[arrow_runner]

I have 2 machines in right now from separate customers and IE7 will close/crash immediately after being opened. On one machine, the re-install finishes successfully, the other errors out right away (this one was infected with malware), but IE7 still doesn't work after that.

I found a script on this website, a few KBs from microsoft, and some other HOW-TOs on with google, but none of them have worked.

So far I've tried AT LEAST the following

http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3937&page=7
http://windowsitpro.com/article/art...ly-on-windows-xp-and-windows-server-2003.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932540
http://forums.techguy.org/all-other-software/515445-solved-cant-install-ie7-2.html
http://www.windowsbbs.com/internet-explorer/59082-ie7-wont-install-registry-problem.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917925/en-us

I've also tried creating new accounts and running/installing IE7 that way, no love. I have disabled all BHOs, started in safe mode, and I have tried the mode where you disable all of the services. It still closes immediately.

What are your suggestions?

 

[iladelf]

Possibly a recent Microsoft patch causing the issue? Just an idea.

 

[geekhelp4u]

are you downloaded the install? if you are running it from a disk I would start by guessing your disk or installation file is the culprit.

 

[arrow_runner]

Definitely not the download. Also, I can tell the previous tech on one of these tried his heart out to fix it by the amount of registry repair tools and 'fix it' tools left on the desktop.

 

[seedubya]

I just had a very similar problem on a customers machine, IE crashing and re-installation making no difference. It wrecked my head for a couple of days. In the process of testing Avira AV I loaded it on this machine, it found a virus infecting loads of .exe files (including iexplore.exe) that 3 other av/am tools had missed. Deleted the infected exes and reloaded the apps - everythings perfect.

 

[arrow_runner]

Hmm. I haven't scanned 1 of the PCs yet, so I'll give that a try, but I'm positive the other one is clean.

 

[arrow_runner]

I scanned the other PC with Avast and Clamwin and only found some really old infected temp files.

Any other suggestions? I've been trying to find something wrong by watching IE7 execute w/ Process monitor and Process explorer, but nothing is standing out when IE begins to crash...

 

[Methical]

Have you tried running Internet Explorer (No Add-Ons)??
Or go to Tools > Advanced and click on the 'Reset' button. To reset IE back to default.

I have a similar problem atm tryin' to run FireFox from ObjectDock. Won't load from the dock, but will from desktop/start menu/quick launch etc. Safe Mode of Firefox works fine from dock, but not normal. And its not one of the plugins; ive installed them one by one and tested and all seems fine.

 

[ASDCR]

well.. i just saw that friday

listen - IE is really hard to fix cuz you can't REALLY uninstall it


about the only options you've got in that situation are.. yeah - poke around and see if the obvious fixes work (a/v, anti-spyware, yada..)

but then you're just down to either upgrading to the next level of IE (6 to 7) or downgrading if its already been brought up to 7 (7 to 6)



if its vista and it comes w/ 7... well uh....... you're kinda hosed

maybe try to upgrade to v8 (beta)


??





anyway - upgrading to IE7 fixed it for my client

 

[arrow_runner]

It's IE7 on both XP machines. I don't really want to push IE8, but I might try it and see what happens since I've take an image backup already...

Regarding resetting the options, on one machine, IE and Internet Options from control panel crash immediately, so I can't do anything.

On the other machine, IE7 will run fine until you move the mouse from the 'web page' section of IE to over the toolbars/menus/tab bars. However, I was able to use the keyboard to navigate around and reset the options there. Didn't help, but a little odd nonetheless...

So frustrating...

 

[ASDCR]

yeah.. since they're both XP you can probably go back to 6




and.. check it out

you don't have to stay there!


go back to six just to fix it - then re-d/l seven again

it'll stay fixed






but dood, at some point you gotta just ask.. is it all worth it?? what is your time worth??

you're putting in some serious time on "dinky dong" stuff (vietnamese for "little stuff")


you could "try" an inplace-install (re-install XP over itself - from orig OS media)





and.. in similar situations in the past i've told clients that look... i could "go to the mat" over this IE thing - and charge you $400+ or......... i could just load firefox/chrome/safari and we could just LEARN to live with the fact that IE is broken and realize its just not worth anybody's time to try and fix it

life happens man



there are certain economic realities and often times clients are thicker skinned than we give them credit for and can accept cold hard facts of life

try it






ps - probably hammered w/ spyware/whatever anyway and the only way to REALLY get control of those PCs again is to put the orig CD in, repartition/format/reinstall XP... *shrug*

 

[arrow_runner]

Your suggestion for downgrading to 6 and then upgrading to 7 worked on one computer. The other computer is now stuck at 6 at won't install 7, but that's acceptable considering 7 didn't work at all.

Regarding my tenaciousness with these 2 PCs, I have my reasons for why I put the time into them, and I don't consider it time wasted at all. It really was no big deal anyhow as I'd work on them after everything else was done for the day or in those brief 'waiting for X to finish up' with other systems.

I've got a decent sized work bench and stations under it to connect to my KVM switch, so I don't mind having 1 or 2 drawn out software repairs once in awhile. It's always a good learning experience.

 

[ASDCR]

oh, no worries

yeah - sometimes i'll just "go" on a system just to do it

i went a whole saturday fighting that vundo virus... just to see how far i could get




heh!

 

[holyspidoo]

On the PC where you downgraded to 6 but can't install 7 anymore, what does the LOG file say?

In 90% of cases where I can't install IE7, there is a registry key that is locked. Maybe try to reset the whole registry permissions?

I'm still amazed at how many problems that fixes.

I believe this is the link? Not sure, I've had this in batch form forever!
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blogs/usasma/index.php?showentry=1378

 

[arrow_runner]

I customer now has the computer back and gave us a $10 or $15 tip for the extra effort.

 

[Galdorf]

It maybe a problem with com+ or a corrupt service try this batch file you will need the windows cd then go to addremove windows components:



ren %WinDir%\System32\Clbcatq.dll ~Clbcatq.dll

REGEDIT4

; @ECHO OFF
; CLS
; REGEDIT.EXE /S "%~f0"
; EXIT

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\COM3]

cd %windir%
rmdir /s /q Registration


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Symptoms of a bad com+ internet explorer will open then close for no reason, if you try installing or uninstalling a program you get microsoft installer could not be lanched, your machine would run slow usually the result of a corrupt com+ service.