Internet Explorer 7 Problems

[Steve2UK]

About 10 days ago, I updated my IE from 6 to 7. Since then, I get frequent problems with not being able to close windows and seeing the "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close" message. The version I installed was IE7-Setup.exe. I looked on the IE support site for guidance and only found a reference to this issue occurring with the beta version of IE7 - which mine isn't (AFAIK). Anyhow, I decided to download a fresh (latest?) version: IE7-WindowsXP-86-enu.exe. Installed that and the situation is the same.

One other thing that also now occurs on certain sites (including my UK bank's online banking site) is that whenever I try to access it I get a small window pop up in the top left corner containing my home page URL in the title bar - and then I get the now familiar "IE has encountered a problem....." message and have to close everything. Curiously, one other site where this occurred was the MS support site. It doesn't happen on other sites e.g. ThaiVisa. I managed to get round the problem of accessing the bank site by installing Firefox. Interestingly (?), when I used Firefox to access the bank site, Firefox told me that it had blocked a pop-up - which I was able to confirm and then continue normally.

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

(using XP-Pro with SP2 fully patched)

PS I've followed the debate about Firefox being less buggy and safer than IE and, after much more of this IE trouble, I may well switch.

[cdnvic]

About 10 days ago, I updated my IE from 6 to 7. Since then, I get frequent problems with not being able to close windows and seeing the "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close" message. The version I installed was IE7-Setup.exe. I looked on the IE support site for guidance and only found a reference to this issue occurring with the beta version of IE7 - which mine isn't (AFAIK). Anyhow, I decided to download a fresh (latest?) version: IE7-WindowsXP-86-enu.exe. Installed that and the situation is the same.

One other thing that also now occurs on certain sites (including my UK bank's online banking site) is that whenever I try to access it I get a small window pop up in the top left corner containing my home page URL in the title bar - and then I get the now familiar "IE has encountered a problem....." message and have to close everything. Curiously, one other site where this occurred was the MS support site. It doesn't happen on other sites e.g. ThaiVisa. I managed to get round the problem of accessing the bank site by installing Firefox. Interestingly (?), when I used Firefox to access the bank site, Firefox told me that it had blocked a pop-up - which I was able to confirm and then continue normally.

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

(using XP-Pro with SP2 fully patched)

PS I've followed the debate about Firefox being less buggy and safer than IE and, after much more of this IE trouble, I may well switch.

I would try updating your Java, and Active X to make sure they aren't causing it. IE 7 is built to have fairly recent versions of both so updating them may solve it.

[mosquitoman]

PS I've followed the debate about Firefox being less buggy and safer than IE and, after much more of this IE trouble, I may well switch.

I would if I were you, Firefox wins hands down

MM

[qualtrough]

PS I've followed the debate about Firefox being less buggy and safer than IE and, after much more of this IE trouble, I may well switch.

I would if I were you, Firefox wins hands down

MM

I second that motion. I switched to Firefox some time ago and would never go back to IE. I recently switch from Outlook Express to Mozilla Thunderbird and that too is brilliant. You can switch your favorites over from IE to FF very simply so you don't need to worry about losing those.

[Hobgoblin]

Do yourself the greatest favor - use Firefox and forget IE even exists.

[nikster]

Aye

Firefox is the solution to all IE problems/questions. It just works a whole lot better, and on top of that it's more secure.

As for IE7, you do need the latest version of java, just point IE7 to www.java.com and download it.

As for ActiveX, I don't know except that it should be disabled as much as possible as it's basically a huge security risk by design.

[Crushdepth]

For god's sake just dump IE and get Firefox. 2 weeks later you will not be able to stand the sight of IE7. It is simply the third most crap browser on earth*

Proud Vista user and IE hater.

----

* 2nd worst = IE6, worst by a large margin = IE5.

[dttk0009]

I suppose it's been said plenty of times already, but, my God does IE look terrible in the shadow of the mighty Firefox. Switch now and prepare for a faster and safer internet experience.

[richard10365]

If your using Windows Vista:

Tools meny --> Internet Options --> Advanced Tab --> Reset Internet Explorer settings at the bottom of the page.

An internet explorer add ons might be causing the problem.

[waldwolf]

Steve2UK - There are a number of known issues with IE7, such as the "site error message" problem you mentioned.

That problem can be caused by websites not recognizing the "User Agent String" (UAS) your browser uses to identify itself to the site. The site therefore rejects your browser, displays site data that is virtually unreadable or causes the browser to freeze. (UAS data is located in your systems registry.)

To correct this particular problem in IE7, it is necessary to change the UAS registry information to "fool" the website into thinking your running IE6, not IE7. The easiest way to do this is to download/run a small (approx 173kb) Microsoft utility, which will make that change. Info & download here.

Many will also recommend you uninstall IE7, reverting back to IE6. That might be a good choice if you continue to encounter problems with IE7, but prefer IE over other browsers like Firefox, Opera, etc..

waldwolf

[Steve2UK]

Sincere thanks to all who replied. I ran a check on my Java installation with the tool on www.java.com and it did find a problem, so I uninstalled the current JRE, cleaned the registry and downloaded a fresh one. I also downloaded and installed the UAS patch (as mentioned by Waldwolf). Being wary of giving too much rein to Active-X controls, I haven't changed those.

Tryed the banking site again with the refreshed/patched IE7, but this time I was notified of a pop-up, was able to reject it - and therefore continue to log-in as normal. This is the same pattern that Firefox provided - so clearly the new Java or the UAS "mimic IE6" patch achieved something. On a second try (as an experiment), I accepted the pop-up and saw the familiar small window top left that I described before - and then the "IE has encountered a problem......." message and the usual crash.

As it happens, I also saw the same pattern of events while accessing the MS download site to get the UAS patch. Clearly, something's not right - but all this when combined with the overwhelming recommendation of posters to ditch IE in favour of Firefox has clinched it for me. This session is the last time I'll open IE - Firefox all the way from now on.

Thanks again.

Steve

PS Concidence or should I start taking the paranoia pills? I just got an e-mail in Outlook which my spam filter kicked out of the inbox but the heading caught my eye: "Internet Explorer 7.0 Beta" from "[email protected]". The preview pane showed it to contain a mutli-coloured box with the IE logo and "Inter Explorer 7 beta 2 - download now". Naturally, I didn't click on it, but hovering the cursor over it revealed "http//:kaber.hk/update.exe"...........

[cdnvic]

I copied this from http://www.ofzenandcomputing.com/zanswers/467#

A virus disguised and Internet Explorer has been arriving in e-mail inboxes as of late, according to Digital Inspiration.

“A slew of emails have hit our mailbox in the last two days with links to download the beta 2 version of Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (file name: IE7.0.exe)

“… As you would have guessed it, the file IE7.0.exe is a virus (Virus.Win32.Grum.a) and is being hosted in multiple places around the world.”

In short, if you receive an e-mail from [email protected] offering a free beta version of Internet Explorer 7, do not download the attachment, nor should you click on any links. Delete the e-mail and move on.

Speaking of strange things arriving in your e-mail, you should make it a point to never download any attachments or click on any links that arrive unexpectedly, especially ones from foreign e-mail addresses.

[Steve2UK]

Speaking of strange things arriving in your e-mail, you should make it a point to never download any attachments or click on any links that arrive unexpectedly, especially ones from foreign e-mail addresses.

Excellent advice - and I don't. Just wondering, I have Outlook set to show a preview panel of any message highlighted - does that set-up mean that I'm opening the message in any way? I'm thinking that we're usually advised not to even open suspicious messages let alone click on anything they contain...............

[cdnvic]

Speaking of strange things arriving in your e-mail, you should make it a point to never download any attachments or click on any links that arrive unexpectedly, especially ones from foreign e-mail addresses.

Excellent advice - and I don't. Just wondering, I have Outlook set to show a preview panel of any message highlighted - does that set-up mean that I'm opening the message in any way? I'm thinking that we're usually advised not to even open suspicious messages let alone click on anything they contain...............

Yes, it's the same security risk as opening the email. I would adjust your settings to view all emails as text by default, and you can choose to view in HTML if you trust the source.

[opalhort]

Speaking of strange things arriving in your e-mail, you should make it a point to never download any attachments or click on any links that arrive unexpectedly, especially ones from foreign e-mail addresses.

Excellent advice - and I don't. Just wondering, I have Outlook set to show a preview panel of any message highlighted - does that set-up mean that I'm opening the message in any way? I'm thinking that we're usually advised not to even open suspicious messages let alone click on anything they contain...............

I no longer use the preview pane in Outlook Express after a problem some years ago. Any suspicious message I right click, go to properties, click details and message source. This allows you to see most of the text and links without actually activating the mail. Have caught quite a few bugs and phishing mails this way.

opalhort

[Steve2UK]

Appreciated. Largely thanks to cdnvic's recommendations, I recently switched from Avast to paid-up Nod32 and it has already intercepted a couple of virus-laden mails.

[nikster]

Speaking of strange things arriving in your e-mail, you should make it a point to never download any attachments or click on any links that arrive unexpectedly, especially ones from foreign e-mail addresses.

Excellent advice - and I don't. Just wondering, I have Outlook set to show a preview panel of any message highlighted - does that set-up mean that I'm opening the message in any way? I'm thinking that we're usually advised not to even open suspicious messages let alone click on anything they contain...............

I no longer use the preview pane in Outlook Express after a problem some years ago. Any suspicious message I right click, go to properties, click details and message source. This allows you to see most of the text and links without actually activating the mail. Have caught quite a few bugs and phishing mails this way.

opalhort

I use Thunderbird for the same reason. But then again, I never really liked Outlook or Outlook Express - can't pin down why, just didn't work for me. Thunderbird is pretty straight forward.

Rendering is text by default + I get a popup option to render HTML if I like. Doesn't prevent you from clicking on strange .EXE files coming your way, but then there are AV programs for those people who just can't stop themselves. Each to their own.