Common Fixes for Internet Explorer

The following are common steps on how to fix Internet Explorer issues. If you have issues after trying the following steps please post in our Internet Explorer forum. It should be noted that the following steps are only for IE 8, 9 and IE 10.

If you are running Windows XP, IE 8 is the highest supported browser. Windows Vista can run up to IE 9 and Windows 7/8 will run IE 10. It is highly recommended that you use the highest version of IE that your system supports.

The following is set up into three different categories:

Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 9 and 10
General Internet Explorer Tips

Internet Explorer 8

Installing Internet Explorer 8

1. Visit Microsoft’s Download Center here
2. Click the Download button and run the installer.
3. Follow the on-screen instruction menu to finish the installation.

Note: Only install Internet Explorer 8 if you are still using Windows XP.

Disabling Internet Explorer 8

1. Exit all open windows.
2. Go to Start.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Uninstall a Program.
5. In the left hand side menu click on Turn Windows Features on or off.
6. In the list of windows features, click to clear the check box of Internet Explorer 8.
7. In the popup menu select Yes. The system will now restart.

Warning: Turning off IE will result in losing all access to the internet. Be sure you have a secondary web browser, such as Chrome or Firefox!

How to change or add search providers on Internet Explorer 8

1. Open IE8.
2. Click the Small Down arrow next to the magnifier icon.
3. Select Manage Search Providers.
4. In the Manage Add-ons Menu click the Find more search providers… link at the bottom left.
5. A new webpage should now open. Here you can select which ever search provider you prefer.
6. Click on the search provider’s logo, which will bring you to the install page.
7. Click on Add to Internet Explorer.
8. Once back in the Manage Add-ons window select the provider you just installed.
9. Make sure to click Set as default.
10. Alternatively you can also select a search provider you don’t want and press Remove.

How to change your home page on Internet Explorer 8

1. Open IE8.
2. Go to the Tools menu.
3. Then select Internet Options.
4. Under the General tab look for the Home Page section at the top.
5. In the white text box type or paste your home page URL into the box.
6. Then press OK.

Internet Explorer 9 & 10

Installing Internet Explorer 9 & 10

1. Visit Microsoft’s Download Center.
   • Internet Explorer 9: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/downloads/ie-9/worldwide-languages
   • Internet Explorer 10: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/ie-10-worldwide-languages
2. Click on Select your Language and pick your operating system.
3. Then click the Download button.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions when installing IE.

Disabling Internet Explorer 9 & 10

1. Exit all open windows.
2. Go to Start.
3. Click Control Panel.
4. Click Uninstall a Program.
5. In the left hand side menu click on Turn Windows Features on or off.
6. In the list of windows features, click to clear the check box of Internet Explorer 9/10.
7. In the popup menu select Yes.
8. The system will now restart.

Warning: Turning off IE will result in losing all access to the internet. Be sure you have a secondary web browser, such as Chrome or Firefox!

How to change or add search providers on Internet Explorer 9 & 10

1. Open IE.
2. Click on the Tools icon. (The Gear in the top right.)
3. Go to Manage Add-ons.
4. Under the Add-on Types menu select Search Providers.
5. Your PC may have a preinstalled list to choose from. If so you can select from that list.
6. At the bottom of the Manage Add-ons window click on Find more search providers…
7. A new webpage should now open. Here you can select whichever search provider you prefer.
8. Click on the search provider’s logo, which will bring you to the install page.
9. Click on Add to Internet Explorer.
10. Once back in the Manage Add-ons window select the provider you just installed.
11. Make sure to click Set as default.
12. Alternatively you can also select a search provider you don’t want and press Remove.

How to change your home page on Internet Explorer 9 & 10

1. Open IE.
2. Click on the Tools icon. (The Gear in the top right.)
3. Then select Internet Options.
4. Under the General tab look for the Home Page section at the top.
5. In the white text box type or paste your home page URL into the box.
6. Then press OK.

How to change the user string in IE 9 & 10

1. Press the keys F12.
2. This will show the IE developer mode.
3. Under the Brower Mode: option, you can select which IE version you wish to run.
4. Alternatively you can go to the Tools menu.
5. Select Change user agent string>
6. Here you can select which agent string IE will output to websites.
   • This can become very helpful if a website is requiring a special browser.

General Internet Explorer Tips

How to reset Internet Explorer settings

1. Download the Microsoft Fixit Tool here.
2. When asked to Run, Save, or Cancel, select Run.
3. Make sure all IE windows are closed.
4. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings popup box, click Reset.
   • If you wish to remove browsing history, search providers, accelerators, home pages, tracking protection and ActiveX filtering data then select the Delete personal settings box.
5. When the Fixit software has finished, click Close, then click Close again.
6. Close and restart IE.

How to reset the HOSTS file

1. Download the Microsoft Fixit Tool here.
2. When asked to Run, Save, or Cancel, select Run.
3. Make sure all IE windows are closed.
4. In the Reset HOSTS FILE popup box, click Reset.
5. When the Fixit software has finished, click Close, then click Close again.
6. Close and restart IE.

Downloading SpywareBlaster for Internet Explorer

1. Visit Brightfort’s website here.
2. Click on the Free Download button on the right side.
3. Then click Continue Download under the hour glass.
4. Select the option to Download SpywareBlaster from Brightfort.net
5. When asked to Run, Save, or Cancel select Run.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
7. Once the software has installed, click on Enable All Protection on the bottom of the window.
8. To check for updates select Updates on the left menu.

Following Safe Browsing in Internet Explorer

1. Visit WOT’s website here.
   • Feel free to read up on what the software will do.
2. Click on Download free add-on.
3. When asked to Run, Save, or Cancel select Run.
4. Once installed you’ll now see you have a new add-on for Internet Explorer.
5. WOT will warn you if the website you are viewing is a trusted website.

Updating your HOSTS File

1. Visit http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
2. Scroll down to about half way until you find the download section.
3. Download the file hosts.zip to your desktop.
4. Once downloaded, unzip the folder and run the MVPS.bat file as an administrator. (Its icon will be a gear.)

Keeping Security Holes Fixed in Internet Explorer

1. Visit Secunia’s Website here.
   • Note: You will need to have Java installed to run this scanner.
2. Click on the Start Scanner button.
3. Once the Status/Currently Processing says Press “Start” to begin then click on the Start button.
4. The scan will search IE to check that all add-ons are currently up-to-date.

Removing Temporary Internet Files

1. Download Temporary File Cleaner from here.
2. Make sure that you Save As… the file to your desktop.
3. Make sure to close all opened programs!
   • TFC will close all open programs as part of its process. Be sure to save any work beforehand!
4. Double Click on the TFC.exe file that is saved to your desktop.
5. Windows will ask to either Run or Cancel the program. Click on Run.
   • Be sure that you are the PC Administrator.
6. Once TFC has opened, click the Start button.
7. Allow TFC to run uninterrupted.
8. Your desktop icons and other programs may disappear during this process. That is normal.
9. After TFC has finished it should automatically reboot the PC.
10. If it does not reboot, reboot manually.
11. The first time of booting after running TFC, it is normal that the PC will be slower to boot.

Removing any Toolbars

1. Close any open IE windows.
2. Click the Start button.
3. Select Control Panel.
4. Select Programs and Features.
5. Click on the toolbar you wish to remove.
6. Click Change/Remove or Remove.
7. Uninstall the program with the on-screen popup window.

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