J
Malware:
If your computer home page is set to about:blank against your wishes, or any
other page, you have a malware problem. For advice on getting rid of it,
check out the link below:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/tshoot.htm
If you are using Spybot S&D, check your 'immunize' settings which may be
locking the home page.
Microsoft links to problems with the above sites are as follows:
PassThisOn.com Home Page Appears When You Start Computer [Q309313]
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q309313
Cannot Change Default Home Page Setting from Webcombo Site [Q302459]
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q302459
Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page
Setting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;320159
In addition, you may discover that browser.secondpower.com is being added to
your homepage URL. This link has an Uninstaller:
http://www.secondpower.com/customer.html
Prevent Hijacking:
First, update to Internet Explorer 6. Most sites that try to hijack your
home page will now trigger a 'do you want to do this' warning message that
lets you stop the hijacking. The sneaky background activex downloads that
are often used by hijack sites to install spyware will also trigger a 'do
you want to do this' install window.
Please see this link for advice on security fixes that can help prevent such
hijackings:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
Make sure that your antivirus is completely up to date.
There is a clever little shareware programme that can help stop your home
page being changed; it seems to work well but tends to trigger when you
change your home page manually the next time that you start IE - the
programme makes it much easier to take back control of your home page
settings:
http://www.pjwalczak.com/spguard/
If you are using Spybot S&D you can lock your home page using the 'immunize'
option.
Manufacturer/ISP Locking:
Some computer manufacturers and suppliers of internet access set IE to their
home page and lock this setting via the registry. Hijackers use exactly the
same trick. The locking is done using registry settings as per the
following:
Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page
Setting http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q320159
Specific registry settings affected are:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control
Panel] -
DWORD "HomePage"=dword:00000001 (grays out the whole section)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
-
DWORD "NoSetHomePage"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Restrictions] -
DWORD "NoSetHomePage"=dword:00000001
--
_______________________________________
Hyperlinks used to ensure advice is current
Sandi - Microsoft MVP since 1999 (IE/OE)
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org
"J" <anon...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:01db01c49510$da3b6f00$a401...@phx.gbl...
1. Click on View (Internet Explorer menu)
2. Click Source
3. Search for a string beginning with res://
4. Copy the whole string (Control+C)
5. Open Internet Explorer
6. Goto http://www.simplelogic.com/Developer/URLDecode.asp
7. Paste the link in the box provided
8. Click on "Clean Data"
9. Name of a DLL file appears along with the path to it (eg -
\windows\system32)
10. Open Mycomputer
12. Change Folder option to Show Hidden Files
13. Goto the path to find the DLL file (eg - \windows\system32)
14. Close all open applications and browser windows
15. Rename this file.
16. Open Internet Explorer
17. Change home page to desired home page URL
18. Restart the computer
After restarting, check Internet Explorer. the problem should be
resolved