IT Queries: Computer problems answered

When I try to log into Gmail using Internet Explorer the search times out whereas if I use Firefox I can gain access without problem.

The problem could be proxy settings in Internet Explorer, to check these click Tools, Internet Options and Connections.

In the connections box, click the LAN Settings and tick the box for Automatically detect settings. Take the tick off Use a proxy service for your LAN. You may need to check with your Internet provider that this will not affect your web browsing.

Another possibility is an errant add in such as a phishing filter or anti virus program. We’ve covered resetting IE in a previous post. Again note this might affect programs like password managers.

Finally, it may be that Internet Explorer needs repairing. This has also been covered previously.

Dell Windows XP Home PC. I get sound on some sites and not others. I have real player. Why would this happen & what can I do?

It sounds like you need Flash player. Many sites, like YouTube, use Flash to play the media files. You can download Flash from the Adobe website.

Should problems continue then you may have to repair Internet Explorer. You can do this as we describe in on one of our other pages.

If you have a problem with Internet Explorer, you don’t need to uninstall and reinstall the entire program.

Open the Control Panel and click Add/Remove Programs, or Programs in Windows Vista, and select Internet Explorer.

To right of the selection there are two buttons; change and remove. Click the Change button and follow the wizard to repair the existing installation.

I have run an antispyware and it has picked up: Trojan-Clicker hkey-current-user\\software\

\microsoft\\windows\\current version\\internet settings\\zonemap\\domains\\analcord.com
\\gooozle.bz/www
\\preferit-windows
Avast doesn’t pick these up.  What do you think

You almost certainly do have some sort of spyware infection and the spyware has changed settings in the Internet Explorer trusted sites zones. This allows the sites listed to get better access to your system.

This is one reason we suggest running Firefox, Opera or Safari in preference to Internet Explorer.

You’ll need to give your computer a good scan for spyware, encourage your office or household not to use IE and educate users on what websites they should avoid.

I downloaded the script problem which eliminated the blue box with a red cross in upper left hand corner. New problem: When I send an E-mail, the screen fades and says that Internet Explorer has stopped working and shuts my computer down.

It sounds like Internet Explorer is struggling with something. The first thing is to check you don’t have a virus.

If your system is clear, then reset Internet Explorer by clicking Tools and Internet Option. In the Internet Options screen, click the Advanced tab and click Reset. Another box will appear and you should click reset again.

Note that this will disable any toolbars and add-ins you currently have in Internet Explorer.

We’re running XP and cannot open Internet Explorer.  The window opens momentarily and then we get the generic windows error message where the choices are debug, send, and don’t send.

Any help on how to get Explorer back running again would be appreciated.

First of all it sounds like you are infected with malware. The access violation indicates something is seriously wrong with Internet Explorer. You must give your computer a full scan  for viruses and spyware before doing anything else.

Next, check you don’t have a hard drive problem by running chkdsk, we’ve previously covered how to do this.  It is possible a hard drive problem could be causing the access violation.

Finally, reinstall Internet Explorer. This is another question we’ve answered previously.

We’ve also covered random shut downs in Internet Explorer in an early post and we have further information there.

I access my work email from a website which then runs through Microsoft Outlook. No problem until i bought my new computer (Vista Home) – everything seems ok but i can’t reply to an email. I can enter addresses and titles, but the main text box has a small white square with a red cross in.

The problem is the security settings in Internet Explorer 7. By default many functions are blocked and this restricts many of the scripting features required for remotely connecting to Outlook.

To fix this you need to add the site to the Trusted Zone. Go to your Outlook web page and click Tools and Options.

Select the Security tab then the Trusted Sites zone. Click Add Sites to the Trusted Zone then Add a Site to the Trusted Zone, make sure you take the tick off the box that reads Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone.

Save the settings and restart Internet Explorer and the problem should be fixed.

I have a hp m9080a running windows vista ultimate. When i goto double click on internet explorer, a clicking/ticking noise starts to come from inside the computer. This noise continues to happen every few seconds while ever the internet explorer screen is up. the IE screen however stays blank and doesnt actually load the website. My PC is less than 6 months old. Your help would be much appreciated.

The ticking noise is probably from the system overheating. Some computers are set to give a warning when the CPU, Central Processing Unit’s, temperature goes above a certain level. The ticking is that warning.

Given this happens when Internet Explorer is opened, it indicates there is a problem with the program. The first suspicion is you have a malware infection so the first recommendation is to check your computer for viruses and Trojans.

If you have trouble opening Internet Explorer, you should be able to go straight to the websites by clicking Start, Run and typing the address into the run box.

If you do this you have to include either the http:// or www. at the start of the address so the computer knows it’s a web page and can use the right program.

We’d also recommend running Firefox and keeping Internet Explorer in reserve for websites that won’t work on anything else.

If the problem continues, it could be you have a hardware fault. As the machine should still be in its warranty, you should contact the manufacturer or retailer.

I have a problem using IE7 with XP Home. It can’t access Microsoft Windows sites and cannot change homepage in Internet Options even though I am the system administrator. I also Keep getting error codes;http404 with IE7,error #56with Live Messenger and errors #80048820/#80048430 with Ninemsn Premium.

This almost certainly sounds like an Active Scripting problem. We’d suggest downloading and installing the latest Windows Scripting Host.

It’s also possible you have a spyware infection. So running a spyware scan would be a good idea.

Another possibility is Internet Explorer needs reinstalling.

You don’t need to uninstall and reinstall, open the Control Panel and click Add/Remove Programs, or Programs in Windows Vista, and select Internet Explorer.

To right of the selection there are two buttons; change and remove. Click the Change button and follow the wizard to repair the existing installation.

I am having problems accessing my Yahoo mail. It was all OK until about a week ago. I installed Nortons 360 about a month ago but it worked OK with that for a while. I now get a bland screen coming up with just blue text and no pictures or boxes etc.  I have 3 computers linked and it is happening on all 3. I am with Bigpond. It is most frustrating as I am running a project and all my operating files are stored in the emails.

I have Windows and am using Internet Explorer as my browser. I am wondering if ther is anything in the properties which may have been unchecked with regard to the Yahoo website. I can access all other websites OK. The problem sometimes fixes itself for a few hours then it seems to freeze and I have to restart it and it comes back as only text. PLEASE HELP!

We’ve had a  few reports of Yahoo! Mail having these problems recently. It appears there’s been some changes to their system which causes these problems.

The first thing we would suggest is to install the latest version of Java. Before doing it, it’s worthwhile uninstalling the earlier versions.

It’s also a good opportunity to update your Flash Player and Windows Scripting Host.

If the problem continues you could try using Mozilla Firefox, this will show if the problem is with Internet explorer or deeper in the system.

The final suggestion is to exclude the Yahoo! domains from the Norton 360 firewall. To fix this open Norton 360, click Tasks and Settings then Advanced Settings and Firewall Protection Settings, Symantec have full instructions on doing this at their website.  You may need to ask Yahoo! what addresses should be added to the trusted list.