Windows IE hang up issue

[IGOTDIRT4U]

Ok, so starting early last week, windows is acting up. It runs just fine on CGN, and I can google anything just fine, but if I open up a window, particularly one that is a link to a news website or a new window to open a website like Fox News or a local news station, it will open the first page, but I can't get it to open any links to the articles in the news website once I am inside the site. This also happens if I go to otehr websites, such as REI, etc. I can get the REI site up, but to search or navigate inside of the site, the window locks up.

At the bar at the bottom, it seems to hang up at the point where it is downloading ("waiting for") "facebook plug-ins".

FYI, I don't even have a facebook account.

Do I need to change a setting to get these plug-ins to stop freezing my webpages?

[NytWolf]

It sounds like you have a problem with Active X. I have seen that problem before, but don't remember the fix. Check your Security settings and look for Active X controls.

And IIRC resetting your Default Configuration does not fix it either.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

Thanks. I'll start searching and post my results.

[paul0660]

Or flash player maybe. It has something to do with loading extra stuff once you get to a home page.

Sometimes I dream back to 2000, when we ran a successful business with 3 motivated employees and dozens of happy customers............on dialup and a single 2.1 gig harddrive.

[DVSmith]

I may have missed which version of IE you are using, but you could start disabling plugins one at a time and see if you can identify one that is killing you. I had a virus checker that did something similar for a while until they came out with an update. If you can do it without breaking anything, restore a checkpoint to some date before you noticed the problem and see if it goes away.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

I may have missed which version of IE you are using, but you could start disabling plugins one at a time and see if you can identify one that is killing you. I had a virus checker that did something similar for a while until they came out with an update. If you can do it without breaking anything, restore a checkpoint to some date before you noticed the problem and see if it goes away.

Windows XP (2002) Media Center Version SP3, with IE but edition unknown. I believe it is 6.

I am running Norton 360 and McAfee for virus blockers.

Where do I go to to disable plug ins one by one?

[IGOTDIRT4U]

OK, went to MS and tried to download the newset version of Active x controls. It tells me I have the newest version. So, that's not it.

[xrMike]

Where do I go to to disable plug ins one by one?

In my IE (Version 8), it's like this:

1. Click Tools > Internet Options.
2. Click on Programs tab.
3. Click Manage Add-Ons button.
4. Click Show All Add-Ons in the drop-down list.
5. Find the one(s) you want to get rid of, right click on them, and select Disable.

[Nose Nuggets]

internet options -> security -> reset all zones to default

do you have this issue in other browsers?
try updating IE to a newer version or download the full installer for the version you have

[oldsmoboat]

You're not having a windows issue, it's a browser issue.
Unless you need IE for a specific reason, I'd try a different browser. I prefer Chrome.

[sushidot]

I second oldsmoboat...

Anytime you can avoid using IE is great. The reason I say that is its sorta "hardcoded" into your OS.

Using chrome or firefox is much safer. Most viruses are written to penetrate IE since that is what most people use, as 3rd party browers typically arent installed on OUT of the box computers. While that doesnt necessarily fix your IE issue, it is a much safer option. I prefer Chrome as well as its the lightest weight browser i've ever seen.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

internet options -> security -> reset all zones to default

do you have this issue in other browsers?
try updating IE to a newer version or download the full installer for the version you have

I went to the Microsoft website and ran the diagnostics on mine, It said I had the newest version of IE8.

So, I downloaded and (re)installed IE8, and took the option of while it was installing IE8 again to have it remove all prior versions.

Didn't help.

I'll try a reset to all zones to default.

Or go back to Firefox.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

EFF it, I just reinstalled Firefox and upgraded. Problem is gone. Friggin IE.