Computer help sought.

[BarstoolProphet]

This is IE related.
For months now, I\'ve had this stupid microsoft ad page coming up suggesting that I get IE8 (which I already bloody well have!) instead of my chosen home page.
It doesn\'t show up in my home page listing, and I\'ve removed every program that won\'t kill my computer, cleaned my temporary files, my cookies, scanned for viruses with 5 different programs, and can\'t get rid of the darned thing.

This is the link it keeps putting me at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

I\'m out of ideas on how to just get my own set home page when I open IE.

 

[wingwong113]

Use Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

No, seriously. IE8 is such a nutroll that it\'s not even worth it. I gave up IE around IEv4, because it had a nasty habit of installing things without telling me. It has quite a few other loopholes too, which Microsoft has openly acknowledged, and done very little (in my own opinion at least) to fix or eliminate.

Part of the reason why I vehemently hate Vista (are you sure that you\'re sure, that you\'re sure that you\'re sure that you want to delete/rename/open/look at/sneeze upon that item?).

 

[Einion]

Not that it\'s necessarily the best way of doing this but have you looked in MSCONFIG? This might be solved by switching off something in Startup or Services if you can see what it might be.

Not to be a smartass but there\'s a simple solution - not using IE!

Einion

 

[DXM]

I\'m no computer whiz but I stopped using IE long time ago. Only use Mozilla Firefox.

Try installing
SUPERAntiSpyware
it\'s an anti-spyware program but it also has a feature called Hi-Jack Protection. You set your homepage and can only be changed with this program.
Hope this helps

 

[heatherdaye]

What is the exact version of IE you are running? Go to Help > About Internet Explorer. The whole thing after \"version:\" is the version number. It may be that you are running a beta or other version that is not recognized as IE8.

However, I do agree with the rest of the comments, I personally use Firefox. Just remember to keep IE up-to-date on your PC, even if you don\'t use it. You don\'t need to use it for some security flaws to be exploited.

 

[shanerozzell]

On the page that comes up have been through the ie8 settings and saved them? (i.e. seach engine and addons, etc.)

As to those that swear by chrome and mozilla..... check your registries and see what they install that you are unaware of. chrome is the worst of all for installing stuff you don\'t want.

 

[wingwong113]

I do check my registry, almost bi-weekly. Anything that the myriad of programs that I have running to keep things from being unnaturally installed misses, I nix out.

I\'ve never had a computer glitch or random issue occurance using Firefox, and it comes with a hell of a lot better security rating (for those with average computer knowledge) versus the vast majority of Microsoft\'s software in general.

No program is going to be foolproof to the point where you can leave your computer unmonitored and connected to the internet without a firewall 24 hours a day. There are things you have to do if you want to maintain a comfortable level of security; damned near everyone this day and age knows that. Just look at all the sob stories of people on the news who have lives ruined by identities stole al\'a the Nigerian bank scam, or failing to install up to date spyware/virus filters.

Honestly, it isn\'t that hard.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by shanerozzell
As to those that swear by chrome and mozilla..... check your registries and see what they install that you are unaware of. chrome is the worst of all for installing stuff you don\'t want.

Hahahaha, you mention this in the context of a Microsoft product?!

Joking aside, nearly all software installs stuff the user is not aware of. Some of it\'s hidden simply because we don\'t need to know about it (e.g. Diskeeper\'s background process). Then there\'s stuff like Realplayer, Quicktime and other Adobe software including iTunes, and a great many modern games of course. Heck, even mouse drivers can install stuff one would prefer not have running behind the scenes.

Originally posted by wingwong113
...Firefox... comes with a hell of a lot better security rating (for those with average computer knowledge) versus the vast majority of Microsoft\'s software in general.

Einion