# Internet Explorer Trouble **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589 "2006-11-15T22:50:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/1 "2006-11-15T22:50:25Z")
My IE asked me if I wanted to update to 7. I did, everything seemed to download OK, but when I went in the first time it loaded up and said “Connecting …” and nothing happened - I had to use task manager to turn it off and use Firefox. Same process about 5X So I removed IE from all my folders - cleaned it and deleted it. Re-loaded I.E. 7 everything seemed OK, but when I went in the first time it loaded up and said “Connecting …” and nothing happened - I had to use task manager to turn it off and use Firefox. Any advice? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/2 "2006-11-15T22:57:57Z")
Yes: Keep using Firefox. 😛 (sorry) -Kris ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/3 "2006-11-16T01:05:17Z")
[QUOTE=jimmmy] My IE asked me if I wanted to update to 7. I did, everything seemed to download OK, but when I went in the first time it loaded up and said “Connecting …” and nothing happened - I had to use task manager to turn it off and use Firefox. Same process about 5X So I removed IE from all my folders - cleaned it and deleted it. Re-loaded I.E. 7 everything seemed OK, but when I went in the first time it loaded up and said “Connecting …” and nothing happened - I had to use task manager to turn it off and use Firefox. Any advice? [/QUOTE] Are you running XP? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/4 "2006-11-16T16:02:33Z")
[QUOTE=ouryL] Are you running XP? [/QUOTE] An easy guess - IE7 is actually only available for XP or later. See [this page](http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/aa740486.aspx) (the section on Internet Connection Settings). It seems the closest match I’ve found. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/5 "2006-11-16T17:14:41Z")
[QUOTE=jimmmy] My IE asked me if I wanted to update to 7. I did, everything seemed to download OK, but when I went in the first time it loaded up and said “Connecting …” and nothing happened - I had to use task manager to turn it off and use Firefox. Same process about 5X So I removed IE from all my folders - cleaned it and deleted it. Re-loaded I.E. 7 everything seemed OK, but when I went in the first time it loaded up and said “Connecting …” and nothing happened - I had to use task manager to turn it off and use Firefox. Any advice? [/QUOTE] I have recieved several calls lately for IE7 problems. Firefox is the easiest fix. ---
**Author:** ![Alien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@Alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/6 "2006-11-16T19:26:54Z")
With the limited info in the OP, I would check firewall or network connections (in IE: Tools menu, Internet Options: connections). ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/7 "2006-11-16T20:00:11Z")
How are you connected to the internet? It’s hard to give specific advice with as little information as you’ve given us. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/8 "2006-11-16T20:21:24Z")
Sorry - didn’t mean to make it a riddle. Yes I have XP. I use DSL. I am getting used to Firefox - I am finding it really isn’t what I am used to but it is fine (go figure) _but_ … my work uses a few apps that can only use IE - so when I work from home they may not run properly on Firefox (so they say). Thanks for all the responses so far. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/9 "2006-11-22T18:25:44Z")
I’m having the same problem with IE7 – it was installed this morning on the laptop I’m using now, and it just doesn’t take me anywhere…just stalls on “connecting.” This is my mom’s laptop and it connects to the internet via wireless network. I’m using Firefox now, but I’d really like to go back to IE 6. I’ve tried searching for sites that let you download IE, but I can’t find any that give you IE 6 as a chunk – it’s either IE 7 or just, like, IE 6 add-ons and updates. Would those work? ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/10 "2006-11-22T20:23:03Z")
Get IE6 here: [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&DisplayLang=en](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&DisplayLang=en) ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/11 "2006-11-23T00:16:07Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/12 "2006-11-23T00:16:56Z")
IE7 knackered my hard drive when I installed it - corrupting the master file table and disabling the pagefile; fortunately I was able to put it all right (in part, by uninstalling IE7) - I’m not the only one to have had this problem, but there aren’t many of us. There are plenty of people experiencing problems just like the OP describes. You should be able to uninstall IE7 and revert cleanly back to IE6 - if there isn’t an entry in the Add/remove programs dialog, look for this file: \Windows\IE7\Spuninst\Spuninst.exe and run it. Bye Bye IE7! I don’t like suggesting Firefox in an IE thread, but as an IT support guy, I honestly have to tell you that I think it’s actually a worthwhile option; Firefox 2.0 is more like IE6 (and therefore a shallower learning curve) than IE7 is. IE7 is horrible to look at, and horrible and unintuitive to use for a person coming from IE6. Firefox, OTOH, is an easy switch. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/13 "2006-11-23T01:16:08Z")
In a passing fit of stupidity, I downloaded IE7…and waved bye bye to my anti-virus programs and my photo tools. I’ve reloaded those, but if I shut down the computer by any means other than Start-Turn Off Computer-Turn Off, I have to reload them all over again. Damn it. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/14 "2006-11-23T15:11:19Z")
There. Fixed the title for you. Personally I have made very sure to untick IE7 in the updates list - I’m going to wait a few months (like 6-12) until it’s actually ready. I think MS have made a mistake ramming it out to everyone automatically rather than following their usual practice of letting volunteers find most of the landmines first. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/15 "2006-11-23T15:35:16Z")
I unticked it in the updates list, and it only stayed hidden for about a week; I went back to Windows Update today and it was just listed there as normal. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/16 "2006-11-23T17:35:00Z")
I have a stupid question. I get automatic updates and now I have the yellow box that says updates are ready for your computer, click here to install. Since I haven’t installed it yet, how can I remove it before it installs? ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/17 "2006-11-23T19:56:53Z")
When you click the update notification, you should get a dialog that gives you two options: Express and Custom (the verbiage may actually be different–I’m going from noncaffeinated memory here…). Click the Custom one (or whatever button it is they imply is the big scary one) and you’ll get a checkbox list of the updates that are available for install. Uncheck the IE7 one. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/18 "2006-11-23T20:53:35Z")
You might try the Firefox extension [IE Tab](http://i9.tinypic.com/48hptmw.gif) if you have sites that only allow IE. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/19 "2006-11-23T21:09:06Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] how can I remove it before it installs? [/QUOTE] this site has a tool you can download that makes it easy! It’s a little program that blocks IE7 , but still allows you to install all other Windows updates [http://tinyurl.com/13zyk](http://tinyurl.com/13zyk) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589/20 "2006-11-23T21:18:50Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I have a stupid question. I get automatic updates and now I have the yellow box that says updates are ready for your computer, click here to install. Since I haven’t installed it yet, how can I remove it before it installs? [/QUOTE] Even if you inadvertently download it, you can’t really accidentally install it - you would have to click your consent in a great big blue dialog box that pops up at the start of the IE7 installation wizard - it looks like [this](http://www.gurman.co.uk/stuff/IE7.jpg) - you can’t really miss it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-trouble/380589.md?page=2)