Tech: Cannot change IE Internet Options

Subject: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: GUEST,hesperis on netscape
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:27 AM

Cannot change IE 5 Internet Options by clicking on Tools - Internet Options.

"The operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in place on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

It was working fine yesterday - accidentaly loaded a warez site during a search today, and it had a script error... loaded about 50 pages and set my default home page to some sex site. Trying to change my home page back to normal... but I get the message above.

And IE stops working after a few minutes. So I'm using netscape for now.

A complete virus scan with AVG yields nothing suspicious.

Heeeeeeeeeelllllllllp!!!

~*sirepseh*~
(Netscape's cookie monster ate my IE cookie.)

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: GUEST,hesperis again
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:39 AM

Ok, can change the home page from control panel - internet options... but if I try to change things from within IE, it still gives me that restriction error. Help?

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: Amergin
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:47 AM

First of all try clearing all of your temp files, history and proxies....that can all be done from internet options also...second, check out the content advisor to see if it is enabled...and third what does the script error exactly say?

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: GUEST,hesperis
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:52 AM

Ok, cleared history, will clear temp files... what are proxies and how do you clear them?

The exact wording of the error is "The operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in place on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

Thanks, Amergin!

(I also deleted the whole whack of sex-site urls added to my favorites by the stupid sites that loaded. Grrr!)

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: Amergin
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 01:15 AM

Ok, Hes, Try following the directions here: click here

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: hesperis
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 01:48 AM

YAY! Thank you, Amergin!

I figured from that link that the stupid site had edited the registry to stop me from changing the homepage away from their stupid site. So I didn't bother trying to reinstall... just edited. It works now!!!

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: Amergin
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 02:00 AM

Alright, glad to hear it, Hes! My pleasure!

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 02:23 PM

Hehehe...

a good reason to surf with Java off!

you might also want to try, for future surfing, Opera, the Worlds Fastest Browser...

I'm testing and playing with it now and more or less liking it alot...

But I'd also rather have no internet than have to use IE...

;-)

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: Justa Picker
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 02:35 PM

I too had the exact same problem recently Hesperis. It was caused my malicious java code, and happened when I was surfing and following links, and I ended up on a porno site that I hadn't planned on being at in the first place. It created endless opened windows each time I tried to shut down the browser. Finally I shut off the computer and when I rebooted, I found the exact same thing as you've described. I was infuriated that someone else could have control of my browser and made their site my default home page. In my mind this was the same difference as getting a virus. I seached the registry up and down for a key I could turn off (found nothing) and like you managed to change the homepage within the control panel. In the end, I reformatted the drive, reinstalled Windows, disabled java, and contacted the ISP of the site that did this to me and lodged a complaint. Perhaps the reformatting was drastic and there might have been another work-around to the problem but damned if I could find one.

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 02:51 PM

What does javascript enable? what would I miss out on, that is positive, if I disable it?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:36 PM

Kat

Java supplies much of the 'interactive' elements that you get on web pages

By not running it, the only thing I've lost that I actually want is the streaming headlines on the BBC news site. I also avoid a lot of junk. If you like online quizes and games, many won't work

Give it a try to decide for yourself...

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:26 PM

I've also run into a couple of "Disney" sites that apparently use Java scripts to lock you into their site, although they do it in a rather "gentler" fashion. All that happens is that your "back" button keeps recycling you to another Disney site - regardless of where you came in from.
Clicking your "home" or typing in a non-Disney site will get you out, and there appear to be no residual effects, but it is irritating.

John

Subject: RE: Help! Cannot change IE Internet Options
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:28 PM

I HATE lock in sites. Usually, double clicking on the back button will work, but not always. With as many searches as I do I build up cookies really fast so I usually do cookies and Temp files every day.