Internet Explorer 6 problem on Windows 2000

[edong]

It freezes whenever I open the Internet Explorer and when I click the Windows Update
(which uses Internet Explorer). I already uninstalled and reinstalled IE using the
Control Panel Add/Remove Windows components, three times. Firefox is working though.
I need IE for some websites that only want it to be the browser. I ran Trend Micro,
AVG, Spybot S & D. Nothing. Other than a reformat or OS reinstallation, is there
something you can suggest?

BTW, do you know how can I use Windows Update without using IE? Like a website to
download the updates using Firefox. Thanks.

[Po|arbeaR]

I found a plug-in for firefox that uses the IE engine via firefox.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419

For those finikey websites that only want "Internet Explorer" seems to work on my
w2k machine at home. Although I am not having any problems with my IE but I use the plug-in through firefox since it's my browser of choice.

-PB

[lordsmurf]

I use IETab all the time for a certain site. I have the add-on set to use IE any time I visit that site.

I suggest using IE7 at this point in time. IE6 has issues with a lot of newer sites.

[Dv8ted2]

BTW, do you know how can I use Windows Update without using IE? Like a website to
download the updates using Firefox. Thanks.

here

[SmigChick]

I almost could've written edong's post! Suddenly started last week, no changes had been made to the computer, and the window will start to open, then just freezes there. About a minute and a half later, the page finally starts to load. You can't close the window until then.

Internet Explorer 7 is not compatible with W2K, which is why we're stuck with IE6.

I've been searching everywhere to find a resolution to this, and so far nothing has worked. I guess I'll have to try that Firefox plug-in and just deal with it, until they upgrade the OS (I'm at work). So anyway, just joined so I could thank polarbear for that plug-in. Let's hope that solves my problem. IE6 funeral at 6:00 PM.

[d0b3rmann]

Well, add my name to the list of having the EXACT same issue, is there some kind of new malware/virus that may be causing this?? I mean, all posts in this topic are one or two days old... The issue is just like you describe it, there were no installs of any kind, just the 45-60 second wait for IE to react, and once it's working, I can browse perfectly, until I open another window, then the same thing happens. If I try to close the IE window while it's frozen, I just get a beep, instead of the usual Program Not Responding dialog.

I ran a full virus scan, deleted all temp files and cookies and nothing. I uninstalled or rather reverted back to IE5, the problem was gone, but since most sites require 5.5 or 6.0, I reinstalled 6, the problem came back identically.

I will try some other stuff once I can get back on that machine later, like the Microsoft Adware tool and maybe deleting all IE files before reinstalling. Hopefully someone out there knows the fix!!! Thanks

[Dv8ted2]

You could try disabling any plugins in Internet Exploder 6 and see if that works. If you disable the plugins and it works, then you know it is a plugin issue.

[DarrellS]

I run Windows 2000 with IE6 and have no problems at all. I don't install any toolbars or BHOs (browser helper objects).

I also run IE6 on my XP machine with no problems. My brother has IE7 on his XP machine and I go crazy everytime I use his machine. I can't stand IE7 and to think that I waited forever for it to come out so I could install it on my Windows 2000 machine. Thank God and Bill Gates that it won't install on a Windows 2000 machine.

I have run into a couple of websites that won't load and will freeze the browser but that is a problem with the website trying to use all my resources to do something that my browser won't allow it to do because of my security settings, not a problem with my browser.

I would suggest running AdAware and HiJackThis and posting a log on their forums.

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?s=8dca1820185c7f9ed85ae7ded003eb6c&showforum=36

EDIT: and a couple of online antivirus/malware scanners

[floridajnw]

OK - I give! Suddenly yesterday, I'm having the same problem with IE 6. It freezes for the minute and a half (real time!) and then everything is fine...until you have to open a new window. I've made no changes to this computer in quite a while. Am running Windows 2000 Pro. And you are right - it locks up to where you can do NOTHING - can't cancel it or nothing!!!! Just wait until the minute and a half is up. This is the only place where I've seen this problem addressed. ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated...but it looks like something is going around - and very recently. I too have tried the virus scan and anything that I thought I could do. HELP!!!!!

[floridajnw]

Oh I did mean that everthing is fine until you open another IE6 window - and then you have to wait the minute and a half for that window to be ok. Then everything in that window seems to work error free. This problem is only when you first open each IE6 window...and then after, it works like there are no problems. I still need that help!!!! PLEASE!!!!

[SLK001]

OK - I give! Suddenly yesterday, I'm having the same problem with IE 6. It freezes for the minute and a half (real time!) and then everything is fine...until you have to open a new window. I've made no changes to this computer in quite a while. Am running Windows 2000 Pro. And you are right - it locks up to where you can do NOTHING - can't cancel it or nothing!!!! Just wait until the minute and a half is up. This is the only place where I've seen this problem addressed. ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated...but it looks like something is going around - and very recently. I too have tried the virus scan and anything that I thought I could do. HELP!!!!!

That's because yesterday was the infamous April 23, 2008 date that all of we Windows 2000 Pro users have been dreading.

[floridajnw]

SLK001 - OK I'll bite....what does that mean...April 23, 2008???? I have no idea what you are talking about.....

[floridajnw]

NEVER MIND!!!! I found the solution somewhere else. You have to remove the Google tool bar. It worked for me...and others.....

I'm glad....that was a pain in the a$$

[crowmaine]

Thanks SmigChick, DarrellS, floridajnw et al for the 'wait a little bit' tip! Now I can get an IE browser up!

My IE6 started freezing immeadiately after I downloaded and installed the April MS First Tuesday Updates. After the reboot, it just stopped. (I didn't wait long enough) After 20 seconds or so, I gave it the three finger salute and brought iexplorer down! I even did a double roll back to try to remove the updates to no avail.

The longer wait period and the Google Toolbar removal has saved the day!

Thanks for letting us know about Google Toolbar fix!

[d0b3rmann]

Thank you!!!! it was great to see that the Google Toolbar removal worked like a charm!!

In my case, the removal actually locked up the Removal panel exactly in the same manner and for the same time as IE was locking up, so I knew that had to be it.

Afterwards, I actually reinstalled the Toolbar, I thought I was back to square one as the install froze for 90 seconds again, but after patiently waiting, the install finished and at least for now I have IE6 with Google TB working fine again, so far so good. There may have been a fix by Google or maybe just a coincidence.

Hope everyone finds this site, I googled Internet explorer 6 windows 2000 freezes and this was the second link

[DarrellS]

Actually, you don't want to install any toolbars. They're bad news.

[d0b3rmann]

you are correct they usually are, but on IE 6 to get Google right there, as you can in IE7 and Firefox, you do need the darn Google Toolbar, I don't like it, but it's an extra step saved, hehe

[DarrellS]

I just put a link to Google in the Links folder. Easy enough to get to. I don't care for IE7 or Firefox. The toolbar takes up half the page and I like opening web pages in separate windows and keeping them on my taskbar instead of using tabs.

I'm using XP also but I had it set up to run as close to Windows 2000 as I can.