Article ID: 320159
Article Last Modified on 12/21/2007
APPLIES TO
- Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Server 2003
- Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP
- Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Server 2003 IA64
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, when used with:
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
This article was previously published under Q320159
SUMMARY
When you use Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or Windows Internet Explorer 7, you may experience problems with your home page setting. Your home page setting may change unexpectedly, or you may be unable to change the setting. You may also find that after you reset the home page and restart your computer, the home page selection has again changed to a different Web site.
This problem can occur for several reasons. Your computer may be infected with a virus, malicious code may have been run on the computer, or you may have installed third-party software that changed your home page setting. You may also experience this problem if your administrator configured your home page by using the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK), by using Group Policy, by using System Policy, or by using manual registry settings such as a logon script.
This article contains two step-by-step methods to try that may help you resolve this problem. The article also provides an advanced troubleshooting section for advanced computer users that includes step-by-step instructions on how to search your hard disk for and remove files that were used by a virus or malicious code.
This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.
You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.
Symptoms of the problem
When you use Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or Windows Internet Explorer 7, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
- Your Internet Explorer home page has been changed to a different Web site than the one that you selected.
- You cannot change your home page selection to the Web site that you want.
- You reset your home page to the Web site that you want in Internet Options. However, after you restart the computer, your home page selection has again been changed to a different Web site.
Methods to resolve the problem
Note If you are running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, you must log on as a user who has administrator credentials to follow these steps. If the network system administrator used the IEAK, Group Policy, System Policy, or registry settings to configure your home page, contact the system administrator before you follow these recommendations.
This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.
You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.
Method 1: Run an antivirus program
Your home page setting can change if the computer has been infected with a virus or malicious code was run on the computer. For example, the IRC.Becky.A worm, Trojan.JS.Clid.gen trojan horse viruses, and the JS.Exception.Exploit code change the Internet Explorer home page. Installation of third-party software can also change the Internet Explorer home page. The Xupiter toolbar from Xupiter.com, the SecondPower Multimedia Speedbar from SecondPower.com, and the GoHip! Web browser enhancement from GoHip.com change the Internet Explorer home page. You may be prompted to install one of these programs when you install other programs.
To make sure that the computer is not infected with a virus or malicious code, follow these steps:
- Obtain and run a current antivirus program that has up-to-date virus definitions (signatures). Follow the instructions for cleaning and removing any viruses that it finds. You may want to contact an antivirus software vendor for more information about how to remove a virus from the computer and how to help prevent future infections.
If you do not own an antivirus program, Microsoft offers Windows Live OneCare safety scanner. To download a free trial version of Windows Live OneCare, visit the following Microsoft Web site: - Open the Web site that you want to set as your home page in Internet Explorer.
- Click Tools, click Internet Options, and then click Use Current. Restart the computer, and then start Internet Explorer. If the issue is not resolved, you may want to ask someone for help.
If the antivirus program finds no viruses, the registry or policy settings may be causing the problem.
Advanced troubleshooting
This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For more information about how to contact Microsoft support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Method 2: Upgrade to Windows Internet Explorer 7 if you are using an earlier version
If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or an earlier version of Internet Explorer, upgrade to Windows Internet Explorer 7. Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP and Windows Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista have many security improvements that make Internet Explorer less susceptible to spyware and to malware. Typically, badly written add-ins can affect the browsing experience in Internet Explorer 7. RIES enables Internet Explorer 7 to recover from such situations.
To use RIES in Windows Internet Explorer 7, follow these steps:
- On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
- On the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
- When Internet Explorer 7 finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, and then click OK two times.
- Close Internet Explorer 7. The changes take effect the next time that you open Internet Explorer 7.
Note If you cannot start Internet Explorer 7 for some reason, use RIES the Internet Options item in Control Panel.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about a related problem with the Search feature in Internet Explorer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
323869 Adult content Web site is unexpectedly displayed in browser window when you click Search
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
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