[Fidelista]

Found on the web, thought it might be of help to someone. >f
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Why Can't I Change My IE Homepage?


With WinXP, one normally changes the homepage in Internet Explorer using the following methods:

Click on Tools>Internet Options>General tab...



... and type in the URL of the desired homepage in the address window. Click on [Apply]>[OK]

(Note that the desired URL must be typed in full, starting with http://...com)


Alternatively, while viewing your desired Homepage, simply click on the [Use Current] button.


There are 3 reasons why the above methods might fail to change your homepage:


1) It has been pre-set by some pre-installed OEM junkware, or
2) It has been locked by one of your security applications, or
3) It has been hijacked by spyware.

In most cases, you can differentiate between these 3 causes using the following guidelines;


1) A Pre-set Homepage:


- Is usually a website related to the PC vendor, and is present from day one on a new PC.
- Although irritating, is not associated with the more malicious aspects of a spyware-hijacking.
- Typical examples on new Dells have included:
Dell/Google-US
Dell/Google-UK
Dell/Google Search Redirector
Dell.Myway

- For removal options, see below.


2) A Locked Homepage:


- Typically appears after installing a new security suite, firewall, spyware scanner, antivirus, or other security-related program.
- Can be any (usually benign) website. Usually involves no other system problems.
- Examples of such security applications currently include certain versions of:
ZoneAlarm Firewall
Norton AntiVirus
Spybot S&D
SpywareBlaster
Ad-Aware/Ad-Watch

- Can usually be unlocked by re-configuring the security program involved (see below).


3) A Hijacked Homepage:


- Can appear at any time, unexpectedly, following infection.
- Is usually a commercial site, often with security warnings, other promotions, adult content, etc...
- Is often associated with other malware, which cause obvious problems
- Is associated with system slowdowns, internet connection problems, obnoxious pop-ups, etc...
- Usually requires expert assistance to remove, using HijackThis (see below)


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SPECIFIC FIXES


1) Pre-Set Homepages


METHOD #1: Disable Pre-loaded Toolbar Extensions:

- a) In IE, click on Tools>Internet Options>Advanced tab, and scroll down to the 'Browsing' section.
- b) Uncheck the box next to "Enable third-party browser extensions (requires restart)"> 'OK'.
This will disable all IE extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO's)- some of which you
might want to keep. You can re-enable the wanted ones later.
- c) Close all instances of IE, then restart it.
- d) See if you can now reset your homepage to the URL of choice, using the standard method.
- e) If you can, and the Homepage you want 'sticks' after subsequent restarts, then one of the IE extensions that you disabled is responsible. To determine which one, you will have to disable
them selectively, one by one, til you find the guilty party.
- f) To selectively disable extensions, first re-enable all by reversing step b) above. Close/restart IE.
Click on Tools>Manage Add-ons. Hi-lite a selection to enable/disable it using the radio buttons at
the bottom. It likely will contain one or more of the following terms (or similar):
Dell, Google, AFE, redirector, assistant, CBrowserHelperObject, BAE.dll
- g) Close/restart IE. Check if your Homepage is still locked.
- h) When you find the culprit, just leave it disabled.

An excellent free utility to manage toolbars, is Toolbarcop by Ramesh Srinivasan, MS-MVP:
-Tutorial on Toolbarcop: http://www.winhelponline.com/tbchelp.htm
- Download Toolbarcop v3.4 from here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4126.html


METHOD #2: Delete Certain Pre-loaded Programs:

- An easier way might be just to remove known culprits in Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs.
Probably the most common offender is the Google Toolbar that may come preloaded from Dell.
(If you wish, you can re-install this later directly from Google.com, without the problem recurring).
- Other commonly reported entries worth removing may contain, in part or on whole:
URL Assistant, Google AFE, Browser Address Error Redirector, BAE, BAE.DLL, MyWebSearch,
and MyWay Search Assistant. All such entries (or similar) may be safely deleted.
- Special case: MyWay After uninstalling, the entry does not disappear from Add/Remove:
See here, and here



2) Homepages Locked by a Security Program


If the above fixes do not work, and you have no other indication that your system is infected with spyware, then it is likely that one of your security programs has locked your homepage. This is by design, to prevent a hijacking of your homepage.

- a) ZoneAlarm Firewall:
Recent 6.5xx Free versions of this firewall will lock your homepage, with no option to unlock it. The workaround is to reboot into 'Safe Mode', and to change your Homepage there. Alternatively, you can download earlier or later versions of ZA Free from here. Reboot.

-b) NAV 2006:
Certain versions of this AV are reported to lock the homepage. You should be able to open this program and unlock this option. Reboot

-c) Spybot S&D:
Open Spybot>Mode>Advanced Mode>Tools>IE tweaks. Uncheck the 2 boxes next to the entries that begin "Lock IE..." Reboot

-d) SpywareBlaster:
Open SpywareBaster>Tools>Misc. IE Settings
Uncheck the box next to "Disable the IE homepage settings..." Reboot.

-e) Ad-Aware/Ad-Watch:
Paid versions of Ad-Aware include Ad-Watch which blocks changes. Temporarily disable it:
Right-click on the Ad-Watch icon in the system tray.
Turn off (red cross) "automatic".
Change your home page.
Click "Accept" to the Ad-Watch alarm.

-f) Other Security Programs:
We are seeing reports that other security suites- particularly those downloaded from one's ISP- have the abilty to lock one's Homepage. You might want to contact your ISP about this possibility, and how to fix it.

-g) Generic Fixes
Download the registry edit HomePageUnlock.reg from Kelly's Korner here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Read the instructions at the top, then scroll down to line 63.
Save "Home Page Unlock" to your HD.
Double-click HomePageUnlock.reg to merge it with your registry.

For those comfortable with editing the registry, more details from MS are here: http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q320159




3) Hijacked Homepages


If your homepage has truly been hijacked by spyware, then your best option is to download the free HijackThis utility from here, run a scan, and post the logfile generated in the HJT forum here.


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This page is a compilation of multiple posts and suggestions obtained from the DellTalk Forums, involving posters too numerous to mention. My thanks to all contributors. Any errors/omissions are mine. Email corrections/suggestions to:
joe53@rogers.com

http://naut.homestead.com/files/locked/locked.html