Browser Start Page - Locked?

[Don]

My associate has several laptops all of which exhibit the same
problem: they come with a "built-in" and "locked" start page. If you
attempt to change this setting in the registry you get an error when
attempting to write the new value. Apparently there is a setting
somewhere that "locks" these registry values. Anyone know how to
"unlock" these settings? Thanks in advance.

 

[Bob I]

Start looking at the anti-malware software settings. Ad-Aware or Spybot
or other anti-browser hijack software installed?

 

[Malke]

My associate has several laptops all of which exhibit the same
problem: they come with a "built-in" and "locked" start page. If you
attempt to change this setting in the registry you get an error when
attempting to write the new value. Apparently there is a setting
somewhere that "locks" these registry values. Anyone know how to
"unlock" these settings? Thanks in advance.

If the feature is disabled (greyed out), go to Doug Knox's site and
download this script:
http://www.dougknox.com/security/scripts_desc/nosethomepage.htm

Usage: Download nosethomepage.vbs and save this file to your hard drive.
Navigate to where you saved it and double click the file. The VB Script
file will check for the appropriate value and if not found will create
it. You will be notified whether the option is enabled or disabled.

To manually make the change: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control
Panel\HomePage

In the right-hand panel, right-click the HomePage value and select
Modify. Change the value to: 00 00 00 00

Also see these keys:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main] "Start
Page"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
- DWORD "NoSetHomePage"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Restrictions] - DWORD "NoSetHomePage"=dword:00000001

Change the values to 00 00 00 00.

Malke

 

[Wesley Vogel]

IE Home page grayed locked.

If you are using Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - S & D
[+] Tools
IE Tweaks
Miscellaneous locks
UNCheck: Lock IE start page setting against user changes (current user)
---

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
63. Home Page Lock - Home Page Unlock
Click on Home Page Unlock
---

If you have XP Pro, check this setting in Group Policy.

Disable changing home page settings
http://www.boyce.us/gp/gpcontent.asp?ID=700

---

Or check these registry settings...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Control Panel
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Control Panel

Value Name: HomePage
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Not locked
1 = Locked

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[LVTravel]

Don, are these Averatec laptops by any chance. If so, they (Averatec tech
support) say that they did not do this and don't know why this has happened,
but I have one and mine is locked also (Model 2260
-EK1 with XP Pro). They are supposed to be looking for a fix. Haven't heard
from them in two weeks now.

 

[Don]

Spybot and Ad-aware are both installed but the "system" is not
immunized (ala Spybot S&D). No lock is checked for IEx. The options
for the start page under IEx Tools is not greyed out. Under same
option you can "change" the start page entry to say about:blank and
this is accepted. However the change is not permanent and IEx will
revert to the embedded URL. As before you get an error when writing
the change to the registry. We have used kelly's-corner "tip" but
this didn't work either. Any other places to look/modify?

On Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:50:39 -0500, in

|Start looking at the anti-malware software settings. Ad-Aware or Spybot
|or other anti-browser hijack software installed?
|
|Don wrote:
|
|> My associate has several laptops all of which exhibit the same
|> problem: they come with a "built-in" and "locked" start page. If you
|> attempt to change this setting in the registry you get an error when
|> attempting to write the new value. Apparently there is a setting
|> somewhere that "locks" these registry values. Anyone know how to
|> "unlock" these settings? Thanks in advance.

 

[Don]

No, this laptop is an HP acquired from compusa. My friend has two
other laptops and all act exactly the same way and they are both
several years old. He was hoping to find a fix for one and then apply
to the others. The call to HP tech support resulted in the advice to
just change the entry for the Start Page in the registry to whatever
value you wanted: great except you can't! And modifying the start
page in the Tools/Internet options just reverts to the "builtin" URL
on restart.

On Thu, 6 Jul 2006 09:33:46 -0700, in
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general "LVTravel" <[email protected]>
wrote:

|Don, are these Averatec laptops by any chance. If so, they (Averatec tech
|support) say that they did not do this and don't know why this has happened,
|but I have one and mine is locked also (Model 2260
|-EK1 with XP Pro). They are supposed to be looking for a fix. Haven't heard
|from them in two weeks now.
|
|
||> My associate has several laptops all of which exhibit the same
|> problem: they come with a "built-in" and "locked" start page. If you
|> attempt to change this setting in the registry you get an error when
|> attempting to write the new value. Apparently there is a setting
|> somewhere that "locks" these registry values. Anyone know how to
|> "unlock" these settings? Thanks in advance.
|

 

[Bob I]

Does your anti-virus software suite provide such an option?