incorrect web address problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aaron Stephens
  • Start date Start date
With IE open, go to Tools > Options > Advanced. Scroll down to Search. Check
"Just go to the most likely site." Click OK.
 
Aaron Stephens said:
When I type in an incorrect web address, for example
http://www.microsot.cim, my computer take me to the "This
page can't be displayed" error, but the address now reads
http:///? www.microsot.cim. The obvious correction
would be not to mistype an address, but is there anything
else I might be able to do to correct this.
Click to expand...

First eliminate any scumware.
See
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each need to be updated before every use, even when just
downloaded. There's also a lot more to do than just those two programs.

If trying everything at that site does not fix the problem please post back
in the same thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Reply to Newsgroup. I won't answer email
Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
 
Frank Saunders replied
First eliminate any scumware.
See
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each need to be updated before every use, even when just
downloaded. There's also a lot more to do than just those two programs.
Click to expand...

Now my two cents

CAUTION: Amateur hour fix follows here. YMMV significantly. I don't
know if this will help Aaron but it worked for me so far. I spent
days trying to figure out what the problem was and how to fix it.

I had the same problem with IE6 SP1 in XP Pro, even after running
current versions of SpyBot SD, CWShredder, Hijackthis and repairing
the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]
registry key according to Sandi's suggestion at
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/ .

Consistently before and after spyware fixes, Hijackthis found a
registry key "R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) -
_{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497} - (no file)" which I then
deleted with no adverse effect.

Then, in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]
there was a key for [Default] (value not set) that I deleted.

In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]
there was another key for [Default] (value not set) that I deleted.

I did NOT change the default in
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPrefix]

After a restart, the keys came back in the \URL and \Prefixes but the
http///?%20 problem was gone. Wrong addresses now lead to the MSN
Search page (slightly less annoying than the error page)

I hope this helps and any commentary or warnings from those who know
more from me might help others.
 
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