Problem Searching from taskbar & addressbar

  • Thread starter Thread starter Briben1977
  • Start date Start date
B

Briben1977

I can't search from either the taskbar nor the address
bar. When I try to type in key words, I get this error
message, "The page cannot be displayed." I have already
changed the Internet Settings to just display the results
in the main window. I beleive that my registry may have
been altered, but I don't know what was changed and how to
change it back.
 
Hi Briben1977 :-)

You may have a hijacker, malware, spyware or parasites on your system
causing this problem. Thus, in addition to running your updated anti-virus
program, you should do the following to be sure none of these are present on
your system. Although you may have already run one or more of the programs,
please do so again according to the instructions below. Some variants of
malware can replicate themselves over and over if not removed properly.
Please follow all instructions carefully to be sure your system is
thoroughly cleaned:

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
Be sure to run CWShredder, Ad-aware and Spybot.
Also be sure to use the About:Buster here
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4289.html
http://www.atribune.org/downloads/AboutBuster.zip
and the HijackThis. Please do not post your log to this
newsgroup, but to the SpywareInfo or the Aumha HiJackThis forums
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30, to allow the experts there to
evaluate your log and advise you of the necessary steps to clean your
system.

CAUTION!!!!! Before you try to remove spyware using any of the programs
below, download a copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
(if your OS is Win2k or XP) The process of removing certain malware may kill
your internet connection. If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will
enable you to regain your connection.

Also, get a copy of WINSOCKXPFIX available at:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
and
WinsockXP Fix- WinXP
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
Also, with instructions, at
http://www.iup.edu/house/resnet/winfix.shtm
also
From LavaSoft- all versions of Windows-
http://digital-solutions.co.uk/lavasoft/whndnfix.zip
also ....
(NOTE: It is reported that in XP SP2, the command netsh winsock reset
will fix this problem without the need for these programs.)

or ........

Winsock Fix Utility
http://www.dfwonline.net/files/WinsockFix.zip

Also.........

Courtesy of Jim Byrd -

Download Sysclean.com, from Trend Micro, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp along with the latest pattern
file, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp
Be sure to read the "How-to" info here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tsc/readme.txt
You might also want to get Art's updater, SYS-UP.Zip, here for future
updating of these: http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg/.
(If you download and use the updater from the beginning, it will
automatically handle downloading the other files. Place them in a dedicated
folder after appropriate unzipping, and then run. This scan may take a long
time, as Sysclean is VERY extensive and thorough

also..............

Unable to search from IE6 Address Bar

Check the Registry to see if this file is there. Sometime during removal of
hijackers or spyware files in the Registry can get corrupted or removed as
well. If not, try adding this line to this part of the registry.

(watch for the wrap, it should be all on one line)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

or.......

A Single Letter May Be Displayed in the Title Bar
When you run Windows Explorer or start Internet Explorer, the text in the
title bar may be displayed as a single letter (for example, an "M" or an
"E").
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=225123
or
http://www.free-web-browsers.com/support/remove-mysearch.shtml

and........

To Restore Address Search Functions

Restore default Search functions:

In order to restore you default Search functions, download and run the
program below. You will have to redo any customized features you may have
added afterward.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG

or....................

Courtesy of Tony Klein, MS MVP:

This will restore the Windows defaults for a whole lot of Search related
registry entries.

CAUTION: BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST!

Close IE, copy the bold to Notepad, save as Search.reg (save as 'all files',
and doubleclick. Answer 'yes' when prompted to add the contents of
Search.reg to the Registry:

REGEDIT4 (Watch for the line wrap. Each one should be all on on line.)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchasst.
htm"
"CustomizeSearch"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchcust.
htm"
"Default_Search_URL"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=ies
earch"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl]
""="http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\main]
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Bar"="http://search.msn.com/spbasic.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPre
fix] @="http://"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]"
ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://

You can also check these keys and edit them, if necessary, as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\
DefaultPrefix default="http://"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\
Prefixes
"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

or.............................

Download the fix - Reset Search:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/tools/IEFIX.reg
This will restore your default Search functionality. However, if you had
any custom adjustments you have made will have to re-select them.

or.............

Repairs the corrupted or altered (spyware) HTTP prefixes
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/RepairDefaultPrefix.reg


If these steps do not resolve your problem, please post back to this thread
with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

Jan :)
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Please reply to the newsgroup so others may benefit.

How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
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