too many popups blocked

[dan]

Somewhere along the way, some kind of popup blocker has been installed on my home computer. When I try to use Outlook Web Access from our Exchange 2003 server (which only supports the advance mode if using IE), I cannot open messages in IE because this is done in a popup window.
I have searched the "add remove programs" and removed everything I was not familiar with. I checked the registry for anything that loads on startup. I removed the google tool bar (that I didn't install) and still the popups won't open.
Finally I tried to remove IE. After removing it in "add remove programs", it was still installed and functioning. I downloaded the latest version from the web and tried to install over top. It said the version already installed was newer than the one I was trying to install and wouldn't continue. (I have the 128 bit version installed).
How can I found out what program is blocking popups? or How can I reinstall IE to a clean version?
Any suggestions would be welcome.

Dan

 

[BadBigBen]

What OS are you using? what SP is installed?

Need more info...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[dan]

Windows XP SP1, All patches except SP2 are installed.

Dan

 

[kcongdon]

1. Is it really the Google toolbar or is it Cool Web Search? I use the Google toolbar and I've seen a Cool Web Search toolbar; they look pretty similar to one another.

2. Does the account you're using have full admin rights? A Microsoft application that seems to uninstall but doesn't uninstall sounds like a rights issue. So does "I removed a Google toolbar I didn't install". Could be someone else with access to the PC installed the Google toolbar too.

3. Thread 760-970462 describes a broken IE installation. Check the IEfix link and see if it fits your PC's scenario.

4. If you suspect virus/spyware/malware, try faq760-4866.

5. If you download and install HiJackThis!, try this site for an online analysis of your HiJackThis! log:

http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english

6. You could try picking a System Restore point from before you first noticed the Google toolbar. However, if the problem is actually spyware/malware, the System Restore points may be infected too.

 

[bygeek]

You might try looking in add/remove programs or msconfig to see if you can spot the program. Also, you may be able to override the blocker by holding down the control key while clicking on the link you're trying to open.

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi there,

go to the Internet Setting (Control Panel) and see if the MS-Own IE 6 Popup-blocker is installed and activated... I know that this holds true for XP SP2, but if you have all HotFixes (including the ones for IE6) installed, this might also be the fact...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[dan]

kcongdon-
1. I can't say for sure since it has been uninstalled.
2. The account does have full admin rights.
4. I have scanned the machine for viruses and spyware (Sophos, Spybot and AdAware). All is clean
6. I don't think I have system restore enabled.

I will look at options 3 & 5.

bygeek-
I have looked at all programs in add / remove, but I didn't think about msconfig. I will try that as well.

badbigben-
The IE6 blocker is part of SP2 which is not installed. However, the sledgehammer might be a promising option.

Thanks to all for your helpful suggestions.


Dan

 

[kcongdon]

1. If the online HiJack This! analyzer finds some unknown applications, try checking the startup list at Sysinfo. You can also use it to check the stuff listed by msconfig.

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

2. Sounds like Internet Explorer 6 won't completely uninstall from Windows XP. You may be able to repair your installation of Internet Explorer 6. Check out "How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP"-Microsoft KB318378.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378/EN-US/

 

[BadBigBen]

@dan -

QUOTE: "The IE6 blocker is part of SP2 which is not installed." - NOT true... IPv6 Hotfix has it also... it was integrated into SP2 but is available for SP1 as a Hotfix...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[Kesser]

The yahoo toolbar also has a pop up blocker but there should be some kind of option on your search bar that allows you to enable pop ups from some sites... no matter what the blocker is - do you not get any kind of notification when a pop up is blocked?

Kes

 

[iamnotageek]

In Internet Exploder, go to Tools and see if Popup Blocker is in the list. If it is, disable it.