Internet Explorer won't open

[Delaware]

I'm in the process of trying to upgrade my parents 2003 Dell Dimension 2350 Windows XP (32bit) computer from the outdated Internet Explorer 6/XP Service Pack 1 to the current and up-to-date Internet Explorer 8/XP Service Pack 3. Their computer used to have Internet Explorer 7/XP Service Pack 2 installed on it, but the system was rolled back to Internet Explorer 6/XP Service Pack 1 after my brother used the Reinstallation CD that came with the computer to fix a problem. Internet Explorer 7 is still listed in Add/Remove Programs, but is inactive. The active browser on the computer is Internet Explorer 6. Please take a minute to read here for the details.

A couple of days ago via Automatic Updates, I successfully downloaded and installed 56 Internet Explorer 6/XP Service Pack 1 security updates. After rebooting, Automatic Updates had me download and install XP Service Pack 2. The install of Service Pack 2 was successful. After installing the 56 Internet Explorer 6/XP Service Pack 1 security updates and XP Service Pack 2, I was able to open Internet Explorer 6 and access the internet.

Today, via Automatic Updates, I successfully downloaded and installed 69 Internet Explorer 6/XP Service Pack 2 security updates, but after rebooting I've discovered that I can no longer open Internet Explorer 6 (version 6.02900.2180). I clicked on START to access the menu and then clicked on the Internet Explorer icon, but Internet Explorer 6 failed to open and I got an error message that read: "Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." I tried rebooting the computer in the hope that would resolve the problem, but when I tried to open Internet Explorer 6 I received the same error message. I still have to download and install XP Service Pack 3 and then Internet Explorer 8, but will hold off doing so until this problem is resolved. I did set a manual system restore point before installing the 69 Internet Explorer 6/Service Pack 2 security updates, but I hope it won't won't be necessary to use system restore. Please help! Thank you.

[noknojon]

Hi Delaware -

Please try to update to XP SP3 - The link is in my signature - It is a large download so please let it install -

Then you can also update to Internet Explorer 8 - Also linked in my signature - These are all free downloads for Windows machines -

Make sure you have a decent antivirus even a good free one , I use Micrisoft Security Essentials again linked in my signature -

I.E. 6 will no longer work on some apps so you need a minimum of I.E. 7 (I.E. 8 preferred) -

This is a few hours of work for you to do to bring the computer up to 'reasonable scratch' -

All links below in my signature are live and should have the latest versions , but you may still need to visit Microsoft Updates to ensure you get ALL the latest updates - To check I.E. connection, use this guide - See diagram at the bottom - It is a good picture and instructions of the process -

• Open Internet Explorer
  
• Note: It MUST be Internet Explorer, not Firefox, Opera, Chrome or any other internet browser
  
• Click on Tools at the top and select Internet Options
  
• Note: If you do not see Tools, press the Alt key on your keyboard and it will show up
  
• Click on the Connections tab
  
• Click on the LAN settings button
  
• Under Automatic configuration make sure that the box next to Automatically detect settings is checked, if it is not, then click the box next to it to check it
  
• Click on the OK button to close the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window
  
• Click on the OK button to close the Internet Options window
  
• Use this diagram as a guide
  

I hope this helps -

Thank you -

[Delaware]

Hi noknojon,

Thank you very much for your advice. I appreciate your help. Unfortunately, I am unable to click on the links in your signature. I can't get Internet Explorer to open on my parent's computer ever since I installed the 69 XP Service Pack 2 updates, and therefore I can't access the internet on their machine. (I'm typing this post on my computer at my residence. My parents live at a separate residence). Even though I can't access the internet on my parenrs computer, Internet Explorer 8 downloaded onto their computer via Automatic Updates. Now that I've fully installed XP Service Pack 2 on my parent's computer, I was hoping XP Service Pack 3 would also download from Automatic Updates, but unfortunately it didn't. My game plan is to install Internet Explorer 8 onto my parent's computer and hope that it works once it's installed. If it doesn't work, I don't know what I'll do. A home computer is pretty useless without a working browser.