Windows explorer question

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 8:29 am

For some reason, I am browsing the web with Windows explorer, and not IE6? This just happen in the last day. Any ideas? What would cause this?

Windows 98SE

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed May 08, 2002 11:38 am

Yes, explorer.exe is one and the same. Been integrated since, IE 4.0 I believe.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed May 08, 2002 11:57 am

Actually they are 2 separate programs.

IE = iexplore.exe

Win Explorer = explorer.exe

Make sure that html files are associated with iexplore and not explorer.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed May 08, 2002 12:05 pm

Yah IE starts with iexplore, but from what I understood, iexplore.exe still runs on explore.exe...just with the IE toolbar up top...like a skin.

Windows always having a minimum of two services running, explorer and systray....full web browsing ability with Windows Explorer...just IE runs on top of explorer.exe.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 12:07 pm

, how can I check? Zonealarm is saying that Windows Explorer is connected, and I know they are 2 separate programs. When I hit the IE6 icon, it opens Windows Explorer,according to the ZA program pane, and that is what I am trying to fix.
Can I just change the file associations?

I tried to change the associations and still the same problem. Well, it used to open IE6, now I'm browsing with Windows Explorer???? I just dont like the thought of allowing windows explorer to connect to the internet period.And I am baffled as to how this happened in the first place. Any help would be appreciated

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed May 08, 2002 6:11 pm

Click the IE icon.
Click Help\About.
What does it say?
If IE, the ZA is funky.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Wed May 08, 2002 6:29 pm

Did you try to restore the registry yet?

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed May 08, 2002 8:56 pm

Thinking back to when I used ZA with win98, ...when I used the built in FTP in windows, it would register as explorer.exe with ZA.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 9:48 pm

Okay I will try the Reg restore now. Everything else appears correct. As far as file associations and target locations. I just cant figure out why Windows Explorer shows up in the ZA program pane? I am starting to wonder if this is a ZA bug possibly? No matter where I open IE6 from, it opens Windows Explorer

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 9:55 pm

Okay.... I restore the registry and still the same problem. In addition, my IE6 uninstall info is corrupt or missing. I set ZA to not allow Windows Explore to connect and I cant use IE6 at all, obviously.

Can someone tell me how to delete IE6 in DOS with DELTREE?? I tried :

deltree c:\windows\program files\ internet explorer\ IEXPLORE.EXE

I think I should just remove it and start over?? What do you think?

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:03 pm

Man, now you've gone and done it. That's no way to get rid of IE6. There's a lot more to IE6 than a single file called iexplore.exe.

Best thing to do now would be to download the IE6 setup, and start over with a reinstall. Use the custom install option and check all boxes. (except maybe any languages you don't need, or want)

btw, IE and windows are so integrated that, as YOSC said earlier, there really wasn't any problem to begin with. They are basically one and the same.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:08 pm

I tried what you said Norm and it left me with a message saying I already have the components installed then it exits.
I know IE is intertwined with Windows but I figured I could delete it with DEltree just like I removed Oracle once that didnt want to come out?
Damn, Im ready to fdisk and format. I dont like allowing Win Explorer to connect to the web. Isnt that like a open invatation?-

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:13 pm

Have you tried doing a repair of IE

Goto start> run and type msinfo32 (hit enter] then in the "tools" tab look for IE repair option. Hope that works, or you may just have to format, unless something else comes to mind.
I'm thinking.

sfc may help if repair won't work, not sure if sfc considers iexplore a system file or not. Still thinking.

Try the above and let me know.

Don't worry about explorer accessing the net.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:31 pm

Alright......I figured out how to successfully re-install IE6, I used the SFC and repaired IE6 to the best of my knowledge, rebooted and after all that ZA PRo still says Windows Explorer and not IE6.

Whats strange is no matter what I do, reg restore, reinstall, ect... the "return to previous state" is not available.

Baffling

This is driving me crazy just because I cant figure it out. It just started today or yesterday. Nothing like good ole Microsoft products.

thanks for the help, much appreciated. Im checkin in for the night, but I will be back tomorrow before I format, just to see if anyone came up with anything before I wipe it all off.

Maybe I wont bother formatting if it isnt that important. I thought they were 2 separate executables, that were integrated.

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:39 pm

Even though MS puts IE6 up for download at the update site, MS also staes in one of thier articles that IE6 isn't fully compatible with Windows 98. It was written for XP, and has caused a lot of problems for people using 98

So why is it in the updates for win98, go figure.

I use IE5.01 SP2 since it has always acted best on my win98SE system. I tried IE6 a few times but always had one problem or another. If you have problems with java pages, get the latest virual machine from MS, it does the trick.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:41 pm

I would like to switch over. How?

the set up file wont let you continue!!!

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed May 08, 2002 10:51 pm

You'll have to search the MS Knowledg base for that info, it's not an easy task, especially if your uninstall info is corrupt or missing.. Not sure you can do it.

The only way I know of off hand is to reinstall win98 from Dos mode using a startup disk and win98 CD. It will install the old IE and you can update from there. No need to format, just install over the existing win98

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Thu May 09, 2002 12:20 am

I don't consider formatting an option unless last resort. First of all how did you restore the registry? Second what happens when you go directly to the IE program and run it(not from a shortcut)? What happens when you rt click the shortcut and click properties and then find target? Does it point to IE or explorer?

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 6:09 am

Sid, all the targets are correct and no matter where I attempt to open from, it will open Windows Explorer. I restored the registry from DOS and scanreg/restore. Norm, wouldn't that be a dirty install?? OS on top of another

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Thu May 09, 2002 11:59 am

Just exactly how to you know that it's windows explorer and not IE?
Click the Help Menu as I asked.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 12:05 pm

TonyT, can you elaborate on that a little? Right click? The Desktop icon? Or in C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer? Either way there is no help/about? Maybe I am misunderstanding?
I am going on the assumption it is Windows Explorer because of ZA. That use to show the Ie6 icon in the program pane and now it shows the Windows Explorer. I realized this when ZA gave me a "New Program" alert whenever I opened IE6. Strange Huh?The new program was Windows Explorer or EXPLORE.EXE

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu May 09, 2002 12:29 pm

Originally posted by viperone
TonyT, can you elaborate on that a little?

Open IE up, either from your programs menu, the blue E in your task bar, or your desktop icon. Right away, in the upper bar, click on the Help to bring a drop down menu, then About....and you'll see what exact version of IE you have.

Now bring up Windows Explorer, either from your program menu, or by hitting your windows key and the E key at the same time, however you do it...and do the same "help" menu thing...you'll see your version of Windows....not your version of IE...so you know that your using just plain explorer.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 12:49 pm

Okay, they are 2 separate prog's. Now what?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu May 09, 2002 12:58 pm

I'm still really puzzled as to what you think the problem is.

When you click your big blue "E" on the desktop...what launches? IE? Or Windows Explorer?

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 1:01 pm

Windows Explorer!

Im puzzeld myself. Im ready to format and install ie5.5 sp2

Win98se
Amd Duron 900
256 sdram

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu May 09, 2002 1:22 pm

And if you do Start ==> Run...and type in iexplore what launches?

How about just deleting that desktop icon for E, and dragging on a fresh icon from your programs menu?

Or lauching it from the blue E down in the task bar next to your start button?

Or running setup for the latest IE from windows update?

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 1:52 pm

When I do start-run iexplore, Internet explorer launches. I have tried the re-install and chose custom install, and that didnt fix it.
I have varied all file associations, and targets. I ready to call it quits for IE6. Its been a year since my last format, I thinks its time.

thanks for the help guys. But something corrupted the uninstall files and previous state files. The farthest Reg restore point was only a day a go. I must of screwed something up bad removing a program or something. My wife had to have Oracle 8 on this machine!!!! Then we ran out of disk space so I removed it. I think thats what screwed things up. I am noticing little things here and there.

I appreciate the effort you guys put fourth in trying to help me, but Im hanging it up.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Thu May 09, 2002 2:20 pm

Do this and ANSWER EXACTLY what you see!

1. Click the IE icon to open it. (doesn't matter what you think it's called, just open the darn program)

2. Click the Help Menu/About.

3. What do you SEE when you click "About".

4. What does it say at the Top of the program window?
If the program is IE, it will say Title - Internet Explorer.
If it's windows explorer it will say Exploring (name of drive)

You may actually be seeing Internet Explorer even if you see a tree menu in left frame. Just close the frame.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 2:38 pm

It says:

About Windows
then Windows 98
license info

Ram specs and resources free

It used to give the IE6 version info, updates, ect, ect..

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 2:40 pm

I would understand if you guys wanna call it quits. Im not computer illiterate by any means, neither is my ole lady whos a Oracle 8 systems analyst, and neither of us can figure it out. I think something is seriously screwed up.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu May 09, 2002 3:12 pm

Originally posted by TonyT
Do this and ANSWER EXACTLY what you see!

He answered that 3 replies up.

Viper....have you tried my suggestion of just creating a new icon from scratch? Drag from the program menu, or just launch from down in the task bar.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 3:19 pm

Oh yes, I have. i have tried everything you guys have suggested. I dragged the icon right from the ie6 program folder in the root directory to the desktop.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu May 09, 2002 3:31 pm

And the same results I imagine...still launches Windows Explorer, hey?

Forgive me for not going back to the beginning of this thread, but you do indeed have a recent anti-virus program, with the latest definitions downloaded...and have run a scan?

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 7:05 pm

Yeah, Norton 2002 with updated dats from yesterday 5/8

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 09, 2002 8:11 pm

I'm on another machine. I formatted the drive. No biggy, it needed it anyhow. There were a few other strange, buggy things I wasnt going to spend forever doing. It almost seemed like a trojan or virus. Wierd, huh?

thanks again for the help, I appreciate it

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Thu May 16, 2002 4:30 pm

Found the cause!!!!!!!!!

This is from Zone Lab website FAQ's:

ZoneAlarm and ZoneAlarm Pro are compatible with multiprocessor (SMP) machines, with version 2.6.231 and later.

3. Why is Internet Explorer recognized as Windows Explorer in the programs listing?
The reason for this behavior is that Internet Explorer versions earlier than IE 5.01 run in the same process as Windows Explorer by default. Here is how you can change this:

- Step 1. Load Internet Explorer.
- Step 2. Select the "Tools/Internet Options" menu item.
- Step 3. Select the "Advanced" tab.
- Step 4. Check the item, "Launch browser window in separate process" in the browsing section. Next time you launch Internet Explorer, ZoneAlarm will recognize it as Internet Explorer and use the correct icon.

Please note that the "Launch browser in a separate process" option is no longer available in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01. After installing Internet Explorer 5.01, this setting is no longer configurable. The setting is automatically enabled or disabled based on the amount of memory installed in the computer.

For more information follow the link below to the Microsoft knowledge base article that discusses this issue: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb ... 28.asp?LN.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 16, 2002 4:55 pm

Hit me in the head wit ha hammer, I didnt even bother checking ZA's site. Instead I searched microsoft for hours.
Am I reading this correctly? Basically it's really not a problem, just in browsers over 5.1 you cannot change the setting?
I was using IE6, does this rule apply? It sounds like they are talking about 5.1 and earlier with this bug?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu May 16, 2002 5:23 pm

Holy smackeral.....what a find TT.

viperone · Post by **viperone** » Thu May 16, 2002 5:43 pm

I second that

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Thu May 16, 2002 7:52 pm

Per the MSKB article linked from my post, this affects all versions of IE from 5.01 forward. Not an MS bug but a ZA bug!