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I have lost my web browsers. I tried switching to Mozilla Firefox from Internet Explorer 7 and now I have no browser. When I reboot I get a message some files are missing and to please reinstall. Transparency is temporarily disabled because an application that uses directx or 3D hardware is currently running. I get a web site of www.nvidia.com. When I look in the task manager I see AOL and HP updates are the only things running. I’ve tried System Restore and have downloaded Internet Explorer 8 but neither worked. How can I get a web browser to work without doing a system recovery and losing all my data?

Troubleshooting Web Browser and Graphic Card Installations

Nvidia Transparency Error

There are a few different things going on here. The transparency error that you’re getting seems to be caused by an incompatibility between your Nvidia graphics card and something that you’ve downloaded. The first thing that you should do is check the Nvidia website for driver updates, which might resolve the issue. However, it is more likely that something you tried to run on your computer conflicted with the Nvidia transparency feature. However, this error message isn’t a big deal and simply clicking OK will close it. If the error returns, you can disable transparency using the Nview tab after clicking on the Nvidia icon.

Disable Windows Aero Glass Transparency

Alternatively, Windows Aero Glass transparency is an effect within the graphic user interface of Windows Vista so, if you are running this operating system, you can manually disable the application there.

• Click on any unoccupied spot on your desktop
• From the popup window options, right click on Contextual Menu, then Personalize
• Choose Windows Color and Appearance
• Uncheck the box beside Enable Transparency
• Click OK

Remove Firefox in Windows

Now let’s deal with your web browser situation. First of all, there is no reason why you can’t have both Firefox and Internet Explorer running on your system. You can use each browser as you like and they won’t interfere with each other. That said, it isn’t as clear that your installations are working so I think you should start by removing some stuff. To remove Firefox:

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  1. Click the File tab at the top of the Firefox window and click Exit to exit Firefox
  2. Click Start, then Control Panel
  3. Click Add or Remove Programs (XP) or Uninstall a Program (Vista)
  4. Find and Select the Firefox listing and click Remove (XP) or Uninstall (Vista)
  5. The Firefox Uninstaller will open, click Next, then Uninstall
  6. Close Firefox and click Finish

Reinstall Firefox for Windows

Now, if you still want to install Firefox, begin again by downloading the application directly from the Mozilla website. When installing Firefox on a Windows based computer you have to make sure that you specify that you want the version made for Windows, since Firefox is mainly marketed towards Mac users. There is a full list of versions for different languages and operating systems here, but the site will automatically detect your platform and recommend the appropriate installation. Close all your open programs before you start.

1. Click the Download Now icon to download the set up file.
2. When the file is on your desktop, click it twice to launch the installation wizard
3. Click Continue on the User Account Control box
4. On the Welcome screen click Next
5. On the Setup screen click Next
6. The files will transfer and then show a box confirming that Firefox has been installed

Run a CHKDSK to Repair Internet Explorer in Vista

For the Internet Explorer Installation, if you are running Vista, run a disk check to repair the IE installation.

1. Click the Start button, then type cmd in the Start Search bar
2. In the Programs list, right click cmd and then click Run as Administrator
3. If asked for a password, click Continue
4. In the command line type sfc /scannow

Repair Internet Explorer in XP

This should resolve your Internet Explorer problem. If you are running XP, follow these instructions to repair the IE installation:

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Select Tools, then Internet Options
3. Click Advanced, then Reset
4. In the dialog box called Reset Internet Explorer Settings, click Reset

Now, before you update your IE installation, I think that you should visit Windows Updates and look for any available updates for XP or Vista. Then you can go to the Internet Explorer website and install the latest version. I hope this helps!

Troubleshooting Internet Connection Errors

Download and Run Malware Scan

OK - just to be on the safe side, I am going to suggest that we begin by removing and reinstalling your AVG program. However, before we do, there is a chance that the application that you caught installing itself is malware and might be responsible for the problem. To first rule out or contain that possibility, you should download and run another malware scan, preferably something comprehensive like Malwarebytes. Run the scan and follow the advice to deal with the infected files. Make sure that you run the scan until it comes back clean, otherwise removing AVG could allow the malware to take over your computer.

Uninstall and Reinstall AVG

Once you are sure that there isn’t a virus on your system, download the AVG remover. Make sure that you disable all your other security programs before you remove and reinstall AVG or else the process won’t work properly. Also, write down your licensing information so that you can enter it in the reinstalled version later.

Run the uninstaller file and follow the instructions to uninstall. When asked if you want to remove the user settings, select yes. You will be prompted to restart your computer when the uninstall is finished. Now you can, and should, reinstall the latest version of AVG and re-enable your other security programs. It is important that you keep your security suite up to date with definitions. If you are using free versions, there is a good chance that you are required to manually scan for updates, so make sure that you do every day.

Repair your Internet Explorer Installation

Once all this is complete, reboot your computer and try Internet Explorer again. If it still doesn’t work, you can use your original Windows operating system installation CD to repair the IE installation.

• Put the CD in the drive and click Start to open the Start Menu
• Choose Search and select All Files and Folders
• Choose More Search Options
• Check the box for Search Hidden Files and Folders
• Make sure that the boxes for Search System Folders and Search Subfolders are checked
• Type ie.inf in the search box
• Click Look In to open the drop down menu
• Choose the C: drive
• Click Search and find the listing called ie.inf in the Windows Inf folder
• Right click on the file called ie.inf, and then choose Install
• When the installation is complete reboot your computer and retry Internet Explorer

Resolving Errors Browsing Online

Cookies and Temporary Internet Files

Sometimes errors that occur while browsing online are related to cache files that your web browser has saved. In an effort to save time, your browser saves website data so that it can open the pages from memory, unless they have changed. If there is a power supply issue or an Internet connectivity problem while the computer is saving the page, sometimes cache files are corrupted and can interfere with the navigation of some websites. Since you are connecting to the Internet but are unable to navigate websites, this could be your problem. Before you delete your temporary Internet files and cookies you should make a note of your personal information because you will remove all your stored user names and passwords.

Delete Temporary Internet Files

To delete the temporary Internet files:

1. Close any open windows and quit Internet Explorer and Windows
2. Click the Start button and then click twice on Internet Options
3. Click the General tab, then click Delete Files from the Temporary Internet Files tab
4. A Delete Files dialog box will open, choose Delete All Offline Content by checking the box
5. Click OK, then OK again

Repair your Internet Explorer Installation

It is also possible that your Internet Explorer installation is corrupt. To repair the installation you will need to have your original Windows operating system installation CD.

1. Put the CD in the drive
2. Click Start to open the Start Menu, click Search and choose All Files and Folders
3. Click More Search Options, then check the box for Search Hidden Files and Folders
4. Confirm that the options to Search System Folders and Search Subfolders are checked
5. In the search box - type in ie.inf
6. Click Look In to open the drop down menu and choose the C: drive
7. Click Search
8. A list of search results will appear, find the listing called ie.inf in the Windows Inf folder
9. Right click on the file called ie.inf, and then choose Install
10. Allow the process to run and the files to copy
11. When the installation is complete reboot your computer

Update Internet Explorer

You might also want to visit the Microsoft Internet Explorer website and update your version of IE to get the latest edition. Conversely, some users report system incompatibilities with IE 7. If you have recently updated to IE 7, you might want to use Windows Add/Remove to delete the installation, then reinstall IE 6.

If none of these fixes resolve your error, please write again and include the details of the error message that you are receiving when you try to log in and navigate online. Good luck!

Common Online Password Problems

Getting online requires an active account with a user name and password. Unfortunately, sometimes, the ISP won’t let you in, even if you have entered the correct information such as user name and password. Before calling your ISP for help, let’s see if we can’t try a few troubleshooting steps.

Caps Lock

Passwords are often case sensitive so double check that you do not inadvertently have the Caps Lock key pressed. For example, password, Password, PASSWORD, and pASSWORD are all different as far as your ISP is concerned.

NumLock

The NumLock key also affects passwords, especially when using a laptop. With a laptop, the NumLock key affects keys typed with the right hand, changing the letters into numbers much like a ten-key numeric keypad. If NumLock is turned on, the word password would come out as “-assw6rd” which would be wrong.

Expiring Passwords

In the workplace, it’s not uncommon to have expiring passwords. Usually, you will be prompted to enter the old password and select a new password. This is less common with ISPs though.

What to do about Internet Access Password Problems

If you are certain that you are entering the correct user name and password combination and that no Caps Lock or NumLock keys are interfering, your best bet is to check with your ISP. You can do this online as most ISPs have detailed support websites. However, this is most useful when you can get online and need to find out your e-mail password. Since you cannot get online using your password, you’re in a catch-22 because you can’t access your account information in order to get to any online password reset tools that may be offered.

In this case, use a friend’s computer to get online and find the telephone contact information for your ISP. You can also look at your latest bill from your ISP and find this information as well as your account number. Now, call your ISP and explain the situation. They will ask you information to confirm your identity before revealing your password or resetting it for you. Likewise, they will be able to tell you if there’s a problem such as if the account has been suspended.

This is one of the more frustrating scenarios for computer users. Go through each of the strategies listed below until you find one that resolves the situation for you.

Scan for Spyware and Viruses

Many forms of malware have been known to wreak havoc with computers. In particular, spyware, adware, and viruses love to play with our ability to access web pages. Therefore, the first strategy that I am going to recommend is that you scan your computer for malware. If you have an anti-spyware/anti-virus application, make sure that you update if before using it. If you don’t have one of these applications, I can suggest Anti-VirusPLUS.

Use “System Restore”

“System Restore” is a neat utility that allows us to bring our computers back to a time when they were working properly. You will need to select a date to return your computer to so make sure that you select one from before this problem began to occur.

Check the Firewall Settings

It is possible that somehow the firewall settings have been set at the highest level of restrictiveness. If this is the case, you can simply change the settings to a moderate level.

IE7 and the Phishing Filter

The phishing filter can prevent computers from accessing web pages, especially if IE7 is being used. This filter can prevent web pages from showing completely or it can create some type of lag. It’s easy to check this so just follow these directions.

1)      Open your browser.

2)       Click on “Tools.”

3)      Select “Phishing Filter.”

4)      Turn the filter off if it indicates that it is turned on.

5)      Save this change.

6)      Close “IE 7.”

7)      Open “IE 7.” Try to access a web page to see if the problem has been resolved. 

Contact Your ISP for Help

Your ISP could be the problem here so you need to contact the company that you obtain your service from. Once you contact them, they can easily check the level of activity on your computer and see if they can find anything that might be causing this problem. It allows you to rule out the modem as the reason behind the problem. It is possible that you need to adjust your DNS settings (which they will guide you in doing) and then the problem should go away.

Resolving Scripting Errors on Internet Explorer 7

Cleanup and Confirm your Java Installation

If the Java test is operating properly on your computer, then we can assume, at least for now, that Java is installed. Java doesn’t allow you to have multiple versions installed and, as Kat mentioned in the first post, you should use Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to clear away any bits left behind after using Add/Remove.

“An Error has Occurred in the Script on this Page

The error message that you receive when you try to print web pages - “An error has occurred in the script on this page” - has a few possible fixes, and it seems that the JavaScript problem is creating these errors in different places.

1. Click Start to open the menu, then right click Internet Explorer
2. Choose Internet Properties, then Advanced
3. Find the listing for “Disable Script Debugging (Internet Explorer)” and make sure there is a check in the corresponding box
4. Make sure that there is a check in the box corresponding to “Disable Script Debugging (Other)”
5. Find the listing for “Display a Notification About Every Script Error” and make sure to remove the check from the box
6. Restart Internet Explorer and see if your issue is resolved

The next thing to try is:

1. Click Start, then Run
2. In the command prompt type regsvr32 ole32.dll and press Enter

This simple command has worked to resolve the script error for many users, restart Internet Explorer and try to print again. If you receive an error message when you enter this command, make sure that you are logged in as an administrator and try once more.

“Disable Active Scripting” Error

The second error message - “disable Active Scripting,” - means that there is a problem between the html code in your Yahoo email program and the scripting on your computer, the Internet Explorer 7 program. It is possible that the fixes you use for the first error will also resolve the second one, but there are a few other things that we can try.

Check your Internet Settings

If you are still running IE6, you need to make sure that there aren’t any updates or applications for IE7 left on your computer, as they could cause problems. You may have already done this, but you can also review your Internet Settings to make sure that scripting is enabled.

1. In Internet Explorer, choose the Tools tab, then Internet Options, and then Security
2. By clicking reset all zones to default level, you will enable all the relevant settings

Once you try these fixes let us know if the problem is resolved or we’ll try some more!