Member Avatar for Don Cryder

I have two computers on a router network, one running XP and one with WIN2000, using a DSL connection that has been fine for a couple of years. Now the XP machine is fine but the 2000 will not maintain my home page setting in Internet Options. Whether I enter the default page or my own choice the home page returns to about:blank when Internet Options closes. With this setting I can access some web pages fine but others will only display the blank page. Any help from someone smarter than me will sure be appreciated. Thanks, Don

  • 3 Contributors
  • 4 Replies
  • 284 Views
  • 9 Hours Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by kcaptain

Dani AI

Generated

This looks like a classic case of some process, setting or policy overwriting the user setting rather than a simple UI bug. described the symptom well; correctly suspected an external change and is right that reinstalling the browser is a last-resort repair. The next steps are about narrowing whether the change is user-specific, system-wide, startup-driven, or enforced by policy, then removing the cause.

Try this targeted diagnostic workflow:

  1. Boot Windows 2000 into Safe Mode with Networking and set the homepage. Reboot normally and check whether it stuck.
  2. Create a new local administrator user and test there. If the new account keeps the page, the problem is likely system-wide; if not, the original profile may be damaged.
  3. Inspect startup items, scheduled tasks and services for recently installed or unknown entries. Use a startup/inspection utility (Sysinternals Autoruns or Process Explorer) to find browser helper objects, toolbars or tiny services that can reset settings. Disable suspected items and retest.
  4. Run thorough scans with up-to-date anti-malware and antivirus tools (do this from Safe Mode if possible) to remove homepage hijackers that monitor and reset IE settings.

If the homepage still will not hold after those steps, back up Favorites and important data, then either recreate the user profile or proceed with a clean reinstall/repair of Internet Explorer as suggested. Also check for any local or domain group policy that might enforce a homepage value. Always back up configuration (export or copy) before making registry or system changes so you can restore if needed.

These steps isolate whether the issue is caused by a startup process, a corrupt profile, malware, or a policy — and point to the right remedial action without immediately resorting to full reinstallation.

Recommended Answers

All 4 Replies

Member Avatar for Comatose

Click Start, Go To Run, Type in "Regedit" (without quotes)
Find The left pane of the regedit window, and find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
open that folder, and find "Software" and open that. Find Microsoft, Open It.
Find "Internet Explorer" and open that. Find Main, And click it so that it is highlighted.
Now On the Right Pane, Find "Start Page", and make sure it is set to what you want. The "Local Page" Value May have an impact also.

I had this same problem, and this is the fix that I used.

I forgot to mention, that the Default_Page_URL Value Might Be There, And need to be changed also.

Member Avatar for Don Cryder

Thanks for your reply but now I still have the same problem in my Registry. I changed the values for "Start Page", "Local Page", & "Default_Page_URL but when I close the Registry the value for "Start Page" returns to "about:blank". The Local & Default stay as I changed them.

Member Avatar for Comatose

I'm assuming you have administrative rights to the registry and so forth. So my next guess is that there is a program (exe) or a dll of some kind (or a hot bar) that is making these changes. If you load task manager, look for something that is running (in the process) that is out of place, and terminate that process. You might be able to change it then.

Member Avatar for kcaptain

I have had similar problems. You can try uninstalling internet explorer, and reinstalling it. In settings control panel add remove software, window components. uncheck explorer and hit next. After it uninstalls, do the same as before but check internet explorer and reinstall. This seems to work with most explorer issues. This will not delete any favorites you may have.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.