Internet Explorer drives me insane

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I'm hoping somebody can help me with this. I don't know if it's a Vista thing specifically, but I never noticed it happening with XP.

What happens is ... when Internet Explorer is loading a web page, if any of the components of the page, like an ad or something, can't load for some reason, IE jumps to a Google screen, even though the main web page itself loaded ok. The message is "xxx.com couldn't be found." I don't know why the hell it thinks it should go to Google because a site couldn't be found.

This is driving me nuts today. The WP website has some ads that won't load. I have no idea why they won't, but they won't. As a result, every time I select a new thread, freaking IE can't load the ad and jumps to Google, even though the WP page itself is perfectly ok. It does this over and over, meaning that I can't view the page even though IE loaded the WP part of it perfectly.

Does anyone else have this problem? I've looked all over the place for a preference setting that pertains to this, but can't find anything. Thanks!

That sounds like an infection to me, though why it would kick you to google I'm not sure.

Also, typing xxx.com is kinda funny to my medicated mind. Just sayin'.

Switching to Firefox solved that problem for me.

As everyone says in this forum - use a different browser. From the polls done in this particular WP forum hardly anyone uses Internet Explorer any more, most use Firefox with the AdBlock add-on and don't even get any adverts. It is years since I've seen an advert on the Internet! They still exist?

Given the name of the website, it's probably because xxx.com is a porn site and it's loaded with viruses. Oh yeah, and also because Internet Exploder is garbage.

Internet Explorer is the most hacked and attacked browser in the world - using it is just asking for trouble. Mozilla Firefox is safer, more stable and at least as user friendly. Plus, it's free!

Also see the thread on SuperCookies from a few days ago. The BETTERPRIVACY add-on for Firefox was very helpful.

SuperCookie Thread

Mozilla Firefox Download Page

Better Privacy Add-on

I use Firefox every chance I can in order to avoid just what you described.
Truth telling, I'm using it as my browser to make this post right now.

Downloading and installing Firefox fixed my issue.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/firefox.html

I use Firefox because of Adblock - I don't want to know the one easy rule to rip the ab berries out of my whitened teeth, or whatever other fraud they're trying to con people with - but I do not have any problem with IE.

While I don't use IE it is still on my computer and this morning there was an 8mb patch for it. While it was downloading (I've only got slow dial-up) I was busy with other things on the computer and in the middle of quickly touch-typing an email when wham-bam the machine was closing down. I just had time to see a pop up appear saying the download had finished and Vista wanted to reboot - and the pop up had grabbed some key strokes intended for my email and was in the process of shutting down my computer losing my email and some work on other applications that were open at the time! Thank you Microsoft.

So, yes, despite not using IE it still gives me problems!

Why the hell did Microsoft design such pop-up windows to take the active keyboard focus? It is idiotic. You can be typing at full speed when they pop up and cause all manner of havoc within a few key strokes. I once wrecked the configuration of some other software due to this happening and spent the next hour trying to work out how to undo the mangled configuration settings. Pop up windows that grab keyboard focus are a dangerous liability.

It is like a cop stepping out straight in front of your car to get your attention when you are doing 70 mph on the motorway - the resulting carnage is predictable. Why can't Microsoft see this regarding the software equivalent?

I would have a professional look at your computer. Most chances are that you're infected, and the little pests has edited your host file, redirecting you to Google instead of actually going to a site you want. Although this is a place to take suggestions, if you're used to Internet Explorer, and never have used Firefox or Google Chrome, or Safari before, it's safe to just stay with what you're comfortable with. Remember, computers are supposed to make things easier, not harder.

Well, no. I've used Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and Opera. The interfaces, the capabilities, and the keystrokes are almost exactly the same across all five of those. You don't have to "learn" how to use Firefox.

Last edited by LordoftheMonkeys on 31 Mar 2010, 5:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I had this problem at work today while on an internet explorer computer, and will see if I have again on this one (also internet explorer). It only happens at this site, however, so I'm a little hesitant to allocate it to a computer infection v. a site infection. The computer at work is part of a network that I've been told has a pretty decent firewall. This computer I know has a firewall. I'll try to record some better information on it, if I can get it to happen this afternoon, and then hand the information over to Alex. If someone wants to post in Wrong Planet discussion about it (if they have not already) then hopefully Alex can look into it. Alex does not use IE himself, so he only knows about these infections when we tell him.

The names and picture symbols do change, and your bookmarks don't automatically go over, so there is SOME adjustment required.

Most of our computers have Firefox and IE, with the IE falling off use pretty fast due to infection. This computer I haven't gotten around to loading Firefox yet, and the firewall has done pretty well, so it hasn't felt urgent.

Lol, maybe our family owns too many computers, when I find myself talking about "our" computers, plural And we will probably buy more soon

Ok, I installed Firefox, and the problem has gone away, so far.

It might just be my imagination, but it also seems faster.

To those of you who said you don't see ads while using Firefox ... I still see them all over the freakin' screen. There are ads for Netflix, Walmart, LaQuinta ...

I think blocking ads with Firefox requires an add-on or activation of an option. Our firefox computers still show ads.

OK, here is one for all the techies. I've been reading and posting around the planet since my last post and haven't had the google/can't locate problem. I seriously cannot remember if I've had it on this computer before or not; I THINK I have, but can't be sure; I just know I've had the issue before today, and had it today when I came to the planet from work.

What I am seeing this afternoon are quite a few ads replaced by "internet explorer cannot display this page" views. Would that happen if the ad causing malware was blocked by my firewall? Is there any clue here into what is going on that I could pass onto Alex? I am totally NOT a techie.