To get you started see the link posted the version of ie7 I have is 7.0 6001.1800

Here is a link that might be useful: ie7

Zep516, I had a few minor updates that needed to be installed but the IE Version Number did not change when I installed them. A scan done afterwards showed I still have version 7.0.5730.12 installed.

I also went to your link in microsoft.com and noticed that that is where I had been a few weeks ago. I got all the way into this knowledge base tweaking thisandthat but got no relief from the suggestions I tried.

Have you looked in the Event Viewer error logs right after that happens ?

Might open a cmd window and see if you can run System File Checker;
SFC /ScanOnce

Here is a link that might be useful: xp System File Checker

When odd things start happening out of the blue I wonder about viruses and spyware. Do you have an up to date current Antivirus program and do you do any cleaning of spyware. If you have a virus program, go to an independent online virus scan and run that. just google "online virus scan" and run the one from TrendMicro

My computer was doing this recently when my kids downloaded Pirate Online game. It was my firewall or pop-up blocker. Forgot exactly how I overcame it but I allowed it from one of those settings.

Game sites are notorious for having viruses. Like music sites. Suggest you do the online virus scan I suggested

Loretta,
YIKES your firewall is trying to protect you from the malware calling out and giving out your info!! IF you download from game sites like that and your firewall goes off you should really listen to it!! I would immediately run scans and get that program blocked. That is the purpose of a firewall.

I am running McAfee VirusScan Enterprise and it has detected no problems. Its last data file update was yesterday and its last complete scan was also yesterday; it is running another one now. I also have a firewall, ZoneAlarm, and Windows Defender. No problems with either.

Trust me, forget about doing another scan with McAfee and do a virus scan at Housecall Just do a google search for "online virus scans" and pick the Housecall by TrendMIcro. Then, if you do not have a spyware utility that use use, download,install, update then run Antispywareblaster

this is the address for trend micro housecall online scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

I have never heard of antispywareblaster??

did you mean spywareblaster by javacool that is a very good free program and I would also advise using it and keeping it updated.
spywareblaster
Also I recommend superantispyware it is free (the blue box), you install it update it and run scans on your pc on a regular schedule.

Here is a link that might be useful: superantispyware

I highly suggest you check out Corrines wonderful blog for the proper steps to take to install IE7 so that you should not have some of the problems that come with a new install of IE7.
I have posted the link for you.

You probably want to delete it in add remove programs and start fresh following the instructions.

Here is a link that might be useful: installing IE7

ravencajun; you got me, that was a combination of SpywareBlaster and SuperAntispyware.....lol, must have been a memory dump

Ravencajun/genes:

I cleaned up a few problems with TrendMicro but am not sure if that software works right. After cleaning some spyware, it went back to "Step 1: preparing" status/mode which I thought would be followed by yet another system scan in order to show that there was nothing on the PC then. But... it stayed "preparing" until I got tired of that and X'ed out the IE Window. It never went to Step 2 (scanning) or 3 (removing infections). Question #1: Did it do that to you too after it cleaned up infections?

I also installed SpywareBlaster but was "left hanging". Maybe it is that I am not familiar with the program yet. Once it installed, I expected that it would scan my system but it just finished installing and that was that. Question #2: does install not scan your PC automatically?

Then I looked for a way to force to scan my PC but did not find a way. All I managed to do was pick up some updates. My IE, restricted Sites and Mozilla Firefox Protection settings are set to 'Protection Enabled' with a status of 0 items have protection disabled.

I am guessing that if it comes across some spyware because it is activated or downloaded or whatever, it will stop it; but if there was something already on the PC it will not tell me about it. Question #3: Is that right?

Question #4: what do I do about IE7's crashes now? Do I need to delete it & reinstall it after those spyware infections were removed by TrendMicro?

TIA, Luis

You did all you need to do with spywareblaster it does not do scans it just stays in the background protecting you, you do have to open it about once a week and hit that update button to let it get all the new definitions then hit the enable all protection so the shield turns green and it says everything is enabled.

Trend Micro you have to actually start it over again if you want it to re-scan after removing stuff. Which is a good idea to do if it did find something.

I would say if IE is still behaving erratically it would be a good idea to go to control panel and add remove programs and delete IE 7 from there, then following the proper install directions(from my post above) try getting it again. However if you have not done the install of sp3 yet you might want to wait to get IE 7 till after you have sp3 since they recommend deleting IE 7 prior to install of sp3. Just a thought.

You can also download and install that superantispyware I gave the link for, that one does run scans on your pc and finds and gets rid of any of the spyware/malware it finds. You will have to hit the update button on it before running the scan each time so it is up to date, then choose the full scan.

How can I tell if I have SP3? The automatic IE Updates handle all that and they do not notify me when they tweak things (although they reboot the PC sometimes).

to view which sp you have go to my computer right click it choose properties, you will then see info about your pc and it will say which sp you have there. You should also be able to see sp3 in add remove programs if you have it.

If you do have sp3 already then you can not uninstall IE7 with out first uninstalling sp3, that is why they were suggesting anyone with IE7 uninstall it prior to installing sp3, then reinstall it after sp3 was completely installed. Done in that order you can then uninstall IE7 should you need to.
So it would be a good idea to see if you have sp3 yet.