Search

corrupt "Search Provider Default" every time I launch IE8 by Artie

Closed
as Not Reproducible Help for as Not Reproducible

4
Sign in to vote
0
Sign in to vote
Sign in
 to vote
Type: Bug
ID: 406387
Opened: 1/27/2009 11:16:09 AM
Access Restriction: Public
4
Workaround(s)
8
User(s) can reproduce this bug
Every time I launch IE8 on Windows XP, I get the following error dialog.

"A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for internet Explorer." "Internet Explorer has reset this setting to your original search provide, Live Search (search.live.com)." "Internet Explorer will now open Search Settings, where you can change this setting or install more search providers."

And then of course the "Manage Add-ons" dialog comes up. Before upgrading to IE8 my default search provider was google.com. I do not have any toolbars installed.

In the search providers listing I only have two listed.
Listing order #1 is Google.
And lisitng #2 is Live Search. Live search is selected as the default.

When I click on Google, and the click on "Set as default" nothing happens.
If I click remove, it delets the google listing.
If I then reload the browser, I get the same error message. This time with live search as the only listing.

When I click on "Find more search providers." and add google back, with it selected as the default. IE, does add it to the list, but refuses to set it as the default option.
Details (expand)

Please verify that this issue occurs in Internet Explorer 8 RTW. Click here for more information.
Yes, this issue is reproduced in IE8 RC1.

1. What seems to be the problem? Click here for more information.
Internet Explorer gave an error message.

2. What area did the issue occur in? Click here for more information.
----Search

3. What language of your browser's frame? Click here for more information.
English

3a. What is your language preference order?  Click here for more information.
English (United States) [en-us]

 
Please try to reproduce this issue in No Add-ons mode and answer the following 2 questions. You can find the No Add-ons shortcut under All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).  Click here for more information.

4.  What was the result of the issue after trying it in No Add-ons mode?
The issue reproduces in No Add-ons mode

5. If running in No Add-ons mode solves your issue, what kind of Add-ons are you using?
 

5a. If Other, then please list the add-on:
 


6. How often does this happen? Click here for more information.
Always Happens

7. What Operating System are you running? Click here for more information.
Windows XP SP3

8. Have you ever seen this problem before in Internet Explorer? Click here for more information.
This happens in IE8 beta 2

9. Where does this occur?  Click here for more information.
Both

9a. Please provide the URL of the internet application being used.
 


10. Please list the reproduction steps. Click here for more information.
The error happens as soon as I bring up the browser and it loads up the home page.

11. What are the expected results? Click here for more information.
Clearly, that IE doesn't corrup it's search default settings.

12. What are the actual results? Click here for more information.
I have attached the screen shot with the error dialog.
File Attachments
1 attachments
untitled.bmp
Sign in to post a comment.
Posted by Alrik on 2/2/2009 at 10:35 PM
I´ve got the same problem. I´m running IE8 rc1 on Vista.
Posted by Microsoft on 3/13/2009 at 2:24 PM
Thank you for this feedback.

In our investigations to date we have not been able to reproduce this problem as described. However, with the release of IE8 December Partner Build this bug is outdated; it may have been fixed by the many changes we’ve made since Beta 2. If your issue still reproduces on the latest IE build, please update the repro steps and re-activate your bug.

Thank you,
The IE Team
Posted by Microsoft on 3/13/2009 at 2:39 PM
We meant to refer you to the Release Candidate build in January (not the Partner build). Sorry for the confusion.

The IE Team.
Posted by dealmaker21 on 6/5/2009 at 6:21 PM
I just installed IE 8 and have the same exact problem. Did the same exact thing re: google and now have only Bling.
Posted by cbs_001 on 6/18/2009 at 9:59 PM
I have the same problem, running ie8 with XP SP3 - current version of ie8 and this error message is very annoying - bing is set as my default browser, even though I specified google and would like to use google
Posted by klmstptwi on 6/29/2009 at 12:12 PM
I had the same problem, but was able to fix it with the registry edit suggested on the following blog:
http://blog.kirb.us/2009/03/20/a-program-on-your-computer-has-corrupted-your-default-search-provider-setting-for-internet-explorer/
Note that this fix didn't work for everybody, but it worked for me.
Posted by kirbywitmer on 9/15/2009 at 6:46 AM
This problem has occured to me and to many others as well as referenced in this blog post. <a href="http://blog.kirb.us/2009/03/20/a-program-on-your-computer-has-corrupted-your-default-search-provider-setting-for-internet-explorer/">A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting</a>
Posted by n5jep on 11/1/2009 at 7:55 PM
To Microsoft:
You said:
Posted by Microsoft on 3/13/2009 at 2:24 PM
Thank you for this feedback.

In our investigations to date we have not been able to reproduce this problem as described. However, with the release of IE8 December Partner Build this bug is outdated; it may have been fixed by the many changes we’ve made since Beta 2. If your issue still reproduces on the latest IE build, please update the repro steps and re-activate your bug.

Thank you,
The IE Team

what exactly does repro steps and re-activate your bug mean? I've been fighting this for over a month now!
This is riduclous!
Posted by n5jep on 11/1/2009 at 8:07 PM
tried the workarounds. nothing fixed yet. why has microsoft closed this if it is not fixed?
Posted by Satch916 on 11/2/2009 at 1:17 PM
I had this problem today. I discovered that it was because of a check box in IE8 in one user account that affected all OTHER users on the computer. In "Manage Add-ons" the "Prevent programs from suggesting changes to my default search provider" box was checked with Google as the only search provider. After unchecking this box IE8 behaved normally in the other user accounts. This was purely a Microsoft issue, and I am surprised to see that they couldn't reproduce it...
Posted by MalClark on 11/19/2009 at 9:35 AM
I have just upgraded to Windows 7 from Vista and I now have this error. I have tried all fixes mentioned but the problem continues.

I only have one default search option listed "AOL" which I have never used and is greyed out so I can't delete it!

HELP!!! this is driving me nuts...
Posted by twogrnthmbs on 11/26/2009 at 12:56 PM
Found what appears to be working for me so far at this site:

http://foundsolutionz.blogspot.com/i...search-results



PROBLEM #5
An error after opening internet explorer 8: "A program on your computer has corrupted IE8 default search provider settings. IE8 will reset the search provider setting to default setting of xxx search. IE8 will open the search provider dialog where you can change your search provider".


For the above error follow the below steps:
1. Click Start. 2. Click Run. 3. Type in regedit and press enter. 4. In the registry editor, expand and navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. 5. Right click User Shell Folders. 6. Select New and then Expandable String value. 7. A new value is added in right pane. 8. Type in AppData and press enter. 9. Double click AppData. 10. Under value data type in:

%USERPROFILE%\Application Data

11. Note: If there is already AppData in the right pane, double click and correct it to %USERPROFILE%\Application Data

If the above steps do not work,
1. Click Start. 2. Click Control Panel. 3. Click User Accounts. 4. Click Create a new user account. 5. Choose appropirate name for the new user account. 5. Choose Administrator or Limited or Standard user. It's upto you. 6. Click Create. 7. Click Start, Log out from the current user account and log back in with the new one. 8. If the new user account is working for you, obviously, the old user account has got corrupted and you will have to use the new user account. Also, FYI: you can transfer old user settings and files to the new user account.
Posted by blueskiesalways on 12/9/2009 at 6:04 PM
Posted by Satch916 on 11/2/2009 at 1:17 PM
I had this problem today. I discovered that it was because of a check box in IE8 in one user account that affected all OTHER users on the computer. In "Manage Add-ons" the "Prevent programs from suggesting changes to my default search provider" box was checked with Google as the only search provider. After unchecking this box IE8 behaved normally in the other user accounts. This was purely a Microsoft issue, and I am surprised to see that they couldn't reproduce it...
THIS IS THE CORRECT SOLUTION..FIXED IT PERFECTLY
© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft Connect Terms of Use | Trademarks | Privacy Statement