Internet Explorer 8 is, by virtually all accounts, more standards compliant than its predecessor. However, if you’re browsing a site that displays improperly rendered tables, misaligned text or other formatting issues, you can easily switch back to Internet Explorer 7′s page rendering mechanism.
In the IE 8 toolbar, click on the small icon that looks like a page broken in half, next to the refresh button (pictured below). This invokes “Compatibility View,” which can fix some page rendering issues.
Source: Microsoft
If the rendering problems affect too many sites and you’d like to downgrade to Internet Explorer 7, follow the instructions in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
If you are a Web developer whose page does not render properly under Internet Explorer 8, you may want to consider using the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image, which will test your site for compatibility with IE 6, IE 7 and IE 8.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 23rd, 2009. Comment. 
If you find that Internet Explorer 8 crashes persistently, especially when navigating to different pages, try the following procedures.
Disable Add-ons Some Add-ons held over from Internet Explorer 6 or 7 are incompatible with Internet Explorer 8. Try removing all Add-ons (or sets of add-ons) then re-accessing the problematic site(s). If Internet Explorer 8 no longer crashes, put your Add-ons back one-by-one (or in sets) until the problem resurfaces. In this way, you can identify the problematic Add-on(s) and eliminate it.
Start by quitting Internet Explorer 8, then right-clicking its icon in the Explorer and selecting “Start Without Add-ons.” If the problem is gone, quit Internet Explorer again, then follow the process below to remove/disable individual add-ons.
You can remove Add-ons by clicking “Tools” in the Command bar and selecting “Manage Add-ons”. Highlight the Add-on and select Remove. Alternatively, you can choose Disable to deactivate the Add-on but leave it installed.
Reset Internet Explorer Next, you can try resetting Internet Explorer as described in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article. This will not only disable all Add-Ons, but also clear our other potentially problematic data, including toolbars, ActiveX controls and more. Beware, however, because resetting Internet Explorer will also delete browsing history, appearance settings and other customization you may wish to retain.
Downgrade to Internet Explorer 7 As a last resort, you can try downgrading to Internet Explorer 7, as described in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 23rd, 2009. 9 Comments.
Several users have reported significantly slower performance under Internet Explorer 8, particularly when the browser is first launched or when navigating to new pages. Delays of up to 30 seconds or more have been reported.
The problem, in most cases, is the presence of IE restricted sites and enhanced security configuration zones, which are generally created automatically by spyware removal software, such as Spybot and IESpyAd. Traditionally, the presence of these entries has been hugely beneficial, offering protection against malicious software. However, Internet Explorer 8 includes new security measures that may obviate the need for these entries, and the browser can suffer a tremendous speed hit in their presence.
The fastest and easiest way to remove these entries and dramatically increase Internet Explorer 8′s speed is to use the DelDomains package. Right click on this link and save the file to your desktop. Next, right-click on the downloaded file (DelDomains.inf) and select “Install.” The package will remove all Internet Explorer restricted sites, enhanced security configuration zones and trusted sites.
Alternatively, or in addition to the above fix, you can try registering actxprxy.dll, a process that has improved Internet Explorer 8′s performance for a handful of users.
Click the Start button then search for “CMD.” Right-click cmd.exe and select “Run as Administrator,” then type regsvr32 actxprxy.dll and press return. Quit then re-launch Internet Explorer 8 and check for improved performance.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 24th, 2009. 77 Comments.
In some cases, various software updates applied through Windows Update will hang partway through their installation processes under Windows Vista. In some cases, the hang will occur right before the system is to be restarted, forcing users to manually shut down their computers then power on again. However, the system may not recognize that the updates were applied, and prompt the user to install them again after the forced restart.
Eliminate the hangs The first step in fixing this issue is to eliminate the existing hangs. Usually these hangs are caused by the presence of anti-virus software or other third-party protection mechanisms, such as Zone Alarm or AVG. Try temporarily disabling these programs (in some cases you may need to uninstall them). After disabling or eliminating this software, reset your Windows Firewall to default settings (open the control panel, click on the Windows Firewall icon, click on the Advanced tab and then click the Restore Defaults button.)
Next, re-attempt the update(s).
Forcing a stalled update: safe mode If you are already in the middle of a hung update (your system has been manually restarted and is prompting for the update again), try rebooting your system in safe mode by pressing the F8 key while the computer is starting up. Immediately after booting in safe mode, boot into normal mode again. This may allow the update to apply.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com.
Filed under Uncategorized by on Mar 24th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Faulty RAM is one of the more pernicious and elusive causes of frequent system crashes, blue screens, inability to startup and other issues. Unfortunately, users may not realize that they have bad RAM, and may instead search out software conflicts or other potential causes for their problems.
If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned issues, especially in a repeated fashion or when running specific, memory intensive applications (a number of users have reported memory issue flare-ups when playing demanding games), your best bet is to test for faulty RAM with a utility such as Memtest86 or RAM Probe.
Both of the aforementioned tools must be run from a floppy disk, CD-ROM or external USB drive.
We’ll run through some basic instructions for installing and running Memtest86 from a burned CD (the most common method):
- Download the Memtest86 Windows ISO (disk image)
- Extract the resulting ZIP file, which will include an ISO file.
- Launch your CD burning application of choice (you can use a 15-day free trial of Nero if you don’t have one–if you use Nero, choose “Burn Image” and select the ISO file).
- Select the ISO file using your CD burning application and press burn (or record). Do not simply copy the ISO file to a disc–you need to burn it as an image. In most CD burning applications, you can select “Open” then choose the Memtest86 ISO file.
- Once the CD is finished recording, leave it in your drive then restart your computer. If the system does not automatically boot into the Memtest86 program, restart and again, and while the computer is booting, quickly tap the F2 key to enter setup (for most computers), and select the newly burned Memtest86 disc as your boot disc
Now you will be in the Memtest86 test center. The test will take some time to complete–let it run for at least one hour. After this period of time, you may see one or more of a series of errors.
If errors are displayed, remove one or more RAM modules then run the test again. You can also try rotating modules to different slots and check for elimination of the errors. For a full list of error Memtest86 messages, see this page.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 25th, 2009. 4 Comments.
You may encounter the error message “USB Device Not Recognized” when connecting external devices to your system. There are a number of causes for this issue, and an equal number of fixes. If you receive this error message, try the following procedures one-by-one (the easiest and most common fixes are listed first) until you find a fix.
Disconnect and reconnect Although this fix is almost too obvious to mention, many users overlook it. Simply disconnect the USB device for a few seconds, then reconnect it, ensuring a secure, snug fit.
Uninstall third-party USB programs Go to the Control Panel and select “Add/Remove Programs.” Remove all third-party device drivers in the device manager, then restart your computer. Try reconnecting the problematic devices and check for resolution of the issue. If you need to re-add any third-party drivers, you can obtain them from the manufacturers’ websites.
Update drivers Make sure you have the latest drivers for each device. These can usually be obtained from the manufacturer website. As mentioned in the previous fix, you may want to try deleting all currently installed drivers before installing the fresh, new versions.
Delete the INFCACHE If you are running Windows Vista, you may want to try deleting the INFCACHE.1 file, which stores device-to-driver association information. To do this, open a Windows Explorer window and type c:\windows\inf then press return, and locate the file “INFCACHE.1,” then follow these steps:
- Right-click on INFCACHE.1 and select “Properties”
- Click on the “Security” tab, then click “Edit.”
- Click “Add,” then type the name you would like to give to the user group.
- Set the new group to “Full Control” then click OK.
- You can now delete the file INFCACHE.1
You should now restart your computer and check for proper operation of the device. You may need to re-download the device(s) driver from the manufacturer website.
Did any of these fixes work for you? Do you know of another fix? Let us know.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 25th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Google has released Chrome 1.0.154.53, the latest edition of its Web browser. The new version, though minor in number, includes some significant fixes for Windows Vista users, including:
- Fix for a problem setting Google Chrome as the default browser on Windows Vista
- Fix for a problem in which blank entries can appear in the address bar’s list of suggestions.
Several users have also reported a significant speed boost from the new version.
To download the new edition, visit this page or, within Google Chrome, select “About Google Chrome” from the Tools menu and proceed with an automatic update.
Feedback on the new release? Let us know.
Filed under News, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Mar 25th, 2009. Comment.
Earlier this month, Microsoft delivered the first release candidate of Windows Vista SP2, meaning that the final, public edition of the update will be posted for download soon. The new release features some sweeping improvements, including Windows Search 4.0, native Blu-Ray recording capabilities, easier Wi-Fi configuration and more.
Unfortunately, many users are likely to encounter a variety issues, such as startup problems, application crashes, performance hiccups and more, after the update. Here’s a run-down of the best methods for preventing these issues and making your update experience a smooth one:
Backup First and foremost, a full backup should be performed prior to any major system update. Your best bet is to use a tool that can create a complete, bootable backup of your primary volume. If major problems ensue post-update, you will have working copy of your current applications and documents that can be put into use immediately. Acronis True Image is one such tool. Alternatively, you can use Windows Vista’s built-in backup tools.
Check for spyware Next, eliminate any spyware or malware that might interfere with the update process or create conflicts after your system is updated. Various free or inexpensive tools, including Ad-Aware and Spybot are available for this purpose.
Kill any unnecessary startup processes Eliminating any unnecessary startup processes, or removing all third-party startup processes, can reduce compatibility headaches that often follow major system updates. Launch the System Configuration utility by clicking “Windows” then entering “System Configuration” in the search bar and pressing return. Click on the “Startup” tab and remove any unnecessary items, then restart.
Update drivers Check manufacturers’ websites for the latest driver editions for any third-party devices that are connected to your system. Many manufacturers have already updated their drivers for basic compatibility with Vista SP2.
Disconnect any unnecessary devices Aside from your keyboard, mouse, monitor and network connectivity, virtually all external device should be disconnected from your system right before you install Vista SP2. Disconnecting these devices can preclude a variety of issues. Once the update is applied, you can reconnect the devices one by one and check for compatibility issues.
Uninstall any pre-release Vista updates If you installed the Vista SP2 release candidate or a prior beta, uninstall it right before running the Vista SP2 update. Open Control Panel, click Programs, then click “View Installed Updates.” Look for the Microsoft Windows list, then right-click the beta or pre-release service pack and select uninstall.
Use the standalone updater Users have reported fewer problems when using full standalone Vista service pack updates instead of obtaining the updates through Windows Update. Microsoft will post a download link when Vista SP2 is officially released.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com.
Filed under News, Windows Vista by on Mar 25th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Several users have reported an issue in which, after installation of Internet Explorer 8, clicking on any folder in Windows Explorer results in the opening of a new window, rather than navigating within the same window. The issue occurs despite users having the “Open each folder in the same window” option selected in Windows Vista’s folder options.
Fixes:
Run as admin The simplest and most commonly successful fix for this issue is to simply right-click the Internet Explorer 8 icon and select “Run as Administrator.” After doing this one time, the new-window behavior should stop.
Uninstall IE 8 If this issue becomes too irritating and the aforementioned fix doesn’t work, you can try downgrading to Internet Explorer 7.
Feedback? info@windowsfixup.com.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows Vista by on Mar 26th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Windows 7 will sport enhanced security measures that should partially eliminate the need for some anti-spyware and antivirus software, but users are still encouraged to run at least one protection mechanism. Users testing pre-release builds of Windows 7 have found that some current antivirus packages are incompatible or cause problems with the new OS, while others function flawlessly in their current iterations.
Here’s a preliminary compatibility index based on early reports:
- Kaspersky Anti-Virus beta for Windows 7 Compatible; however, may cause problems with pages loading slowly in Internet Explorer 8
- ESET NOD32 Antivirus Compatible; however, may cause performance issues
- Sunbelt Software Vipre Compatible; no major problems reported
Anything to add to the list? Let us know.
Filed under Internet Explorer 8, Windows 7 by on Mar 26th, 2009. 1 Comment.