Assuming you're absolutely certain that a Norton or McAfee free trial didn't
come preinstalled on the Dell computer when you bought it (doesn't matter if
you never used or Activated it), see...
Error message after you install a Windows Internet Explorer update from
Windows Update or from Microsoft Update: "Webpage cannot be displayed"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942818
There have been scores of threads in the newsgroups and forums from users
running Comodo Firewall who have run into this problem after installing
KB978207. (I'm sure you'll find threads about it in Comodo forums.) If
tweaking Comodo's settings don't help, try the following:
1a. Uninstall Comodo Firewall, reboot, and then make absolutely sure the
Windows Firewall is enabled.
1b. Disable Avira AntiVir and S*PERAntiSpyware realtime protections.
NB: You're "working without a net" now: Don't to ANYTHING else online (e.g.,
browsing; reading email; chatting) until you've completed Step #5 below.
2. Uninstall "Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 8 (KB978207)"
via Add/Remove Programs (make sure Show Updates box is checked at top right)
and reboot.
3. Re-do #1b above.
4. Open Internet Explorer (only) to
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com |
Select CUSTOM and scan | Install any Critical Security Updates offered
(e.g., KB978207). If a Root Certificates update is listed in the Optional
Software updates category on the left-hand side of the scan results window,
install it to take full advantage of IE's enhanced security.
5. Reboot, make sure everything in #1b above is enabled again & test.
6. Assuming all is well and you want to reinstall Comodo Firewall (or, e.g.,
Online Armor firewall) despite the problem you and many others have
encountered, do so now.
--
~PA Bear
Marilyn & Bob wrote:
> Answers to you questions interspersed:
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
> news:%23EMHneNsKHA.5936@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Is this a sudden, new problem?
>
> Yes
>
>>
>> If you open Add/Remove Programs, make sure the Show Updates box at the
>> top
>> is checked and then scroll down, is "Security Update for Windows Internet
>> Explorer 8 (KB978207)" listed? Assuming it is, what's the Installation
>> date shown and did your "Page cannot be displayed" problem start on that
>> same date?
>>
>
> Installed on 1/21/10. This is probably around the time that this problem
> occurred, but since I didn't get there error page very often, I can't tell
> for sure. (Note that for testing I have generated the error page by
> temporary disconnecting my modem, but before noting this problem I had no
> reason to generate the error page)
>
>
>> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
>> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
>> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these
>> applications running in the background when you installed IE8?
>>
>
> Using AVIRA Personal AV and Comodo Free Firewall. They are fully up to
> date. Both were resident when I installed the Security update. Scan
> weekly
> using Super AntiSpyware and Malwarebytes AntiMalware. Neither runs in
> background.
>
>> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
>> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
>> bought it)?
>
> Neither Norton nor McAfee has ever gotten near this computer. This Dell
> came with an OEM but real full version of XP home. I reformatted using
> that
> disk when I got the computer, and there is no pre-installed junk on it.
>
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
>>
>>
>> Marilyn & Bob wrote:
>>> IE 8 with all the updates on Windows XP Home SP3: The «Diagnose
>>> Connection
>>> Problems» Button on the «Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage»
>>> error
>>> page has recently stopped working. When I click the button it visually
>>> depresses, but the only thing that happens is that an «Error on page»
>>> shows
>>> up in the bottom IE8 bar. The Diagnose Connection Problems Add-on is
>>> loaded
>>> and enabled. In fact, when I click on the «Diagnose Connection
>>> Problems...»
>>> entry on the IE8 tools menu icon, it works fine. Just not from the error
>>> page. It used to work. Any ideas?