IE 7 and OE fail to connect when system first boots

bigelow_r · 06-16-2008, 01:53 PM

I'm trying to solve this problem for a customer's computer, and it's got me stumped. When the computer first boots up, IE won't display any web pages and OE won't connect to the mail server for about 15 minutes. After that time, they both work fine. Firefox is working fine, but the customer doesn't want to use Mozilla permanently. She won't let me put Thunderbird on, and only uses Firefox if she needs to get a webpage up before IE is ready.
She runs XP Home, SP2. The problem started after she installed SP3, but removing SP3 had no effect. I've tried reinstalling IE, even dropped back to IE6, with no change. The only thing I've found that seems to improve it is starting in Safe Mode (with networking, of course). IE and OE respond right away in Safe Mode. My theory is that some service that IE and OE depend on is having trouble starting, but I can't figure out what.
Any thoughts?

**Go The Power** · 06-17-2008, 04:50 AM

have you checked the firewall settings

bigelow_r · 06-17-2008, 05:50 PM

Actually, I didn't think of that. She's using Norton Internet Security. But if Norton were having a problem at system startup, wouldn't it also block Firefox?

**Go The Power** · 06-17-2008, 10:10 PM

Nope, Firefox could be allowed in the firewall.

06-16-2008, 01:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
bigelow_r Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Oregon, USA Posts: 6 OS: XP Pro SP3 / Vista Business SP1	IE 7 and OE fail to connect when system first boots I'm trying to solve this problem for a customer's computer, and it's got me stumped. When the computer first boots up, IE won't display any web pages and OE won't connect to the mail server for about 15 minutes. After that time, they both work fine. Firefox is working fine, but the customer doesn't want to use Mozilla permanently. She won't let me put Thunderbird on, and only uses Firefox if she needs to get a webpage up before IE is ready. She runs XP Home, SP2. The problem started after she installed SP3, but removing SP3 had no effect. I've tried reinstalling IE, even dropped back to IE6, with no change. The only thing I've found that seems to improve it is starting in Safe Mode (with networking, of course). IE and OE respond right away in Safe Mode. My theory is that some service that IE and OE depend on is having trouble starting, but I can't figure out what. Any thoughts? __________________ Robert Bigelow CompTIA A+ Certified Remote Support Technician

06-17-2008, 04:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,981 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: IE 7 and OE fail to connect when system first boots have you checked the firewall settings __________________

06-17-2008, 05:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigelow_r Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Oregon, USA Posts: 6 OS: XP Pro SP3 / Vista Business SP1	Re: IE 7 and OE fail to connect when system first boots Actually, I didn't think of that. She's using Norton Internet Security. But if Norton were having a problem at system startup, wouldn't it also block Firefox? __________________ Robert Bigelow CompTIA A+ Certified Remote Support Technician

06-17-2008, 10:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,981 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: IE 7 and OE fail to connect when system first boots Nope, Firefox could be allowed in the firewall. __________________