Weird links and pages not loading

[consumertalks]

Upated w/system info: Dell Dimension 2400 w/XP P4 2.2

2 problems!

1) On some pages, certain words become hyperlinks. Words like "travel," and other search words. Even on a few posts here when I preview them, the url code is inserted. **I previewed this, and the word travel is a hyperlink!! I didn't type the url code. ODD!

2) Some webpages (spoofee, apex, certain threads here) load for a second, then a window pops up saying the page is unable to load, I click ok, the it goes to the 404.

I've ran Spybot & AdAware, the problem is still here.

[rpertusio]

Internet Explorer?

Try turning off 3rd party extensions/plugins:

(1) Open up IE, and go to the Tools->Internet Options...
(2) On the Advanced tab, uncheck [ ] Enable third party browser extensions

That will disable anything that is loading up with IE (including any popup stoppers, etc..) If the links go away, then you know that a browser plug-in is causing the problem.

And by the way.. we (or at least I) don't see the hyperlinks on the word 'travel' when you typed it.

- rp

[consumertalks]

Originally posted by rpertusio
Try turning off 3rd party extensions/plugins:

That was it!! I wish I could pm you a cookie.

Any tips on the random "cannot open this site" error window?

[rpertusio]

MMmmm, nothin like a digitized cookie!

Alright, you're halfway there. Now that you know those 'links' are with extensions, you can go into you registry and figure out which extension is causing all the trouble.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\

In this location, you can find a folder (key) for each Extension installed for Internet Explorer. I think you can just delete the folder (key) of the extension that is causing trouble. (For example, delete the '{FF059E31-CC5A-4E2E-BF3B-96E929D65503}' key if you thought the Microsoft Office Research button was causing the problems.

- -

Now, as for your sites not loading...

(1) Clear your cookies, they might be corrupted. (Note: You'll have to log in to websites all over again.. your login/pass will be 'forgotten')

(2) Maybe you have blocked out certain sites in a HOSTS file. (some programs will create a HOSTS file for you). Check to see if you have a 'HOSTS' file here:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
IF you find a file like that, rename it. See if the problem goes away. (I'm not sure if you have to restart your computer or not)

(3) Got a router or cable/dsl modem? Does it need a reset? (or does the router need an updated firmware?)

(4) Can you give an example of a site (or sites) that always is broken? Maybe there is something in common.

(5) What if you use a different browser? What if you tried Mozilla Firebird at least for testing. If you still get 'page cannot be..." errors, then you know it isnt the browser's fault, and rather the router/modem/networking/etc

Try those out if you have a chance!
- rp

[consumertalks]

That's alot of changes.. besides, the first problem fix also corrected the second problem.