Adult Content Web Site Is Unexpectedly Displayed in Browser Window When You Click Search (323869)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 95 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
This article was previously published under Q323869
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you click Search in Internet Explorer, an adult-content Web site may be displayed in the browser window instead of the expected Internet Explorer Search page.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the registry entries for the Search page in Internet Explorer have been modified to reference the adult-content Web site.

RESOLUTION

Method 1

To resolve this issue, remove the entries that reference the adult-content Web site from the registry. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate the following registry entries (if they exist):

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Bar

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Page

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

  4. Right-click each entry that you have located in step 3, and then click Delete. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.

    This action resets the Internet Explorer home page and Search page in Internet Explorer.
  5. On the File menu or the Registry menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
  6. Configure Internet Explorer to use the home page that you want. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Start Internet Explorer, and then connect to the Web site that you want to use as your home page.
    2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options. Click the General tab, and then click Use Current.
  7. Empty the contents of the Temporary Internet Files folder. To do this, click Delete Files under Temporary Internet files, and then click OK.

Method 2

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Internet Options, click the Programs tab, and then click Reset Web Settings.

    NOTE: Make sure the Also reset my home page check box is selected, and then click YES.
  2. Empty the contents of the Temporary Internet Files folder (see step 7 in the "Method 1" section of this article), and then click OK.
  3. Start Internet Explorer.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to troubleshoot a similar, documented issue in which the home page in Internet Explorer is unexpectedly changed to an adult-content Web site, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

320159 Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page Setting

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/5/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB323869
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.