Internet Explorer stops responding, stops working, or restarts

Introduction | Your environment | Symptoms | Method 1
Method 1 Update Windows and Internet Explorer
1 Whenever you troubleshoot Windows and Internet Explorer issues, you should first make sure that you have all the current security updates and other Windows and Internet Explorer updates. Just by performing this one simple step, you might be able to resolve your problem.
Benefits of this method
  • Whether or not this method works, you improve the security and the stability of your computer by having the latest updates.
Drawbacks of this method
  • Unfortunately, this method might not work. But if it does not work, we will give you instructions to guide you on to your next steps.
This method is rated:
  • Easy
  • Estimated time: 10 minutes to a few hours, depending on how many updates your computer needs and on your Internet connection speed.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

To update Windows and Internet Explorer, follow these steps.
Step 1 Open Windows Update and check for updates.

In Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

To check for important updates, click Express.

If you see the following message your computer is already up to date:
Windows is up to date
No new updates are available for your computer
If this is true for you, your next step is to scan your computer for viruses. To do this, complete Method 2.
If this is not true for you, and you are asked to install new Windows Update components or updates for other Windows components, follow the instructions to install them.
Step 2 Install all important updates.

If any important updates are available for your computer, click Install updates.

If you are prompted to restart your computer after all the updates are installed, restart your computer.

Important You might have to restart your computer after you install certain updates. When you restart your computer, the content that you are now viewing will no longer be displayed. So, before you continue, you might find it helpful to create a shortcut to this Web page on your desktop so that you can easily return to this page by double-clicking the shortcut.

Click to see the steps to create a shortcut to this page.

  • Right-click this page, and then click Create Shortcut.
  • In the Internet Explorer dialog box, click Yes to create a shortcut on your desktop.
Verification Method 1 verification and next steps

 

To verify that this method worked and that Windows and Internet Explorer are up to date, repeat Step 1 and Step 2 of this method. If you receive a page that contains the following text, you have successfully updated Windows and Internet Explorer:

No high-priority updates for your computer are available

 

If this method worked

If this method worked, your next step is to scan your computer for viruses. To do this, complete Method 2.

If this method did not work

Note If you could not make this method work because you received an error message when you visited Windows Update, try to resolve the Windows Update error message first. For information about how to resolve Windows Update errors, search for your error message on the Microsoft Update Web site. If the error code that you received is not listed on the "Microsoft Update" site or if you experienced some other problem with Windows Update, you might want to ask someone that you know for help, or you might want to contact Support.

If visiting Windows Update did not resolve your problem, scan your computer for viruses. To do this, complete Method 2.

Last Review : September 7, 2011