Clicking "Internet Options" on the Tools menu returns error message

When you click the Internet Options command on the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, you may receive the following error message:

This behavior can occur if the Inetcpl.cpl file is missing from the Windows \System or %SystemRoot%\System32 folder or if a restriction is set on the NoBrowserOptions Windows registry value.

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they are presented.

Method 1: Modify the registry

To have us modify the registry for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.



Notes

• This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
• If you are not using the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Then, go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me fix it myself

1. Click Start, click Run, and then type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions
3. If a value named NoBrowserOptions exists, delete it.
4. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions
5. If a value named NoBrowserOptions exists, delete it.
6. If you are using 64 bit version of Windows, locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions
7. If a value named NoBrowserOptions exists, delete it.
8. Restart the computer.

If this method does not resolve the behavior, go to Method 2.

Method 2: Extract a new copy of the Inetcpl.cpl file

Extract a new copy of the Inetcpl.cpl file from the Internet Explorer distribution files or reinstall Internet Explorer.

For more information about how to extract files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: If this method does not resolve the behavior, go to Method 3.

Method 3: Repair Internet Explorer

If Method 2 does not resolve the behavior, repair Internet Explorer.

This behavior is by design.

You may also experience the following symptoms if the Inetcpl.cpl file is missing:

• The Internet icon may be missing from Control Panel.
• The Internet icon may be displayed in Control Panel, but nothing may happen when you double-click it.
• When you right-click the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop and then click Properties, nothing may happen.
• The Repair Internet Explorer program may suggest that you run Setup again. If you click Details, you see that the Inetcpl.cpl file is listed as missing.