Internet Explorer does not start or stops responding

Windows Internet Explorer does not start or stops responding.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open a blank page in Internet Explorer

Test Internet Explorer by opening a blank page. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type iexplore about:blank in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. If Internet Explorer does not start, go to "Step 3: Start Internet Explorer in 'No Add-ons' mode." If Internet Explorer starts correctly, follow these steps to use a blank page as your home page:
   1. On the toolbar, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
   2. On the General tab, note the address that is listed in the Home page area. This address may cause the problem.
   3. Click Use Blank, and then click OK.
   4. Close Internet Explorer. Then, start Internet Explorer again.

Step 2: Remove temporary Internet files, browsing history data, and Web form data

To remove temporary Internet files, browsing history data, and Web form data, follow these steps:

Windows Internet Explorer 8

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the toolbar, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
3. On the General tab, click Delete in the Browsing history area.
4. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click to clear all of the check boxes except for the following check boxes:
   • Cookies
   • History
   • Form Data
5. Click Delete.
6. Click OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.

Windows Internet Explorer 7

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the toolbar, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
3. On the General tab, click Delete in the Browsing history area.
4. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete files, and then click Yes in the Delete Files dialog box.
5. Click Delete cookies, and then click Yes in the Delete Cookies dialog box.
6. Click Delete history, and then click Yes in the Delete History dialog box.
7. Click Delete forms and then click Yes in the Delete Form Data dialog box.
8. Click Close, and then click OK.

Test Internet Explorer to verify that it works correctly. If problems still occur, go to the next step.

Step 3: Start Internet Explorer in "No Add-ons" mode

To start Internet Explorer in "No Add-ons" mode, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Internet Explorer (No Add-ons). To continue to your home page, click the Home button.

If the problem does not occur after you use this method, use Manage Add-ons to determine which add-ons are causing the problem. To do this, follow these steps:

Windows Internet Explorer 8

1. Click Tools on the Internet Explorer toolbar, and then click Manage Add-ons.
2. Click the name of the add-on at the top of the Toolbars and Extensions list, and then click Disable.
3. Click Close, and then test Internet Explorer.
4. If the problem still occurs, open Manage Add-ons, enable the add-on that you disabled in step 2, and then repeat steps 1 through 3 for the next add-on in the Toolbars and Extensions list.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until the problem is resolved or until all the add-ons have been tested.

Windows Internet Explorer 7

1. Click Tools on the Internet Explorer toolbar, point to Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.
2. Click the name of the add-on at the top of the Enabled list, and then click Disable in the Settings area.
3. Click OK, and then test Internet Explorer.
4. If the problem still occurs, open Manage Add-ons, enable the add-on that you disabled in step 2, and then repeat steps 1 to 3 for the next add-on in the Enabled list.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the problem is resolved or until all the add-ons have been tested.

Step 4: Use another user name to log on to Windows

Using a different user name and password to log on to Windows can help determine whether this problem occurs only when you use a particular user account. After you log on, test Internet Explorer to see whether the problem still occurs.

Step 5: Reset Internet Explorer settings

To reset Internet Explorer settings, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. Click Tools on the toolbar, and then click Internet Options.
3. On the Advanced tab, follow one of these steps:
   • In Internet Explorer 8, click Reset, click Reset in the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, and then click Close.
   • In Internet Explorer 7, click Reset, and then click OK.
4. Test Internet Explorer to determine whether the problem is resolved.