I absolutely cannot change my homepage (WXP-Pro)

[Wirsteve]

To begin the saga, I got a new computer for college from Dell that didn't work out of the box which angered me enough, but after I formatted the computer and reinstalled Windows Media Center I was left with one small problem...I can't change my homepage in IE. It didn't bug me until now, only because I can't stand looking at msn.com's news.

Anyway, to the good stuff, when I try to change it, there is a line of "mumbo jumbo" that reads like this.
http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&clcid=0x0409&pver=6.0&ar=home
I have read in other places it can be caused by Spybot, but I had nothing on my computer when the problem arose. I did download Spybot to see if I could somehow lock and unlock the homepage...to no avail. I run Norton Virus scans that never catch anything, as well as spybots that only catch cookies. Any help is much appreciated.

[lj50]

What have you tried so far besides reformatting? If you tried this already my apologies. Type in the address of the web page that you want as your homepage and click Go. While you're on that page go to the menu bar which is at the top of the page. Click on Tools\Internet Options. A dialog box will come up on the screen click on the button Use Current button. Click on Apply and then OK.

[tom_keefer]

If your new Dell didn't work out of the box you should be all over Dell Tech Support. Take advantage of your warranty.

<font color=purple>Tom</font color=purple>


XP Pro SP2 - Intel D925XCV - P4 2.8 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, HTT, socket 775 - WD 36GB SATA - WD 250GB USB2 HD - 2GB Crucial DDR2 PC2-4200 - Plextor 716A - XFX GeForce 6800 Xtreme, 256MB - Samsung 19" LCD -

[Wirsteve]

In regards to the whole changing homepage thing, sorry I didn't mention that, yes I did actually try to change the homepage. I know how, and it really doesn't work.

And in regards to the dell comment. I was on them like flies on poo. I spent 2-3 hours on the phone with them and got a $75 dollar gift card back in the mail. Not that it really makes up for my time spent on the phone and troublshooting, but at least they were friendly.

[josefz]

Take a look at <a target="_blank" href=http://www.winguides.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=brdIE&Number=144491&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&part=all&vc=1> IE Home Page not altering</a> thread - Shadowhouse's problem solved. HTH.

[Wirsteve]

Well I changed the Default URL in the registry myself to something simple like yahoo.com. Now I can't open IE from the IE icon, only from the yahoo.com shortcut I've made to the desktop. I've tried reseting the homepage from yahoo back to that weird jumble of words/letters at the beginning of my post. The odd thing is that I still can't change my home from IE...Anyone?

[prettyangel101]

I was also having the same problem and have been able to fix it.
I am not sure if you can fix it in Reg. Mode I was in safe mode at the time.
first thing to do is right click up near tools and make sure your toolbar is unlocked.
Next I clicked on Tools and then internet options and changed my homepage to google. I then hit apply. I exited and then right clicked again up near the tools button and I locked the Toolbar. This kept yahoo from resetting my homepage. If you have anyproblems feel free to message me.