Windows 7: IE8 won't load popup links

I installed the RC of Windows 7 as soon as it was available. Everything has worked fine up until this point.

Two days ago IE8 stopped loading popup links. The browser does not freeze, the new tab just sits there, loader spinning. If I hit stop and refresh it will load fine.

Also, windows explorer has begun to open folders in new windows, even though I have it set in folder options to reuse the same window.

If found several other articles on this and tried various solutions, registering .dll's mainly, as well as uninstalling and reinstalling IE8, but no luck.

I've downloaded Chrome and FireFox for the time being, both working fine, I just don't like the look and feel of them.



Any suggestions?

Hi
I am having exact same problem and it started couple of days ago. IE8 will not open any legitimate pop-up links. On clicking on the link, a blank window opens and keeps spinning.

IE8 tabs have started crashing like 3-4 times a day.

The folder behavior has also changed. When I open folders, each opens in a new window though I have set folders to open in the same window.

I am suspecting the most recent update to Windows 7 might have something to do with it. If anyone has definite information, I will greatly appreciate it as these problems have rendered my Windows 7 RC installation totally useless.

Thanks...

What happens if you click on the link using the middle (scroll) button on your mouse?

I have a laptop, so no middle button for mouse.

Have you looked at this article?
Internet Explorer 8: Privacy Policy

"Smart Filtering" could be the problem. Anyway, your connection isn't getting through to the other site you clicked on.

SmartScreen Filter is off. I have even tried adding sites to the list of Trusted Sites but no luck. I have tried disabling pop-up blocker, disabling all security options but nothing works. The problem happens in Safe Mode also. I turned off all non-Microsoft services, disabled all startup items nothing resolves the issue.

Tomorrow I will run a Wireshark trace to see if something is going on at the network layer.

What antivirus are you running? Also, if you don't use a proxy, make sure that's not set.

I am running McAfee beta for Windows 7. I have tried disabling it but the problem persists.

There was never a proxy setup. The whole thing was working even after installation of McAfee. Whatever happened, happened in this week only (5/25-529).

Same problem!

Is anyone at Microsoft reading this?

"I installed the RC of Windows 7 as soon as it was available. Everything has worked fine up until this point.

Two days ago IE8 stopped loading popup links. The browser does not freeze, the new tab just sits there, loader spinning. If I hit stop and refresh it will load fine."

Thank you

I have seen this posted a handful of places but haven't seen a solution yet...only workarounds. I am experiencing both problems mentioned on this thread:

• In Windows Explorer, double-clicking a folder or selecting it and pressing Enter will always open a new window, regardless of what settings are specified in Folder Options. However, right-clicking and selecting Open, or using the Open button on the toolbar results in normal behavior.
• In Internet Explorer 8, any window opened in a new tab or pop-up window (regardless of whether it is because the link was coded that way or because I used the right-click menu to force that behavior), the new window/tab appears, but the page gets stuck in a loading state forever. Any attempt to interact with the window simply results in a default beep noise. The only workaround is to press Esc (which stops the loading attempt) and then F5 (which causes a page refresh).

I am also running McAfee Total Protection Beta, and I've seen it mentioned more than once searching the web forums for this issue, though no one seems to have established a conclusive link. I have posted to their private boards for McAfee beta testers to see if I can get any bites on that end and find out if there is some correlation. If all else fails I may try completely uninstalling it and see if the problem goes away.

It would be nice to know whose door I should be beating down (Microsoft's or McAfee's) with bug reports.

So while I'm afraid I can't contribute anything useful yet in terms of a solution, I can add my voice to the chorus of complaintants!