Windows 7: IE9 opening 2 home pages when 1 web page is already open

When I have a single web page window open in IE9 and then want to open another IE9 session it opens 2 home page windows instead of 1. This happens regardless of whether I right click on the IE9 pinned icon in the task bar or click on the IE9 icon on the desktop.

I have tried using the reset option under the advanced tab of internet options but it makes no difference.

I have also uninstalled IE9 and reverted back to IE8 (where the problem does not exist) but was then unable to reinstall IE9 as it errored everytime I tried during the install process. I have now backed up my system to the previous day so I have IE9 back again but still with the problem.

Any help appreciated.

Hello AjayK47

How many homepages do you have listed in internet options and what are your tabbed browser settings.


Danny

There is just one home page listed in internet options.

In the tabbed browsing settings it is exactly the same as your screen print except I also have "Always switch to new tabs when they are created" ticked and "When a new tab is opened open" is set to "The new tab page"

I have even tried switching tabbed browsing completely off and I still get two IE9 home pages open (as separate windows) when an existing IE9 window is open. It does not happen the first time an IE9 session is started, only when one IE9 window is already running.

Very strange I would usually suggest you try to uninstall and reinstall it but I see you had problem before with that. How are you opening a new session when one is already opened from the task bar or from programs. I don't
use IE9 much but haven't come across this issue before

Danny

I either right click on the IE9 icon in the task bar and select Internet Explorer or go to the desktop and double click on the IE9 icon. Either way it then opens two windows both containing my home page.

I might try and uninstall IE9 again and hope that I don't get the same problem reinstalling. If I do I will just have to restore from my Norton Ghost system image again.

Uninstalled IE9 again and reverted successfully to IE8 where the problem does not occur. Then attempted to reinstall IE9 but as before the install failed part way through. Have restored from Norton Ghost.

I am completely baffled. Is there anyway of totally removing all versions of Internet Explorer and starting afresh?

Thank you

How are you installing IE9. Have a look through this thread,IE 9 Will not finish installing-Win 7 64 bit not identical to your issues but it contains the links to the standalone IE9 installers which may be worth a try.Is your pc up to date, run windows update to be sure.
Run SFC /SCANNOW just to be sure there are no errors - SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker.
Then try the standalone installers.

Danny

Edit - Not sure how old those links are for the offline installer. I would get them from here - http://www.microsoft.com/download/en....aspx?id=23332

Thanks - Yes I did also try the standalone install of IE9 for Windows 7 32 bit in my case but still it failed.

I'm a little apprehensive about using SFC /scannow in case it changes something else but will investigate.

Is there no way to completely remove all versions of IE and then reinstall the whole thing? Naturally having another browser on my system first.

The sfc /scannow is unlikely to cause you any issues compared to the issues it may be able to fix. You cannot uninstall IE8 to start from scratch, you can only disable it.

What stage are you at now.Its obvious your ghost image you mentioned already contains whatever issues are preventing the install. Do you have an image prior to that you could use.

I would get yourself back into the position where you have IE8 back. Run sfc /scannow to fix any errors, double check your pc is up to date in windows update then try again with the offline installer.

Danny

Ok - With the system with IE9 installed but with the error occuring have run sfc /scannow - no problems found.
Uninstalled IE9 and reverted to IE8
Ran sfc /scannow - no problems found
Installed windows updates except IE9
Ran sfc /scannow - no problems found
Attempted to install IE9 from standalone - Failed to install
Reverted back to ghost image
Unfortunately I do not have a ghost image that goes back to before the problem started

The only thing I can think of doing is reinstalling whole operating system but I would like to avoid that if possible for what I guess is only a minor inconvenience.

Any further suggestions appreciated.