IE prompts to download everything

Hi,

I installed Windows 7 yesterday, and it was working fine, until (after installing several applications) I noticed I can't display anything with IE any more. Firefox is my default browser, however if I open IE, instead of displaying the page I just get a standard download prompt. I haven't changed the home page yet, so it is still uk.msn.com. When I open IE I am prompted for:

Do you want to save or open this file?
Name: us_gb.htm
Type: Unknown File Type
From: uk.msn.com

IE refuses to display any pages of any type (including html and xml files). IE usually exits as soon as I click either Open, Save or Cancel. However, I have managed to click on the new tab button, which makes it ask me if I want to save or open a file called "newtab", it also occasionally asks if I want to save or open a dll file. It even asks me if I want to save or open "about:blank". I have tried resetting IE using Internet Options in the control panel, but it doesn't have any effect.

Does anyone know how to solve this?

Thanks,

Jonny

Hi Jonny,

I would take a look at what add-ons you have installed for IE8 from tools-manage add-ons, then show all add-ons. See if it lists any ones that look out of place, maybe you can post a screenshot of them all. You could also run IE with no add-ons, (safe mode) to see if you still have these problems.

I would also run a full scan with whatever Anitvirus program you have installed, if you even do, and Malwarebytes.

Hi,

Thanks, I don't have any addons installed, but I've just tried the noaddons shortcut anyway.

After downloading, and running the shortcut I am prompted with:

Do you want to save or open this file?
Name: noaddon
Type: Unknown File Type
From: ieframe.dll

I ran a full virus scan yesterday (using avast), and nothing was detected.

Jonny

Have you downloaded malwarebytes, updated it, and ran a full scan yet?

I've now run a whole malwarebytes scan, and nothing has been found.

Jonny

Try running sfc/scannow, follow the instructions in here. If that comes up nothing, you might try this, with all IE8 windows closed.

Hi,

Thanks, I've now run both those tools.

SFC said "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them".

In the log file, it lists fsxres.dll and viewprov.dll as being corrupt and unrepairable. (Also wmp.dll of Microsoft-Windows-MediaPlayer-Core). The IE fix tool didn't do anything.

Any ideas how I can repair these files?

Thanks,

Jonny

Try a repair install. It will take a while. If you still have problems, a clean install is always recommended if it's possible for you.