Internet Explorer Does Not Start

ID: Q166465

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Internet Explorer, the mouse pointer may change to the Working In Background or Busy pointer and then back to the normal pointer, but Internet Explorer may not start.

CAUSE

The EnforceShellExtensionSecurity registry option has been set and Internet Explorer does not register itself as an approved shell extension in the registry.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, create a file named Enabie3.reg that contains the following four lines:

   REGEDIT4

   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell
   Extensions\Approved]
   "{5E6AB780-7743-11CF-A12B-00AA004AE837}"="Microsoft Internet Toolbar"
   "{3DC7A020-0ACD-11CF-A9BB-00AA004AE837}"="The Internet"

After you create and save this file, double-click it in Windows NT Explorer. A message will appear stating that the information in the Enabie3.reg file has been entered into the registry.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

To restrict which shell extensions can be run on a Windows NT server or workstation, you can add "EnforceShellExtensionSecurity=0x1" to the following registry key using a policy or Registry Editor:

   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

However, Internet Explorer does not resister itself in the following key

   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell
   Extensions\Approved

and as a result is unable to run.

Additional query words: 4.00 3.00

Keywords          : kbenv msient NTSrvWkst ntutil 
Version           : 4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: October 2, 1997