I.E 7 & firefox wont open

[waterss001]

Not sure if this is the right area for this as it might be a VISTA issue rather than an Internet issue, anyway here goes. I started to get errors when using IE7 (can't remember the error code, but apparently it was a 'common one'), i therefore downloaded and used a registry cleaner to 'tidy things up' - now I can't get either IE 7 or Firefox to load, they just hang so I'm concerned I have deleted some critical files? Things I've tried so far...

 

1. I've done the tools/options/reset i.e.

2. I've switched off the ad-ins

3. I've tried to copy the i.e. files folder from my desktop(what I am using now for this inquiry) and running it on the laptop.

 

I'm running a Sony via, with Vista Home.

 

Any helpful advice welcome, even if it means downloading something onto the desktop to copy across to the desktop to resolve.....

 

Many thanks

 

NB: Site assured of a reasonable contribution if this issue can be resolved (as I know it would cost me to get this resolved proffesionally!).

[PseFrank]

Hi Waterss001, welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

System restore is an option you could try, if you haven't already. Please ask if you need help with this.

 

Also, your computer may have a recovery partition you could use to restore it back to its factory state. Would need more details to give more advice about that...model number, etc.

[waterss001]

I have tried system restore. Dont think there is a recovery part that I am aware of.

 

Its a Sony VAIO VGN-AR71M

[RandyL]

You could try upgrading to IE8. Did you try reinstalling Firefox?

 

If you or the registry cleaner you used messed things up too bad there might be more issues than just those browsers. In any case if you do choose to do a recovery backup your files and download drivers from Sony first.

 

View Document for Sony recovery.

[waterss001]

Yep, ive now installed IE8, no change. Clearly I've messed something up, but it has to be around whatever lets IE or FF start up and connect. I've pinged yahoo.com with no issues and no packet loss. I'm now trying to reinstale the device drivers etc for anything around networking.

 

All other software appears to be stable, i did have an error code 31 on the ASATAP network adatper, but I disable and enabled it and that went away (I still have an error code 10, but apparently that is 'normal'!).

 

I have noticed that when I do a hardware test i get a failure as follows:

 

LAN test did not run

No network adapter or invalid device (E-LAN-002)

Errors were detected (E-LAN-004)

 

Don't see how there can be no network adapter though as in the device manager there is clearly on there! so don't know if this helps or not!

 

Anyway, nothing I have tried so far has worked.

 

I was resigned to reistaling VISTA, but i did not make any back discs when I got the PC and have no idea if this is possible without them, it looks like it is not.!

 

ARGGGG!

[RandyL]

From the document I linked you to;

 

"This model does not require Recovery CDs. Recovery data is included on a special partition of the hard drive."

 

The instructions for how to recover from the partition and how to make the CD's are in that document should you choose to go that route. Either way you should create those disks just in case you need them in the future.

[waterss001]

Thanks, yes I knew there were no discs, I have now took the plunge and reinstalled VISTA. The errors I described above have now gone and IE now works. I backed everything up to my desktop, but I'm bound to have forgotton some stuff! In fact I forgot my saved mails - ah well, its been a learning experiance. Thanks for the input anyway.