Internet Explorer Toolbar Problems
Internet Explorer is the most common web browser used on personal computers as it is preinstalled on all PCs with Microsoft operating systems. At the top of the Internet Explorer window is the address bar where the viewed website's address is visible. Below this area is where the toolbars are located. Users have at least one toolbar. This toolbar can be from the user's favorite search engine or anti-virus provider. If three or more toolbars are present on a browser window, usable viewing space is decreased.
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Problems
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Error messages when viewing websites can be related to browser issues. Toolbars from different companies can also conflict with each other. When this occurs, Internet Explorer may close unexpectedly or crash. Unfortunately, toolbars can also be associated with malicious programs such as spyware or malware. When Internet Explorer is compromised after a new toolbar has been installed, removal or disabling of the toolbar may solve the issue.
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Versions of Internet Explorer
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The version of IE you have is important to know. Internet Explorer 8 is the most recent version, as of 2009, that Microsoft has released; however, many users still use Internet Explorer 7. To check the version of Internet Explorer, open a new browser window. At the menu bar, click "Help" and then "About Internet Explorer." If version 6 or earlier is in use, Microsoft recommends an upgrade.
Hiding and Disabling Toolbars
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A browser window without visible toolbars provides a larger viewing area. Toolbars are add-ons to the Internet Explorer browser. You can hide the toolbar to remove it from view, disable the toolbar or remove the toolbar. Hiding the toolbar is done by opening up a new Internet Explorer window and clicking "View" on the menu bar, then choosing "Toolbars." Click the toolbar name to hide/unhide each toolbar.
Disabling toolbars in Internet Explorer 7 is done by clicking "Tools" on the menu bar and selecting "Manage Add-ons" and then enabling or disabling add-ons. Locate the add-on you wish to disable, highlight the add-on and then choose the disable radio button.
In Internet Explorer 8, again click on Tools on the menu bar and select "Manage Add-ons." Choose "Toolbars," and when the toolbar in question is found, highlight and choose disable. These steps are also used to enable toolbars.
Reset IE
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To disable all toolbars at once, reset Internet explorer. Problems after upgrading to a higher browser version are solved by resetting as older add-ons may not be compatible with a newer browser version. To reset, click "Tools" on the menu bar at the top of the Internet Explorer window and choose "Internet Options." Choose the "Advanced" tab in the window that has opened up, and then choose "Reset." For IE8 users, ensure that you place checkmark next to "Delete personal settings." Follow screen prompts, and restart Internet Explorer.
Removing Toolbars
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For some toolbars, simply uninstalling the toolbar is all that is required. Not all toolbars have this option.
In Windows VISTA, click "START," "Control Panel" and "Uninstall a Program." If toolbar is listed, click on the program name and choose "Uninstall."
In Windows XP, click "START," "Control Panel" and "Add or Remove Programs." If the toolbar is listed, click on the program name and choose "Uninstall/ remove."
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Karin Dalziel Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Matti Mattila Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Michel Telendro Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of C Ling Fan
