How to Fix Internet Explorer Problems by Changing the Registry

Internet Explorer is the flagship Web browser created by Microsoft. The browser is included in all copies of the Microsoft Windows operating systems. As a Windows program, various functions of Internet Explorer rely on computer code stored in the Windows registry database. This registry stores critical data used by an array of programs. Learning how to modify and change Internet Explorer's settings through the Windows registry can save you time and money.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" menu button in the Windows task bar displayed at the bottom of your computer screen.

2. Select "Run" from the menu. A dialog window will appear.

3. Type "scanregw" in the entry box of the window. Click the "OK" button. This will open the registry scanning program built into the Windows operating system.

4. Click "Yes" in the dialog box when it asks if you would like to back up the registry. The registry scanning program will now create an internal copy of the entire registry database. It is important to back up the registry before making any edits or changes. Press "ENTER" and, if Windows tells you the Registry you chose is OK, press "ENTER" again to reboot the computer.

5. Press the "Enter" key on your keyboard and wait for the backup process to finish. Repeat this step to reboot the computer and complete the entire backup sequence.

6. Repeat Step 1 and Step 2, then type "regedit.exe" in the entry box of the window. Click "Run." This will open a built-in program that will allow you to edit and change the Windows registry.

7. Edit the registry to hide your computer's personal details transmitted online through Internet Explorer. Some websites treat computers differently depending on the platform, such as the version of Windows and the version of Internet Explorer, and this may cause some malfunctions in the Web browser. Navigate from "Local_machine" by clicking on the title and selecting "Software" from the drop-down menu.

8. Select "Microsoft," and then continue to "Windows " and "currentversion" before clicking on "Internet Settings."

9. Click "useragent." This is the Internet Explorer settings for your local computer. It is not possible to fix network-wide Internet Explorer problems by editing the registry.

10. Delete any settings which you wish to hide, such as the type of browser you are using. This will trick Web servers into treating your version of Internet Explorer as the most recent version.

11. Click the "Cache" title and select "Persistent." Delete the number listed and change it to zero, and then select the "OK" key. This automates cache-cleaning in Internet Explorer, speeding up browser load times and freeing up critical hard drive space. After pressing "OK," you will be returned to the main screen.

12. Select "DisablePasswordCaching" and change the listed value to the number 1. This secures your version of Internet Explorer from security risks by disabling the ability to save any passwords you enter in the browser.

13. Close the registry editing program and restart the computer. All of the changes you made to the Windows registry will now be put in place. The results include protecting your anonymity online, clearing the cache and fixing potential memory-loss and hard drive space problems, and protecting any security leaks through Internet Explorer.

Tips & Warnings

• Back up your registry before making any changes, and test your copy of Internet Explorer after editing the registry. If you experience any problems, return to the registry editing program and choose the "Restore" option to return your computer to its original state.