Default Search Provider Corrupted in IE 8

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Default Search Provider Corrupted in IE 8

(13 posts) (9 voices)

Started 7 months ago by Kirb
Latest reply from adcates

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Kirb
Key Master

This is a continuation of my blog post from several months ago that now has over a 100 comments on it.

The problem simply is the following error message which appears after installing IE 8.0.

A Program on your computer has corrupted your default search setting for Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer has reset this setting to your original search provider.

Internet Explorer will now open Search Settings, where you can change this setting or install more search providers.

A possible fix is listed below:

1. Make sure IE 8 is closed then navigate to registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
2. Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.
3. Reopen IE 8 and see if you still get the error message.

Judging by the comments already left on the blog post some people have had limited success with this fix and for others it hasn't worked at all.

Another possible solution is to delete the registry key HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/User Preferences. Warning: This could potentially delete other customer settings you may have configured.

Please post below what worked for you and what didn't. It is a very frustrating problem to say the least.

Posted 7 months ago #
Precipice
Member

Hello, the above post worked however the registry string cause Adobe Acrobat not to work when trying to open PDF files. As soon as I deleted that entry in the registry, the Adobe acrobat started working again but the original problem came back. I hope this helps. Anyone else heard of a more permanent solution?

Posted 7 months ago #
Kirb
Key Master

@Precipice What happens if you uninstall Adobe Acrobat first, add the registry string, and then reinstall Adobe Acrobat?

Posted 7 months ago #
kickschick
Member

Please someone tell me how to navigate to the registry key

HELP

Posted 7 months ago #
calvin55
Member

Thx - it works

Posted 7 months ago #
marktomesek
Member

I'm not very computer savvy, but once I figured out how to navigate to the registry key, I followed your instructions and it worked. Thank You!

Posted 7 months ago #
cronus_mjr
Member

The "AppData” addition worked for me! Strange there was "Local AppData" sitting in the same area. I left that one alone. This correction also fixed my "MS Outlook 2007". I originally couldn't save any passwords in Outlook. I figured since the problems with IE8 and Outlook started at the same time that they may have been related. Thanks for the fix!!

Posted 6 months ago #
Kirb
Key Master

@cronus_mjr

Great I'm glad it fixed your Outlook 2007 password problem as well.

Posted 6 months ago #
ebtitel
Member

well i did it but its an "on and off" situations, sometimes my search provider are ok and there are times same error appears for ie8 currupted default search setting foer internet, is there any other way to solve the problem?

Posted 5 months ago #
Kirb
Key Master

@ebtitel

that's weird. That's first time I've heard of it happening sporadic like that. Did you make sure IE was closed when you attempted the fix? and also try restarting your computer after trying the fix.

Posted 5 months ago #
Frazzling
Member

I tried all sorts of things. The registry string addition didn't work for me the first time, but I tried it again after removing all the Adobe applications, and success at last!

It also fixed another problem I was having, with Outlook continually prompting me for my password (the two issues started about the same time, but I didn't connect them until I saw it in a post somewhere).

Now if I could just get the error message for my printer to go away ... lol

Posted 4 months ago #
Kirb
Key Master

@frazzling. What error message are you having on your printer?

Posted 4 months ago #
adcates
Member

Thanks!! I tried a similar registry mod a few week ago that didn't work. Thanks again for the help.

Posted 2 months ago #

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