Please, surely some one knows a solution...

JenLozano

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May 3, 2013
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I need help with my dell! I am running Windows XP, Service Pack 3, It opens what I tell it to, just not so that I can see it. It is used at my work but just for looking up job times and parts lists (auto garage). If you click on Internet Explorer the hour glass comes up for a bit then just goes away. If you look at the task manager, it tells you Iexplore is running. I was going to just wipe it out and do a full recovery but the restore on the partition is a ghost file and I am not familiar with this. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
Are you posting from it or another machine? I ask in case it works occasionally or whether it fails every time. When you're using another programme, does pressing Alt and Tab together bring up an option to switch to IE?

If you're using another system, download a copy of the Firefox browser from http://www.mozilla.org, transfer that to your laptop and install it. If it works properly there's no need to repair IE but if it fails, post back.

 
I guess I should have been more specific. It is a rebuilt Dell Desktop computer. And when I say it is showing in task manager as iexplore.exe, its as a process only. Not under applications. And no, if I ever get internet explorer to open, it won't stay open long enough to do anything without the computer freezing. and sometimes i see twunk_32 or svchost repeated several times in task manager.
 
Just to get you on the Net in that machine, use the one you're posting from to download Firefox then transfer the download via a flash drive. If that works, it's an IE problem - if it doesn't there's something deeper to look into.
 
Dell, what desktop badge number,motherboard, ram , PSU? My Dell Dimension 521 came with a 305 watt PSU, as long as you are not using a high powered video card, it should be good enough. I actually replaced mine with a CoolerMaster 550 watt PSU, the motherboard was 24 pin. The Dell PSU fitting is different to a regular PSU so only two screws would fit, good enough, it doesn't move.

If your motherboard is only 20 pin connector then you will need an AT PSU as they provide more power on their 3.3v and 5v rails that the older model motherboards preferred, rather than the 12v rail. You could acquire an ATX PSU as long as it had adequate watts on the 3.3v and 5v rails and use a 24 pin to20 pin cable connector adapter or the 24 pin connector may be split at 20 + 4pin.

You will need the original OS XP SP3 install disk to format the hdd but I'd advise against it ,as only a last resort.

You also have to consider the ram, whether it be mixed brands or if actually suited to the motherboard. Most Dell PC's seem to prefer 1.8v rather than 1.5v but you'd need to check manufacturer website.

What is your motherboard model and brand?
 
Do Automatic Updates work from the link on Control panel? If not, uninstall IE from Add and Remove Programmes then restart and Windows will reconstitute a new copy which might start up in a better mood. If Updates work, IE must be doing something because with out it, the updater cant connect to the site from that link.