Various errors after IE6 (WinME)

This is a messy problem- I apologize for the long post.

Recently, I attempted to install Internet Explorer 6
Service Pack 1 (I still am not sure whether the
installation itself was successful). I then downloaded and
tried to install the update for IE6 SP1 (KB831167), but it
told me that IE6 SP1 must be installed (implying that it
was not installed). So, I attempted to install IE6 again,
but with the same results.

I then discovered that I could not type in any of the form
fields in Microsoft Outlook Express 6 (e.g. typing in a
reply to an e-mail), so I decided to remove IE6. However,
when I opened the Control Panel, an error popped up: "An
error has occurred in this dialog. Error: 30 Unspecified
error." When I clicked OK, all the icons disappeared. I
still managed to remove IE6 (by adding a Control Panel
toolbar), but when I tried to open Outlook Express, it
still showed up as Outlook Express 6 (instead of 5), and
it would not open.

Then, I installed IE5.5 SP2, which was (I believe) what I
originally had, and finally managed to get Outlook Express
5 to open. However, I still cannot type in any of the form
fields, and not just in Outlook Express- clicking in any
form field in IE produces an error: "Microsoft Internet
Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We
are sorry for the inconvenience," and then the window
closes. This is the biggest problem of all, because not
only am I unable to answer any e-mails, but I also cannot
use Google, Yahoo, etc., which all have form fields.

I still have the same problem with the Control Panel icons
not showing up, and the same error pops up when I open my
C drive, except the icons do not go away. Various other
errors are also popping up all over the place. I cannot
download or open anything through the download box that
pops up (though I can right-click a link and Save As). I
also cannot use the IE "Find" function, because this error
pops up: "An error has occurred in this dialog. Error: 40
Unspecified error."

I also cannot use Windows Update- the page shows up, but
when I click on "Scan for updates," nothing happens. The
last two "ERROR"s in Windows Update.log are both "Install
Set Restore Point (Error 0x0000054F: An internal error
occurred.)" I went to the troubleshooting page for this,
but the error was not listed.

I ran Search & Destroy, Ad-aware, and CWShredder, but none
of them helped. Obviously, this is a very messy situation,
and very troublesome to my family and me. I would
appreciate any help (or even anyone who reads this whole
thing...). Thank you.

First thing to try is a repair of IE - (these instructions are for IE6SP1,
but IIRC, they should also apply to IE5.5SP2)
Reboot to Safe Mode
Go to Add/Remove Programs and try a repair of Internet Explorer from there.
Go to the entry for 'Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 SP1 and Internet Tools'
in Add/Remove Programs
Click on Remove - and click on Repair on the window that pops up
Reboot on request to Normal Mode

If the above entry isn't there, you first need to uninstall all the patches
applied, then do the repair, then reapply the patches
The patches are listed in Add/Remove under the names 'Internet Explorer
Qxxxxxx'
highlight, click Remove - reboot if requested.
Repeat until the MSIE6SP1 entry appears - then repair as above.

HTH


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Lena" wrote in message
...
This is a messy problem- I apologize for the long post.

Recently, I attempted to install Internet Explorer 6
Service Pack 1 (I still am not sure whether the
installation itself was successful). I then downloaded and
tried to install the update for IE6 SP1 (KB831167), but it
told me that IE6 SP1 must be installed (implying that it
was not installed). So, I attempted to install IE6 again,
but with the same results.

I then discovered that I could not type in any of the form
fields in Microsoft Outlook Express 6 (e.g. typing in a
reply to an e-mail), so I decided to remove IE6. However,
when I opened the Control Panel, an error popped up: "An
error has occurred in this dialog. Error: 30 Unspecified
error." When I clicked OK, all the icons disappeared. I
still managed to remove IE6 (by adding a Control Panel
toolbar), but when I tried to open Outlook Express, it
still showed up as Outlook Express 6 (instead of 5), and
it would not open.

Then, I installed IE5.5 SP2, which was (I believe) what I
originally had, and finally managed to get Outlook Express
5 to open. However, I still cannot type in any of the form
fields, and not just in Outlook Express- clicking in any
form field in IE produces an error: "Microsoft Internet
Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We
are sorry for the inconvenience," and then the window
closes. This is the biggest problem of all, because not
only am I unable to answer any e-mails, but I also cannot
use Google, Yahoo, etc., which all have form fields.

I still have the same problem with the Control Panel icons
not showing up, and the same error pops up when I open my
C drive, except the icons do not go away. Various other
errors are also popping up all over the place. I cannot
download or open anything through the download box that
pops up (though I can right-click a link and Save As). I
also cannot use the IE "Find" function, because this error
pops up: "An error has occurred in this dialog. Error: 40
Unspecified error."

I also cannot use Windows Update- the page shows up, but
when I click on "Scan for updates," nothing happens. The
last two "ERROR"s in Windows Update.log are both "Install
Set Restore Point (Error 0x0000054F: An internal error
occurred.)" I went to the troubleshooting page for this,
but the error was not listed.

I ran Search & Destroy, Ad-aware, and CWShredder, but none
of them helped. Obviously, this is a very messy situation,
and very troublesome to my family and me. I would
appreciate any help (or even anyone who reads this whole
thing...). Thank you.

I was unable to repair IE5, so I removed it and installed
IE6 again. I'm very happy to say that none of the errors
are occurring anymore- thank you very much for your help.

There's just one more thing- when I try to repair IE6,
this error comes up: "Version 5.50.4134.100 of file
pngfilt.dll exists, but the version needs to be greater
than 6.0.2800.1100." Is this something I should be worried
about? Is so, how do I go about fixing this?

Again, thank you.

Hmmm - strange!!
never seen that one before - so this is perforce going to be a guess (and
why did you immediately attempt a Repair???)
Check the version of pngfilt.dll in your C:\windows\system folder - what is
it?? (the version installed with Win ME is 5.50.4134.100) - the version you
*should* have, with IE6SP1 installed is actually 6.0.2800.1106.

Download Belarc Advisor from www.belarc.com, and run it - see what it
reports for broken hotfixes, and start by fixing them.

HTH

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Lena" wrote in message
...
I was unable to repair IE5, so I removed it and installed
IE6 again. I'm very happy to say that none of the errors
are occurring anymore- thank you very much for your help.

There's just one more thing- when I try to repair IE6,
this error comes up: "Version 5.50.4134.100 of file
pngfilt.dll exists, but the version needs to be greater
than 6.0.2800.1100." Is this something I should be worried
about? Is so, how do I go about fixing this?

Again, thank you.

This sounds a little stupid, but I didn't expect IE6 to
work after I re-installed it (I tried to before, and it
didn't work), so I thought attempting to repair it would
tell me whether or not the installation was successful.

The version of pngfilt.dll that I have is 5.50.4134.100.

I ran Belarc Advisor and successfully fixed one broken
hotfix, but for the rest of the broken ones, the websites
linked from "details" just lead me to the Windows Update
page, which doesn't seem to list them...