Favorites not working

[Derek]

I am using IE8 in Vista with service pack 2.
yesterday without warning my favorites stopped working.
the icons for the favorites are just the plain default.

when i click on a favorite (from side bar or menu or links) sometimes
nothing happens and sometimes i get a box

asking me if i want to open or save.
If i open - nothing happens - if i save it save the favorite but it still
doesnt work.

I have uninstalled ie8 and tried ie7 but no good.
i reinstalled ie8 but still the same.

i used a reg cleaner and optimiser, still not working.

i exported my favorites and then imported them but still no good. (and yes i
am rebooting after every change).

when i click on the exported file, ie opens with a list of my favorites and
when i click on one it works ok.

If i add a new favorite it doesnt work.

ie works ok if i type in the address.

i have tried restoring my favorites from a backup but no joy.

i have tried using system restore but for some reason nonme of my restore
points are sucssesful.

the only time a favorite will work is from the exported file.

I have run an anti virus & mallware/spyware and after removing the finds and
rebooting its still the same.

i have searched the internet but everything i have tried does no good.

can anyone help before i tear my hair out!!!!

thanks in advance
Derek

 

[Derek]

Thanks for your reply.
first of all i must apologise for the multiple posts.
when i was posting i kept getting an error telling me to try again.
when i finally got it posted i found all the others here.
I finally got the problem sorted. I managed to get system restore working
using my restore disks and was able to restore to a couple of days ago. now
everything is working ok.
btw the problem also affected live mail. i was getting an error 0x80041161
and after uninstalling, the system would not run the install again (i assume
because the install download was just a link).
but everything is working now but thanks for replying.
cheers

"Derek" wrote:

> I am using IE8 in Vista with service pack 2.
> yesterday without warning my favorites stopped working.
> the icons for the favorites are just the plain default.
>
> when i click on a favorite (from side bar or menu or links) sometimes
> nothing happens and sometimes i get a box
>
> asking me if i want to open or save.
> If i open - nothing happens - if i save it save the favorite but it still
> doesnt work.
>
> I have uninstalled ie8 and tried ie7 but no good.
> i reinstalled ie8 but still the same.
>
> i used a reg cleaner and optimiser, still not working.
>
> i exported my favorites and then imported them but still no good. (and yes i
> am rebooting after every change).
>
> when i click on the exported file, ie opens with a list of my favorites and
> when i click on one it works ok.
>
> If i add a new favorite it doesnt work.
>
> ie works ok if i type in the address.
>
> i have tried restoring my favorites from a backup but no joy.
>
> i have tried using system restore but for some reason nonme of my restore
> points are sucssesful.
>
> the only time a favorite will work is from the exported file.
>
> I have run an anti virus & mallware/spyware and after removing the finds and
> rebooting its still the same.
>
> i have searched the internet but everything i have tried does no good.
>
> can anyone help before i tear my hair out!!!!
>
> thanks in advance
> Derek