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IE8 Suggested Sites

E

Ed O'Brien

Flightless Bird
I am running Windows 7 - IE8.

I am fed up with "Suggested Sites" popping up and hogging my Taskbar
regardless of how many times I say "No". I said "No" when IE8 was first
installed and about a dozen times since, yet it still keeps coming back!

I have found the registry entry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER//Software//Microsoft//Internet Explorer//SuggestedSites
and I'm tempted to simply delete it.

However, getting advice from someone who knows about these these things is
probably a more sensible approach. before going down that route. So here I
am.

Can anyone - preferably an MVP - a] tell me if there is a foolproof way of
getting frif of this nuisance b] will deleting the registry entry a shown
help?

TIA for any advice.

Ed
 
V

VanguardLH

Flightless Bird
Ed O'Brien wrote:

> I am running Windows 7 - IE8.
>
> I am fed up with "Suggested Sites" popping up and hogging my Taskbar
> regardless of how many times I say "No". I said "No" when IE8 was first
> installed and about a dozen times since, yet it still keeps coming back!
>
> I have found the registry entry:
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER//Software//Microsoft//Internet Explorer//SuggestedSites
> and I'm tempted to simply delete it.

So where in IE8's configuration screens did you try to disable the Suggested
Sites feature? Did you look at the Advanced config settings?

Internet Options -> Advanced -> Browsing section
Enable Suggestion Sites

Is it disabled there? Do you run security software that might be locking
IE8's settings (so you change them but this security software changes them
back)?

You never mention what the data item that is named "Enabled" was set to
under the registry key that you mentioned above? Is it set to zero?
 
E

Ed O'Brien

Flightless Bird
Thanks for for the input.

Suggested Sites was first, and then repeatedly disabled when asked "Yes" or
"No". I checked under "Browsing..." and there it is unchecked. In the
registry, the value is set to zero.

However, at the moment Suggested Sites does not show since I last said "No".
But you can bet it will be back soon. I can check all these things then and
they will all, no doubt, be active. Why is what beats me.

I am using McAfee settings on default.

What do you say about simply deleting the reg key? Would any damage be
done?

Ed


"VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
news:hs5u1l$lpk$1@news.albasani.net...
> Ed O'Brien wrote:
>
>> I am running Windows 7 - IE8.
>>
>> I am fed up with "Suggested Sites" popping up and hogging my Taskbar
>> regardless of how many times I say "No". I said "No" when IE8 was first
>> installed and about a dozen times since, yet it still keeps coming back!
>>
>> I have found the registry entry:
>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER//Software//Microsoft//Internet Explorer//SuggestedSites
>> and I'm tempted to simply delete it.
>
> So where in IE8's configuration screens did you try to disable the
> Suggested
> Sites feature? Did you look at the Advanced config settings?
>
> Internet Options -> Advanced -> Browsing section
> Enable Suggestion Sites
>
> Is it disabled there? Do you run security software that might be locking
> IE8's settings (so you change them but this security software changes them
> back)?
>
> You never mention what the data item that is named "Enabled" was set to
> under the registry key that you mentioned above? Is it set to zero?
 
V

VanguardLH

Flightless Bird
Ed O'Brien wrote:

> Thanks for for the input.
>
> Suggested Sites was first, and then repeatedly disabled when asked "Yes" or
> "No". I checked under "Browsing..." and there it is unchecked. In the
> registry, the value is set to zero.
>
> However, at the moment Suggested Sites does not show since I last said "No".
> But you can bet it will be back soon. I can check all these things then and
> they will all, no doubt, be active. Why is what beats me.
>
> I am using McAfee settings on default.
>
> What do you say about simply deleting the reg key? Would any damage be
> done?
>
> Ed
>
> "VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
> news:hs5u1l$lpk$1@news.albasani.net...
>> Ed O'Brien wrote:
>>
>>> I am running Windows 7 - IE8.
>>>
>>> I am fed up with "Suggested Sites" popping up and hogging my Taskbar
>>> regardless of how many times I say "No". I said "No" when IE8 was first
>>> installed and about a dozen times since, yet it still keeps coming back!
>>>
>>> I have found the registry entry:
>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER//Software//Microsoft//Internet Explorer//SuggestedSites
>>> and I'm tempted to simply delete it.
>>
>> So where in IE8's configuration screens did you try to disable the
>> Suggested
>> Sites feature? Did you look at the Advanced config settings?
>>
>> Internet Options -> Advanced -> Browsing section
>> Enable Suggestion Sites
>>
>> Is it disabled there? Do you run security software that might be locking
>> IE8's settings (so you change them but this security software changes them
>> back)?
>>
>> You never mention what the data item that is named "Enabled" was set to
>> under the registry key that you mentioned above? Is it set to zero?

Applications often use default values if none are specified in the registry.
Plus the registry key will probably get regenerated after you delete it but
run the application that wants to store its settings there. In fact, what
you want to do would result in IE8 always defaulting to turning on the
Suggested Sites feature. With no value specified in the registry, IE8 would
default to the install-time default of enabling the Suggested Sites feature
(and would probably recreate the registry key to record that default). You
would be dipping a cup into the lake and tossing the water back into the
lake to accomplish nothing.

I haven't used McAfee for about a year but even when I did it got removed
very soon after installation. It always impacted my host's responsiveness
way too much even after configuring it for minimal features. I've seen the
same impact in responsiveness on other hosts (that were not setup by me so
there was no commonality in software setup due to the same person installing
the same software). I don't remember that McAfee's suite did a lockdown on
IE settings. If you reset IE (7 or 8) then you get the initial setup again
where you answer all the prompts on what settings you want to use
thereafter.

The problem you describe where IE8 repeatedly thinks it has to do its
initial setup (e.g., all the queries about how to initially set it up) is a
different problem. Something is resetting IE8 so it starts all over with an
initial setup and then prompts you for some settings. When you start IE8,
do you see a Welcome dialog appear where you get prompted to make changes
now or later (and which do you pick) and, if you click Next (for making
changes now) are you prompted to select an express or custom install (and if
you elect Custom then you get prompted for search provider, accelerators,
SmartScreen, and Compatibility View updates)? If you are getting all that
then something is resetting IE8 which means you get the inital setup wizard
the next time you run IE8.

Does the problem (of getting the initial setup prompts again) occur while
you are in the same Windows session logged on under your account? Or does
it only occur after you logoff or restart Windows?

Have you tried loading IE8 in its no add-ons mode to see if the problem goes
away (during your testing and for several separate uses of IE8)?

Have you tried rebooting into Windows' Safe Mode (with networking) to see if
the problem reappears? Many security programs won't load in Safe Mode which
gets them out of the way to test an app's behavior.
 
E

Ed O'Brien

Flightless Bird
Thanks for all your trouble and so much info.

I will work my way though it. At the moment I have deletd the Suggested
Sites registry key and rebooted. The key was replaced but in a much shorter
version than the one deleted. So far I have gone longer than usual without
Suggested Sites reappearing so maybe I have cracked it.

I have no add-ons enabled except Stopzilla which is new - after the event -
and my McAfee is free, supplied with Bt's NetProtect Plus. This has a pretty
good reputation except it cannot be disabled. I can see no area where it
would impact on IE's custom settings.

Thanks again for all your trouble. I'll keep your advice handy for when or
if the problem comes back.

Ed


"VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
news:hs70su$prf$1@news.albasani.net...
> Ed O'Brien wrote:
>
>> Thanks for for the input.
>>
>> Suggested Sites was first, and then repeatedly disabled when asked "Yes"
>> or
>> "No". I checked under "Browsing..." and there it is unchecked. In the
>> registry, the value is set to zero.
>>
>> However, at the moment Suggested Sites does not show since I last said
>> "No".
>> But you can bet it will be back soon. I can check all these things then
>> and
>> they will all, no doubt, be active. Why is what beats me.
>>
>> I am using McAfee settings on default.
>>
>> What do you say about simply deleting the reg key? Would any damage be
>> done?
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> "VanguardLH" <V@nguard.LH> wrote in message
>> news:hs5u1l$lpk$1@news.albasani.net...
>>> Ed O'Brien wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am running Windows 7 - IE8.
>>>>
>>>> I am fed up with "Suggested Sites" popping up and hogging my Taskbar
>>>> regardless of how many times I say "No". I said "No" when IE8 was first
>>>> installed and about a dozen times since, yet it still keeps coming
>>>> back!
>>>>
>>>> I have found the registry entry:
>>>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER//Software//Microsoft//Internet
>>>> Explorer//SuggestedSites
>>>> and I'm tempted to simply delete it.
>>>
>>> So where in IE8's configuration screens did you try to disable the
>>> Suggested
>>> Sites feature? Did you look at the Advanced config settings?
>>>
>>> Internet Options -> Advanced -> Browsing section
>>> Enable Suggestion Sites
>>>
>>> Is it disabled there? Do you run security software that might be
>>> locking
>>> IE8's settings (so you change them but this security software changes
>>> them
>>> back)?
>>>
>>> You never mention what the data item that is named "Enabled" was set to
>>> under the registry key that you mentioned above? Is it set to zero?
>
> Applications often use default values if none are specified in the
> registry.
> Plus the registry key will probably get regenerated after you delete it
> but
> run the application that wants to store its settings there. In fact, what
> you want to do would result in IE8 always defaulting to turning on the
> Suggested Sites feature. With no value specified in the registry, IE8
> would
> default to the install-time default of enabling the Suggested Sites
> feature
> (and would probably recreate the registry key to record that default).
> You
> would be dipping a cup into the lake and tossing the water back into the
> lake to accomplish nothing.
>
> I haven't used McAfee for about a year but even when I did it got removed
> very soon after installation. It always impacted my host's responsiveness
> way too much even after configuring it for minimal features. I've seen
> the
> same impact in responsiveness on other hosts (that were not setup by me so
> there was no commonality in software setup due to the same person
> installing
> the same software). I don't remember that McAfee's suite did a lockdown
> on
> IE settings. If you reset IE (7 or 8) then you get the initial setup
> again
> where you answer all the prompts on what settings you want to use
> thereafter.
>
> The problem you describe where IE8 repeatedly thinks it has to do its
> initial setup (e.g., all the queries about how to initially set it up) is
> a
> different problem. Something is resetting IE8 so it starts all over with
> an
> initial setup and then prompts you for some settings. When you start IE8,
> do you see a Welcome dialog appear where you get prompted to make changes
> now or later (and which do you pick) and, if you click Next (for making
> changes now) are you prompted to select an express or custom install (and
> if
> you elect Custom then you get prompted for search provider, accelerators,
> SmartScreen, and Compatibility View updates)? If you are getting all that
> then something is resetting IE8 which means you get the inital setup
> wizard
> the next time you run IE8.
>
> Does the problem (of getting the initial setup prompts again) occur while
> you are in the same Windows session logged on under your account? Or does
> it only occur after you logoff or restart Windows?
>
> Have you tried loading IE8 in its no add-ons mode to see if the problem
> goes
> away (during your testing and for several separate uses of IE8)?
>
> Have you tried rebooting into Windows' Safe Mode (with networking) to see
> if
> the problem reappears? Many security programs won't load in Safe Mode
> which
> gets them out of the way to test an app's behavior.
 
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