Home > Articles > Home & Office Computing > Microsoft Windows Vista & Home Server

Fixing Application Problems in Windows Vista

Feb 1, 2008

📄 Contents

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 14 of 14

This chapter is from the book 

Microsoft Windows Vista Help Desk

Learn More Buy

Fix Your Browser

My psychic powers are pretty potent when it comes to your computer, and I know the following things about you:

You've seen naked people on your computer (even if it wasn't on purpose).
There are toast crumbs in your keyboard.
You use your web browser every time you turn on your computer.

See, I told you I was psychic.

My psychic powers also help me see into the future. Let me demonstrate. Put your fingers on the following sentence and hold them there while you read on:

PUT FINGERS HERE.

Let's see. Yes, I know that your future contains some frustration. It's probably related to Internet Explorer 7. The web browser might make you say some very bad words, even if you are a nun.

Hasn't happened just yet? Just wait!

Vista comes with a new web browser version called Internet Explorer 7 (see Figure 9.43). It has had a significant overhaul since IE6, which was Microsoft's last browser designed for Windows XP.

Figure 9.43 Windows Vista comes with a new web browser called Internet Explorer 7.

Microsoft's web browsers have been a source of a lot of grief for Windows users, especially in XP. If your system has ever been infected by spyware or a virus, it likely came from one of two places: your email account or your web browser.

So, to address this, Microsoft built both Windows Mail (which I discussed in the previous section) and Internet Explorer 7 with security in mind.

New security features bring new problems. So let's look at some of the issues you might face when using IE7.

I Can't Download Add-ins

Some web pages will try to download extra pieces of software through your web browser. They might include mini-games, applets to enhance web pages' functionality, or even a little chat application.

This software is delivered through a mechanism called ActiveX that was well exploited by malware developers to install viruses, spyware, and Trojans on Windows XP (and earlier) systems.

In Vista and IE7, Microsoft has gone to great lengths to limit invisible downloads. It used to be that if you encountered a web page that had ActiveX, the add-in could be installed automatically. Not anymore.

A new feature called Protected mode has been added to IE7. When enabled, it demotes the privileges of the browser below that of the user who is logged in. The thinking is that a web browser, which is a fast lane to the content on the Internet, should not have all the rights and privileges of a user who is logged in as an administrator.

So, a web page has to work really hard to install add-ins on your system, without alerting you first. This is a good thing. However, when you encounter an add-in, you'll have to submit to a series of steps and alerts in Vista to allow its installation. Sometimes no matter what you do, an add-in installation will fail.

To remedy this, take the following steps to turn off Protected mode:

In Internet Explorer 7, click the Tools menu.
Choose Internet Options.
Click the Security tab and look for the Enable Protected Mode check box at the bottom of the dialog box (see Figure 9.44).

Figure 9.44 If you run into problems installing IE add-ins, turn off IE7's Protected mode.
Uncheck it and click OK.
Make a note of what web page you are on and close IE.
Start IE again. At the bottom sill of the new IE window, you will see Protected Mode: Off.

CAUTION

Make sure that all instances of IE are closed after you turn off Protected mode. Just closing the IE window you are using won't be enough to toggle it.

Now attempt to return to the page when the add-in tried to install and attempt the download again. This time it should install properly.

After you are finished installing the add-in, be sure to turn on Protected mode again.

I Can't Install Add-ins

Even if you can download an add-in by turning off Protected mode, sometimes it won't install properly because of Vista's security issues. To fix this, be sure to download it to your desktop first. Choose the Save option instead of the Run option when prompted. This will place the add-in as an installation file on your system.

Locate the item on your desktop, right-click on it, and choose Run As Administrator to install it without any further security hiccups.

Fire IE7 and Use Firefox

If Internet Explorer 7 is not for you—and if that is the case, I'm with you—install Mozilla Firefox as well. It's a really amazing alternate web browser that, to my mind, is faster, better, and more secure than IE7.

The downside is that for certain applications on the Web (such as Windows Update), you'll need to switch back to IE7.

IE7 cannot be uninstalled (nor should it be) because it is part of the Vista operating system. But you can use Firefox for most web browser tasks. Download it for free from http://www.getfirefox.com.

< Back Page 14 of 14

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address