Could be several things. My first guess is that it is a browser software problem, rather than an operating system or router problem, but I can't say for sure. That's an older version of IE you're using, and maybe it's time you upgraded to the current version. If you want to try to diagnose this better, you could also download and install an additional browser, like Firefox, and see if it has any problem opening a page. (Don't worry...you can have as many browsers installed as you want, and they won't interfere with one another.) I much prefer Firefox to IE: it's faster, it has better/more features, and you can add all of you IE bookmarks to it in about 10 seconds if you like using it. And the learning curve to use it is almost non-existent.

Here is a link that might be useful: Free Firefox download

The "Internet Explorer Not Responding" bug is reported to be most profound in the IE6 version.

The only way to repair IE6 is with system file checker, you will need your xp cd for that.

The other option is editing the registry.

I would up grade to IE7 and say good by to IE6.

IE6 Also is running at service pack 2. Is yours updated?

Thanks Zep for the responses. I am thinking that your first suggestion of editing the file registry is way over my head. The reviews of IE7 that I read are not too glowing. I am still trying to decide on Firefox. I want to learn more about it before downloading. If I download Firefox.....will IE6 still be there as a backup?

Thanks again for your responses.

Larry

firefox will not affect anything on your IE in fact you can tell firefox to import all your settings and favs which I would do and then you will have everything on firefox as you had it on Ie and your Ie will remain the same. it is always very good practice to have at least 2 browsers on a computer incase one fails, as you can see if IE fails completely you have no way to access the internet, so getting firefox is a very good idea since it sounds like yours is failing.

IE6 is going to be dropped by microsoft very soon, it is being strongly urged to move on to IE7 or 8 as soon as possilbe. IE7 is fine now, there are some changes in it from IE6 but nothing that is not easy to get used to and there are tweaks to make it more like IE6.
Firefox is extremely easy to use and many many people here use it and will be happy to help you.
I just put firefox on my sisters computer she had never used anything but IE she absolutely loves firefox and had no problem making the change.

Your IE is part of windows you will always have that.

I also wanted to add that a majority of websites including sites like youtube have dropped support of Ie6 already so if you find you are having problems with websites it is probably because you are using an unsupported browser to that site. There has been a large campaign by web developers to just stop the support, it makes it very difficult for web developers and those that make and maintain sites to have to try to keep their sites operational under so many platforms so therefore they are dropping the very outdated IE6 support.
End IE6 Support on Aug 27 Campaign
explains it

It is also my understanding that the vulnerability that allowed the hacking jobs by Chinese hackers on Google was related to IE6. By all means, update now, and also get another browser on board. If not Firefox, then Chrome or Opera. You need more than one browser.

dudsiam-
To further reassure you, I have three browsers: Firefox, IE8, and Opera. I can even have all three open at the same time with no problem. Download Firefox...it will take a minute or two to install and the worst that can happen is that you don't like it and then you don't have to use it, or you can uninstall it. And when you transfer your bookmarks to it, it simply copies them over. They also still remain in your IE installation. When you say you have to study it more, it sounds like you expect something bad might happen that you can't fix. Trust me...just do it and quit worrying. It's like buying a second car: you can use it or not, and you can still drive the first one whenever you like.

I thank everyone for your ideas and suggestions. I just downloaded Firefox 3.5. I am sure that after some poking around, I will get used to it. Just a couple of early observations......it seems much faster than my IE6...and it seems pretty user friendly.

I am unclear on what add-ons will be useful....and which will not be useful. It will be interesting to learn as I go along....and again I thank you. I may be asking some questions here in the Computer Help Forum as I go along.

Larry

we are happy to help you with your learning of firefox, if you search this forum you will find many posts with links to sites that will help you learn how to use firefox, I just posted some yesterday to another thread on the first page so check around, do a search down at the bottom of the front page.

Since you must have Internet Explorer on your computer to get your MS updates, by all means update to IE7 or, preferably, IE8 ASAP. As long as you still have IE6, you are looking for trouble.

larry-
Congratulations on making the leap! I am assuming you are now having no problems opening pages in Firefox like you were with IE?

You don't need to use any add-ons of course, but the one I find essential is AdBlockPlus, which will keep a lot of annoying popup ads from opening.

Here is a link that might be useful: AdBlockPlus

Here is my first Firefox question. I was not sure whether to start a new thread or to use this one. Here is my Firefox question: I have used a game site (Pogo) for years. After a game, you can click on a link and that link will give you the high scores. With Firefox, when I click on that link, I get a message that says, "Whoa, it looks like you have a pop-up blocker". This is a site I trust. I realize a bunch of pop-ups that are not good either, but I think I would like to ease the security a bit. Can anyone help me?

Thanks, Larry

you can add that site to your allow list in firefox.

if you go with adding the adblockplus which I always advise using you will need to add the easylist subscriptions to it for it to do any good so at the time you want to do that feel free to come ask for help.
EasyList and EasyPrivacy
they would be the 2 lines in yellow on the page you will click on add to ABP once you have installed adblock plus.

now for that website you want to unblock go up to tools options then the content tab and there you will see your blocker click on exceptions to the right of that and add the address of the website you want to have as an exception thats it.

I already found the Tools,Options, Content....and I have that problem fixed. I am still studying the other things I may want to add on. I don't know enough about them yet.....to even ask a decent question.

Thanks for your help.

Larry

I seem to have to help many people having problems who's choice of browsers is actually firefox. I dont like firefox one bit. People talk each other into using that and most people dont understand firefox configurations. They already are used to IE. Why rock the boat.

but anyhow
I remote desktop and open IE and go to where they cant instantly but main reason I open IE is I'm familiar with it. What I see over and over is lots of tool bars. How do people even see their webpages with so many tool bars eating up so much screen.

I ask the question... do you ever use this, and this and this.. pointing out the tool bars and then go to add/remove and unstall yahoo everything exept their messenger, ask toolbars and google toolbars, msn toolbars. It's crazy all the add in toolbars and other trinkets I notice in add/remove.

Then suddenly their beloved firefox I open and hide all the menu bars excpt the address and tabs... They're suddenly happy surfing away ...gratefull,,, like I fixed something? I didnt do anything but waste time unistalling the crap they let firefox install.

well those toolbars come with many many programs if you do not read carefully when doing installs or updates including java, flash, and IE, many of them, in fact there is a hall of shame at COU forum listing all of the programs that now include pre selected toolbars in their install, it has nothing to do with the browser you use to do the download or install it has to do with watching what is pre checked when doing your updates or program installs and un checking any for things like toolbars. I have had to clean tons of toolbars off of peoples computers too who had never heard of firefox, only had IE.

I tell people to add a second browser because it is a very good idea to always have at least 2 on the pc because as we all know IE can and does fail then leaving them no way to access the internet. Whether they select firefox, chrome or opera, it does not matter but firefox is the best known so when asking for help they will find more people that are familiar with it. All browsers have their pluses and minuses none are perfect and I have never seen anyone here say any one browser is perfect.

the point to make to people who have loaded up their pc with toolbars, why this is happening to them, is to watch what they are doing! Pay attention to every single line when doing any type of install. And do not let it add unwanted items, if they are not told how it happened it will happen again.
I direct them to this list
Installers Hall of Shame (Unwanted add-on)

Larry-
Do you have AdBlockPlus installed as an add-on? If so, just click on the little down arrow to the right of the red ABP icon in the upper right corner. There should be an option to disable ABP on that site (either the whole site, or just that page, whichever you want). That way ABP keeps working on all other sites, but doesn't stop pop-ups you do want on others.

I really do not know if I have AdBlockPlus, but I did find where to allow the pop-up for the specific site. I am doing okay, but I am still unsure of what all I want on my Foxfire. In the tool bar area, there are some things I dont believe I need.....such as Latest Headlines, Cartoonland (which seems to be in German, and Its Our Crazy Life. I am still trying to sort though everything.

Larry

those are just items that are on your bookmarks toolbar you can either leave them or right click on them and delete them. If you do not think you will use the bookmarks toolbar you can hide it, right click on the toolbar and simply uncheck bookmark toolbar, however I will tell you that is one of my fave parts of firefox, any site you visit often you can put right there on that toolbar so it is super easy to get to, just grab onto the icon in the address bar in front of the url and drag it onto the bookmarks toolbar.

If you have not added the adblockplus add on from the link which was provided then no you do not have it on your firefox it has to be added on it does not come on it default.

Learn Firefox
that may help