Internet Explorer Starts Unexpectedly

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, Internet Explorer may start, and you may receive one or more of the following error messages:

• Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site ftp://<myftp>
• Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site http://<myhttp>
• Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site gopher://<mygopher>

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if Internet Explorer incorrectly interprets a command as an Internet-related command. For example, this behavior can occur if a program listed on the "Load=" or "Run=" line in the Win.ini file begins with any of the following letter combinations:

• ftp
• gopher
• www

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use the appropriate method:

Using the Run Command on the Start Menu

If you want to start a program that contains any of the letter combinations listed above, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. Type the complete path to the program you want to start in the Open box, and then press ENTER.

Using the "Load=" or "Run=" Line in the Win.ini File

Disable the "Load=" or "Run=" line in the Win.ini file. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type "sysedit" (without quotation marks), and then click OK.

2. On the Window menu, click Win.ini.

3. On the Search menu, click Find, type the following line, and then press ENTER:

         load=
   

4. Place a semicolon (;) at the beginning of the "Load=" line if it contains one of the letter combinations listed above.

5. Repeat steps 2-4, but substitute "run=" for "load=".

6. On the File menu, click Save.

7. On the File menu, click Exit.

8. Restart your computer.