Hello Abid,

it is possible to reset to windows xp original configuration. I have copied and pasted the instructions from windows help. The actual instructions of how to do it I have outlined in bold.

Read the preface and the list of items that will not be affected, as well as the ones that will. Then hold your breath and do it! Good luck.

To actually read this and other related stuff on your computer click HELP just under the address bar.

Then Handling errors. A list will open which is the list I copied.

You might like to click on Related Topics. It explains how to re-enable Browser ad-ons and a few other things, including how to clear the History

If I was you I would also print out a copy of these instructions and the notes on what is and, is not turned off. You can then go through the list ticking off the items you have altered after you reset. And anything which you turn on or off. You can find this out but, there are not that many things to set again if you want to, and I feel it worth having the list to file to know exactly what has changed.

babybear

Reset Internet Explorer to the default settings

By resetting Internet Explorer to its default settings, you return it to the state it was in when it was first installed on your computer. This is useful for troubleshooting problems that might be caused by settings that were changed after installation. When you restore Internet Explorer's default settings, some webpages that rely on previously stored cookies, form data, passwords, or previously installed browser add-ons might not work correctly. Resetting Internet Explorer to its default settings does not delete your favorites, feeds, and a few other personalized settings. See the table below for a complete list of all settings and information about whether they are reset or maintained.

If you purchased your computer with Windows already installed, any settings the manufacturer specified will be reapplied. These settings might include a specific home page or search provider.

The following table describes what will happen to various settings when you reset Internet Explorer.

To reset Internet Explorer to the default settings

1. Close any Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer windows that are currently open.
2. Open Internet Explorer.
3. Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
5. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
6. When Internet Explorer finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
7. Close Internet Explorer. The changes will take effect the next time you open Internet Explorer.

Notes

• If you close all visible windows, but still get an error message when trying to reset, you might have programs running that are not visible. Restart Windows, open Internet Explorer, and try resetting again.
• If any of the categories fail to reset, it is because Internet Explorer could not access a file or registry setting. This can be caused by insufficient security privileges, files or settings being used by another program, or low memory or high CPU usage. You can either continue to use Internet Explorer without resetting these settings, or restart your computer and try running reset again.
• If you are using Internet Explorer on a server and have turned off hardening (stronger security settings for use on servers), reset will go to client level security. You must reinstall hardening if you want the increased security level.
• To learn how to re-enable add-ons, click Related Topics.

Related Topics

Abid,

if you think the add-ond are causing problems you can enable or disable them. See the instructions and advice below:

babybear

Web browser add-ons: what you need to know

Web browser add-ons add features (for example, extra toolbars, animated mouse pointers, stock tickers, and pop-up ad blockers) to your web browser.

Where do add-ons come from?

Many add-ons come from the Internet. Most add-ons from the Internet require that you give your permission before they are downloaded to your computer. Some, however, might be installed without your knowledge. This can happen if the add-on was part of another program that you installed. Some add-ons are installed with Microsoft Windows.

How can I see which add-ons are installed?

To see all installed add-ons

1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, click Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.
2. In the Show box, select one of the following options:
• To display a complete list of the add-ons that reside on your computer, click Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer.
• To display only those add-ons that were needed for the current webpage or a recently viewed webpage, click Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer.
• To display add-ons that were pre-approved by Microsoft, your computer manufacturer, or a service provider, click Add-ons that run without requiring permission.
• To display only 32-bit ActiveX controls, click Downloaded ActiveX Controls (32-bit).

There are several add-ons in this list that I did not install. How did they get on my computer?

For your protection, Internet Explorer asks permission before running an add-on for the first time, letting you know if a website is secretly trying to run malicious code. However, to create a better web experience, Internet Explorer has a list of pre-approved add-ons that have been checked and digitally signed. Add-ons in this list are run without displaying the permissions dialog. The add-on list can come from Microsoft, your computer manufacturer, your Internet Service provider (if you are using a private branded version of Internet Explorer), or your corporations network administrator. To see the pre-approved add-ons that are installed on your computer, do this:

To view pre-approved add-ons

1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, click Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.
2. In the Show list, click Add-ons that run without requiring permission.
3. You will now see a list of all pre-approved add-ons. When you are finished looking at the list, click OK.

What can I do if I think an add-on is causing trouble?

Add-ons are typically fine to use, but sometimes they force Internet Explorer to shut down unexpectedly. This can happen if the add-on was created for an earlier version of Internet Explorer or has a programming error.

Here's what you can do:

• Disable it. If an add-on causes repeated problems, you can disable it through the Add-on Manager.
• Report it. When prompted, you might want to report the problem to Microsoft. The report is anonymous and requires nothing from you except your permission. These reports are used to improve our products and to encourage other companies to update and improve theirs.

How can I disable a browser add-on?

Before you disable a browser add-on, keep in mind that some webpages, or Internet Explorer itself, might not display properly if an add-on is disabled. We recommend that you only disable an add-on if it repeatedly causes Internet Explorer to close.

To permanently disable add-ons

1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, click Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.
2. In the Show list, click Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer to display all add-ons.
3. Click the add-on you want to disable, and then click Disable.
4. Repeat step 3 for every add-on you want to disable. When you are finished, click OK.

Follow the steps below to run Internet Explorer with all add-ons temporarily disabled. Add-ons will be disabled only until you restart Internet Explorer normally.

To temporarily disable all add-ons

• In Windows, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).

Note

• You can also start Internet Explorer with out add-ons by right-clicking the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop and then clicking Start Without Add-ons.
• If you find that disabling all add-ons solves the problem you were having, you might want to disable the add-ons permanently by disabling each one individually by following the steps below.

How do I re-enable an add-on?

You might want to re-enable a browser add-on if you disabled an add-on but want to go to a site that requires it, or if disabling the add-on caused general display problems with webpages or Internet Explorer.

To re-enable a browser add-on

1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, click Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.
2. In the Show list, click Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer to display all add-ons.
3. Click the add-on you want to enable, and then click Enable.
4. Repeat step 3 for every add-on you want to enable. When you are finished, click OK.

Related Topics