Restricted access to Internet Explorer Options

[sealwatcher]

Hiya, I'm just having some troubles in IE that I was hoping someone could help with:

1. If I try to access Internet Options through the Tools menu, I get the message: "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator." This is strange...because I am the administrator.

2. I've recently changed IP's and after connecting to their service, their software has placed their homepage as my default homepage under Internet Properties. Now this should be easy enough to fix...but I have somehow been denied access to do this too! I can see the buttons to click (Use current, Use Default, Use Blank) and the homepage address, but the whole area is shaded and inactive. Most annoying.

I know it must have something to do with my access privilages, but I am definately logged in as the administrator and I cant find anything anywhere to suggest that my privilages are restricted. I am using XP Pro.

How can I fix this?

[snowmonkey]

may be you could andswer couple of my questions:

- Can you create another user with Administrative rights ?
- Do you have access to system registry (Start /Run / Regedit ) ?

that may help us find a way around you problem.



cheers

[sealwatcher]

No probs.

-I'm quite sure I can create another account with admin rights.

-Regedit works fine.

Out of interest I logged in under "guest" and waddya know, it has no problems. I really dont want to have to set up a new account as I have spent a lot of time getting my current one to how I like it.

Does is sound strange that I would have restricted access under the admin account...where as the guest account is fine?

[ESALADUANE]

Do you have Spybot? Spybot has a feature called "Immunize". Near the bottom of the "Immunize" window is a box with 3 "Protections", "Lock Hosts file.....", "Lock IE Start Page Setting Against User Changes (Current User)", "Lock IE Control Panel Against Opening From Within IE (Current User)".

If there is a check in one of these last 2 boxes, you'll get the symptoms that you describe.

[snowmonkey]

I'm more worried about virus then anything else. Usually Guest account is restricted and virus like Code Red cause that. Why don't you get yourself a software called Pest Patrol from : http://www.pestpatrol.com/ they do have on line scanner too. After you are done with that, create an account with Admin rights for yourself then see what happens.
Also if you have access to registry you can change the home page in there:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main (on the right side of the screen) you can find the reg key for your Home Page, change that to what ever you want.


cheers

[sealwatcher]

Thanks for you posts guys. I do have Spybot and you know what, I think that could be the problem.

I'm away from my computer right now but I'll check it out and let you know how I got on. I sure hope it isnt a virus Snowmonkey, but if all else fails I'll try what you suggested.

Ta.

[sealwatcher]

Well, it turned out to be the Spybot S&D settings after all. I turned them off and now everything is fine.

Thanks guys.