Add\Remove Programs Tool May Not Work After Installing Internet Explorer 5.5 or Internet Explorer 6 on Windows 2000 (265829)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

This article was previously published under Q265829

SYMPTOMS

If you install Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 on Windows 2000, the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel may stop responding (hang) or become corrupted. As a result, you can no longer remove programs or install network-published programs from Control Panel. Also, the Configure your Server option in Administrative Tools may stop functioning properly. In addition, the Folder view pane in Windows Explorer may be blank or gray instead of having the folder tree view.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior reinstall Internet Explorer 5.5 or Internet Explorer 6.

You may also resolve this behavior by using the following steps:

Start the computer in Safe mode with Networking by pressing the F8 key during startup.
Log on by using the local administrator account (the Windows Update dialog box appears that states that Windows is now updating the following items; Browsing Services, Internet Tools and System Services.)
After you log on, verify that the symptoms no longer occur.
Shut down and restart the computer, and then log on as usual.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows 2000.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about related topics, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

266668 Add/Remove Programs Tool Displays Installed Programs Incorrectly

303399 You Cannot Finish Installing or Upgrading Internet Explorer

285195 Mshta.exe Error Message Appears When You Start the Add/Remove Programs Tool in Control Panel

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	9/22/2003
Keywords:	kbbug kbfix kbWin2000sp1Fix KB265829