Internet Explorer may close immediately after you start it on a Windows XP-based computer (915726)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the Discuss toolbar is enabled in Internet Explorer. The Owsclt.dll file adds the Discuss toolbar to Internet Explorer. The Owsclt.dll file is a COM component that is installed on the computer when Office 2003 is installed.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove the Discuss toolbar from Internet Explorer. To do this, use one of the following methods.

Note To verify whether the Discuss toolbar is installed, start Internet Explorer, and then point to Explorer bar on the View menu.

Method 1: Modify the Windows registry

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{BDEADE7F-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}
On the Edit menu, click Delete.
When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
Exit Registry Editor.

Method 2: Unregister the Owsclt.dll file