Starting Internet Explorer Opens an MS-DOS Command Prompt Window

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01, 4.01 Service Pack 1, 4.01 Service Pack 2, 5 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.01 Service Pack 2, 5 for Windows 98
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01, 4.01 Service Pack 1, 4.01 Service Pack 2, 5 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

After you install Internet Explorer and attempt to start the program, an MS-DOS command prompt window is opened instead of the Internet Explorer browser window.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the Internet Connection Wizard (ICW) is not installed properly during Internet Explorer Setup.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method.

Method 1

1. Click Start, click Run, and type regedit, and then click OK.



2. Locate the following registry key:




HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{5A8D6EE0-3E18-11D0-821E-444553540000}

3. Right-click the Installed Components key, and then click Delete.



4. On the Registry menu, click Exit.



5. Reinstall Internet Explorer.

Method 2

1. Click Start, click Run, and type regedit, and then click OK.



2. Locate the following registry key:




HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{5A8D6EE0-3E18-11D0-821E-444553540000}

3. Right-click the Installed Components key, and then click Delete.



4. On the Registry menu, click Exit.



5. In Windows Explorer, click File, point to New, click Folder, and then create a temporary folder on drive C called ICW.



6. Extract the contents of the Icw95.cab file into the newly created ICW folder using the Extract command-line tool (the Icw95.cab file is located in the folder where you downloaded Internet Explorer 4.0x). For additional information about using the Extract tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   Q129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files




7. Click Start, click Run, and then type the following command:




rundll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection c:\icw\icw95.inf,defaultinstall

NOTE: The .cab and .inf files in Internet Explorer 4.0x are named Icw95.cab and Icw95.inf. In Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x, the file names are Icw.cab and Icw.inf. This command line needs to be modified accordingly, depending on the version of Internet Explorer.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbsetup msiew95 msient msiew98
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01,4.01 Service Pack 1,4.01 Service Pack 2,5
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb