Internet Explorer disappears immediately after running

Question

When I launch Internet Explorer 8, the main window appears briefly then immediately disappears. So far I've tried:

• Reregistering IEProxy.dll

• Uninstalling/reinstalling IE

• Running with Add-ons disabled

Nothing has helped. This is on Vista Home Premium

Answer 1

Have you checked the Event Viewer? Have you run anti-virus scans?

You can also try to boot in Safe mode, to see if an installed product is causing the problem.

Another try is to check system integrity :
How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker.

EDIT

You could also turn off temporarily any security software you have (anti-virus, firewall etc.).

This Microsoft Support article suggests some more solutions:
When you start Internet Explorer, it opens, flashes, and then closes immediately

• Reset Internet Explorer settings :
  Control Panel / Internet Options / Advanced / Reset Internet Explorer Settings / Reset.
• Internet Explorer troubleshooters in Windows 7 :
  Control Panel / System and Security / Find and Fix Problems / View All / Internet Explorer Performance / Next.

If these do not help, it would be useful to know more about your Windows version and computer.

Answer 2

If you have a full DVD of Vista (not an upgrade disk or manufacturer "recovery" disk) you could try to do a "Repair Install" as per the instructions on this site. You'll need to either have a DVD with your current service pack level, which you can create by following How to Create a Vista SP1 Slipstream Installation DVD or How to Slipstream Vista SP2

As always it is good to keep backups of anything important.

Taken from: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

As a aid, I'll list the key points here:

1. Insert the Vista DVD into the DVD drive while your current Vista is running (do not boot from the install disk!)

2. Click on "Install Now"

3. Click through the installer entering details as appropriate, noting that you SHOULD NOT enter your product key as it may break activation of Vista which you will do as a last step.

4. Continue through the setup, selecting the correct version of Vista you are using and confirming the warning.

5. Click the "Upgrade Now" button and wait for it to finish installing, this should reinstall all Windows components but leave all your applications and data intact.

6. Wait for the install to finish and remove the DVD.

7. Check that everything is working now, if any files are missing then check the folders "C:\Windows.old", "C:\$INPLACE.~TR" and "C:\$WINDOWS.~Q" otherwise carry on to step 8.

8. Run Disk Cleanup to check for and remove files listed as "Files discarded by Windows upgrade"

9. Reactivate Vista by going to the Control Panel, System panel, scrolling to the bottom and clicking "Activate Windows Now"

Hopefully this would repair IE and restore everything it needs to work.