Internet Explorer problems

[Mynot]

My niece runs a HP computer with WindowsXP Home. When using Internet Explorer, the "home page" loads, but when you try to load any other page, it just reloads the home page only. I ran a virus check and deleted some viruses, I ran a spybot and deleted some spyware, I ran a registry scan to fix a corrupt registry. I reinstalled Internet Explorer and even installed Windows XP Professional. But I stll cant get the browser to work.
A strange twist to this, is that if I change the home page to another site, then that site will load but not allow me to go anywhere else. It just seems to split the current home page in half and reloads the home page twice on the same page..... Confused yet.... I am !!!
Any clues to help me would be appreciated.
Thanks

[flanzig1]

Try going into Tools/internet options and empting the temp internet file and cookie file.

[DynamicTech]

You could try going to add/remove programs, select Internet Explorer, uninstall, and then select the repair option and see if IE will repair itself.

[Mynot]

thanks for the input guys. Did both of those things and still no joy. I can only assume that there is another virus that the outdated virus checker hasn't picked up. I can't update the virus checker as I cannot access the page to update.

[rckershaw]

can you get into safe mode to update your virius scanner? In windows xp you just tap F8 when booting up.

[Mynot]

I will try to log into safe mode 2morrow, but I thought that by loading under safe mode, no devices are loaded, therefore the modem wont load.
it's a dial up internet service that she has. I will try it anyway.... I appreciate any suggestion.

[glc]

The modem *should* work in safe mode with networking. You could also download the McAfee command line scanner on another machine and transfer it with a CD or USB key.

http://download.mcafee.com/updates/superdat.asp

SuperDAT Update
DAT FILE: SuperDat 4766-dat/4320-engine
Filename: sdat4766.exe
File Size: 5251.2 kb
Release: 5/19/2006 9:03:07 AM

Put it in an empty folder, open a command prompt to that folder, type SDATxxxx /E (where xxxx is the current number, today it's 4766) and sit tight for a minute. Then type SCAN /ADL /CLEAN

[Mynot]

Thanks again for the info.... just a qn tho glc.... i scan with AVG. Will that DAT file that you want me to d/load, only work with Mcafee?

[glc]

That is not just a dat file. It has a scanning engine in it too. If you can update and run AVG in safe mode, you don't have to use it.

[Mynot]

Thanks to all. Finally, I remembered that HP have there own restore function by hitting F10 when booting. Did that, held breathe and after about 40 min, everything was fine again.... but I did end up finding another 4 viruses, for a total of 14 in all.
I hate "love" jobs..