Missing Preferences

[t_mac]

The neighbor's browser started acting weird, without warning, about 2 weeks ago. Pages that require a user name and password don't load after entering the correct information. Instead, the login page just reloads. Pages like speedway.net that used to load with current information now load with information that's several days old. Yahoo mail is no longer available. They type in name and password and nothing happens. No messages and no indication that there are no new messages. Just the same login screen. The whole browser seems to be running in slow mode.
When I got back from vacation, I was flagged down for some suggestions and my first thought was to empty the cache. Strange thing is, when I went looking in the Edit Menu I couldn't find Preferences. It wasn't greyed out, it just wasn't there. You get no message windows and no indication that a problem is even detected. No new software has been installed. This is a family where the youngster plays his CD games, the mother checks her Avon account and the dad checks race results and Yahoo e-mail. That's it. They aren't computer oriented people so no one messes with customizing.
They have a Gateway that came loaded with Win98 and IE. Any ideas what could be causing this odd behavior, including the disappearance of Preferences, or suggestions for correcting the problems will be greatly appreciated.
PS. I booted from their newly acquired Norton Utilities and did a thorough check. Everything reported OK and the computer seems to operate fine aside from these browser related issues.

[Xayd]

If they're using IE, IE 5 doesn't have preferences under the edit menu. It's under tools/internet options/.

IE 5 being integrated into the OS, there's also a link to this in the control panel.

Preferences for Netscape are still under Edit/Preferences/, but IE preferences aren't.

Xayd

[t_mac]

Good to know. I use both Communicator 4.7 and Internet Explorer 5 for Mac but Preferences are still located under the Edit Menu for both. Strange that the Mac and Windows versions of 5.0 would be that different.
Thanks!

[Xayd]

Yeah, well, at least the MAC version of IE still has preferences in the same way that other MAC programs have preferences, and it doesn't weasel its way into the MAC Kernel like it does in Windows.

Erm, lemme be quiet before I give Redmond any ideas...

Xayd