Control Panel not responding and IE6 crashing; related?

[darren99999]

Clicking on Control Panel clears desktop for several seconds, returns back to the desktop, and never reveals control panel icons.

Things I have tried:

1. reloaded winxp w/sp1 (no sp2)
2. replaced control.exe in system32 folder

about the same time the conrol panel issue started, IE6 started failing often closing (with the standard error window shown apologizing and offering to send report) when trying to send email (yahoo) or clicking on certain links – any connection to the conrol panel?

Actually the IE6 issue is more annoying, as the links that freeze it are really important for my work. In fact, even when posting this message, if I hit ‘preview post’, it closes the webpage!!

microsoft has aknowledged this problem, but does not explain specifically how to fix it. just suggests updating all the friggin fixes, and, well, im not interested in doing that.

any suggestions?

Thx Darren

[glc]

Start it in safe mode, open control panel, internet options, advanced, and uncheck "use 3rd party browser extensions".

[darren99999]

seemed to work for a few goes, then, same old story. seems like certain links within password protected webpages causes IE to close. is this a clue? links on yahoo, google, or newspapers work fine, but once logged in (eg yahoo mail, pcmech, or my universities online journals) IE will close abrubtly or give me the error message that it needs to close.

i sure do appreciate your help,

darren