Hi all

Posted here as I don't even know how to search google for the problem because I don't know what to even call the search???

IE is open with one window. To open a second window I right click the icon on the toolbar HOWEVER the icon is greyed out and won't let me open another window in IE.

Problem is intermittent so double the angst.

Any ideas please apart for use some other software or apple.

Thanks in advance Baz

First off there are many answers to many problems that you could suffer. If you had given us the version of Windows and IE you are using this would have eliminated many of them.

Have you tried a good anti-virus programme like Avast or AVG? Both are free if you are just downloading the anti-virus section of commercial security suite. Also install a good firewall like Zonealarm, these are superior to the Micro$oft offerings. Also download the system cleaners Adaware, Malwarebytes and Spybot. Install, update and sweep your system with them. If they don't work then follow below.

First off I would be trying a reinstall of IE. Get you download from here.

The next step would be to use System Repair see this selection of links.

Thanks Peter.

Windows 10 and IE 11. I have McAfee and scan regularly.

Ran Malwarebytes no change, frustrating thing is it's intermittent.

Running Microsoft safety scanner as I write this (it wouldn't download before).

Try the OS browser Chromium. Far better than IE or give Mozilla Firefox a try. A favorite of mine from some years ago was Opera. It is very fast.

The Phantom

Fixing PCs is what I do for a living so I will say the following and hope I don't offend too many folks.

Simply changing browser is NOT solving the problem it is only masking it.
Would you expect your mechanic to tell you to turn up the volume on your car radio to drown out the noisy engine because it has no oil.

That said, Internet Explorer's back end is the part of windows that handles WAN networking.
If the back end is broken so will the symptoms appear with any other browser as they all call on this part of Windows to retrieve your pages.

The proper process is to first RESET Internet Explorer's front end to its defaults as you may have a corrupted setting or an 'Add-On' program messing things up.

1. Close all browser windows

2. Right click the Start Logo (bottom left of screen) and choose Control Panel

3. In the Control Panel choose Small Icons from Top Right drop down

4. Click Internet Options Icon

5. In the options windows click Advanced Tab

6. Click Reset button

7. Tick box to delete personal settings

8. Click Reset

9. When all green ticks show click OK OK.

Now when you reopen Internet Explorer it is as new requiring you to accept the default settings. Agree to that.

You can now choose your homepage by pressing Alt then Clicking Tools --> Internet Options.

Close Internet Explorer and reopen it.

All done.

See if it all works before you start customising Internet Explorer further.

Thanks Hylife

your suggested fix is working great.

Cheers baz

EDIT  IE now lightning fast, thanks again Hylife