Computer refuses to open any browser but IE. I'm devastated.

[Nero]

Well, this has been going on for a few months now, I think. I've tried everything. Anti-virus and spyware have run and removed stuff. Reinstalled Firefox a zillion times. No luck. This has taken a huge toll on my productivity and the time it takes to do anything online. I have a bunch of necessary bookmarks and other things I can't access. I find myself having to redo hours of research. I don't know what to do. Chrome also will not open despite reinstalls.

If I do the whole 'restore' thing, I'm going to lose a lot of stuff. Not really an option until I can purchase another external hard drive (current one is full) or something to back it up.

Any ideas what could be causing this? It's almost personal. Like someone's trying to torture me by only allowing me to use IE.

[Devlyn]

I'm guessing here, can you open IE and set it to not being the default browser?

[Nero]

Okay. Just checked and it says it's not the default browser.

[Devlyn]

I did warn you that I was guessing!

[Nero]

That's okay. I need all the help I can get. 

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

What browser do you normally use?

[Schuyler]

Had the same problem on another computer of mine. Corrupted Java files. Try re-installing Java and its apps.

Also, a temporary fix -- at the very least, you can gather your bookmarks -- is trying Chrome and Firefox in your computer's safe mode (with network).

[Arch]

I finally took my computer to a small business that helps people with such issues. It was a good investment. However, they did have access to my computer; and the welcome page, or whatever you call it, for Firefox, does have little pictures of the sites I visit most often, including Susan's...but they are a gay or predominantly gay business.

Could you consider such an option?

[Joelene9]

  Have you tried to revert windows to an earlier time.  A time before you had the problem.  I often get a fix of the major stuff that way. 

  Joelene

[Flan]

  Have you tried to revert windows to an earlier time.  A time before you had the problem.  I often get a fix of the major stuff that way. 

  Joelene

I would recommend this first; it doesn't change data (documents) but will any program changes and windows settings.

(in windows 7: right click computer in start menu, properties, system protection link on left, "system restore")