Starting Internet Explorer Opens an MS-DOS Command Prompt Window

After you install Internet Explorer and attempt to start the program, an MS-DOS command prompt window is opened instead of the Internet Explorer browser window.

This behavior occurs if the Internet Connection Wizard (ICW) is not installed properly during Internet Explorer Setup.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method.

Method 1

Remove the installed components key for the ICW component and reinstall Internet Explorer:

1. Click Start, click Run, and type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{5A8D6EE0-3E18-11D0-821E-444553540000}
3. Right-click the Installed Components key, and then click Delete.
4. On the Registry menu, click Exit.
5. Reinstall Internet Explorer.

Method 2

Manually install Internet Connection Wizard:

1. Click Start, click Run, and type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{5A8D6EE0-3E18-11D0-821E-444553540000}
3. Right-click the Installed Components key, and then click Delete.
4. On the Registry menu, click Exit.
5. In Windows Explorer, click File, point to New, click Folder, and then create a temporary folder on drive C called ICW.
6. Extract the contents of the Icw95.cab file into the newly created ICW folder using the Extract command-line tool (the Icw95.cab file is located in the folder where you downloaded Internet Explorer 4.0x). For additional information about using the Extract tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   129605 How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
7. Click Start, click Run, and then type the following command:
   rundll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection c:\icw\icw95.inf,defaultinstall
   NOTE: The .cab and .inf files in Internet Explorer 4.0x are named Icw95.cab and Icw95.inf. In Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x, the file names are Icw.cab and Icw.inf. This command line needs to be modified accordingly, depending on the version of Internet Explorer.