HOW TO FIX: A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for Internet Explorer (Windows XP)

HOW TO FIX: A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for Internet Explorer (Windows XP)

This error can occur when starting Internet Explorer because of corrupt entries in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

It can be fixed by resetting the entries back to the defaults. The easiest way to do this is the download the file below (usershellfolders.reg) and double click on it. Click on Yes to allow the changes to be imported, then try starting Internet Explorer again.

usershellfolders.reg