Google Answers: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?

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Q: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ? ( No Answer, 6 Comments )

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Subject: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
Category: Computers > Internet
Asked by: wod-ga
List Price: $5.00

Posted: 13 Mar 2003 19:01 PST
Expires: 12 Apr 2003 20:01 PDT
Question ID: 175909

Windows XP Pro. IE 6.80.2800. Something strange is happening. Sometimes, there's a window titled 'about:blank" that doesn't appear to be an IE window at all. I mean, if you alt-tab to it, nothing happens. In Task Manager, there's an entry in "Applications" titled "about:blank - Microsoft Internet Explorer". This is weirding me out. Anyone knows why this happens ?
Request for Question Clarification by googleexpert-ga on 13 Mar 2003 20:20 PST Sounds like you have "Internet Explorer" startup with a blank page, is that right?
Clarification of Question by wod-ga on 14 Mar 2003 00:24 PST well yes it's set to start up with a blank page. But then, it's set up to start up with a blank page all the time, and this only happens some of the time. XP's firewall isn't on. Not running any ad-blocking software.
Request for Question Clarification by googleexpert-ga on 19 Mar 2003 05:51 PST I think it may be a problem with the Registry or some program was installed accidentally.

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Comments

Subject: Re: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
From: aceresearcher-ga on 13 Mar 2003 20:21 PST

wod,

I'm running AdSubtract Pro cookie/popup/ad blocking software and
ZoneAlarm Pro firewall on Windows ME, and when a site tries to pop-up
an ad window, it frequently gets stopped dead in its tracks, and I get
the empty, "About: blank" window.

If you are not running Ad-blocking software or your own firewall, it
may be that XP's firewall is doing this for you.

Regards,

aceresearcher

Subject: Re: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
From: magnesium-ga on 13 Mar 2003 20:24 PST

This might help you:

http://www.mysupportfreaks.com/cgi-bin/wsmkb.cgi?SHOW+475+Internet%20Applications%7CInternet%20Explorer#tops

Subject: Re: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
From: steph1000-ga on 14 Mar 2003 06:36 PST

Your javascript or your popup window function might be disabled. Who
knows, this might be your ISP or your MS update trying to send you to
some kind of web page (just taking a stab in the dark).

Subject: Re: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
From: karlon-ga on 19 Mar 2003 00:20 PST

I've seem similar activity before, now that I'm using popup blockers.
What I've seen is that the about-blank window is actually located off
the desktop, or as close to off as it can be (like beneath you system
tray)

next time you "alt-tab" to it, try to "alt-spacebar" then press 'M' for
move then press your cursor keys to see if you can drag it out from
under the rock it is hiding under.

Subject: Re: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
From: rissos-ga on 19 Mar 2003 07:07 PST

I have been getting these for years (running Windows 98) and have
never worried about them because I have noticed that they only appear
on sites that open pop-up ads. It is possible to right-click on the
tab on the taskbar and click on close to get rid of them.

Subject: Re: It's a window, but not a window, but it's a window but.. what is it ?
From: innocentkiller-ga on 31 Mar 2003 17:41 PST

Ha! I know what it is. It is a popup ad. You get those sometimes that
are called about:blank. Well, these were posistioned weirldy on the
screen, so it is off to one side. Try the moving trick listed above,
and if that doesn't work, end the program. It does seem, however, that
the ones offscreeen are always named about:blank, weird coincidence,
huh?

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