Browser Extension Manager

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(Courtesy request by Phil Rabichow)
I suggested Browser Extension Manager as a possible aid to get rid of a misbehaving IE plug-in. It lives in my “could come in handy” collection. That is, it looks promising but is yet to prove itself in action (for me).

It sensibly encourages you to, and is set up to backup your registry info before making changes. After that, it can:

• delete browser extensions, toolbar layouts, and explorer bars
• enable/disable ActiveX controls (and tells you where they live)
• delete IE context menu entries
• modify IE search parameters, set them back to default, and delete search hooks
• modify IE logos and window titles
  [/list]Context sensitive help is given via F1, with an accompanying disclaimer about the possibly dire consequences of what you’re about to do.

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Tim–

I want to give you a look at this thread where it is probably not the first time you have brought up this kind of program to see if you will help me with some of my questions to you in an ongoing thread here:

Lounge: Internet Explorer Thread “Plug-Ins” 26 July ’03

This is a subject where it came up again–hunting for what used to be called plug-ins and now are changed to Active X controls, java applets and other entities but still in reference to their old name called “plug-ins” by the program developers when they are offered–for example and I don’t know for sure–Nero/Ahead is currently offering plug-ins but they may technically be the more modern formats.

2) You had a warning that this might be a last resort? What were the downsides that made you categorize it that way? Is there a danger of taking out entities that are very helpful but also cause freezes and crashes? Is that the reason you spoke of “last resort?”

3) Are all Active X, Java applets and like entities components that are modern day plug-ins BHO’s or the reverse?

4) How do you find “plug-ins” or the modern equivalant (Active X controls, Java applets and the like when they are offending) because I glean from the linked thread they don’t follow any predictable conventional road-maps and I know malware and BHO’s that cause more problems perhaps than they solve are the targets of Ad-Aware and Spybot type applications?

5) Could FolderBox
by BAxBEx Software help in the hunt for problem “plug-ins” or whatever you want to call them?

SMBP

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? (1) As R2 pointed out elsewhere, terms in this area are used inconsistently.
2) Last resort – paraphrasing disclaimers in help, and absence of a direct “undo” function.
3) & 4) Dunno.
5) FolderBox slots into (Windows) explorer so you can view the contents of two folders concurrently. It’s unlikely to help directly in your hunt.

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That’s explorer folders are interesting. Thanks for the download and the info on the IE Plug-in thread.

SMBP

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I also wonder if anything like the parasite hunters or Spybot or Adaware will go after brower-plug-in like problems and how the good aspects of the plug-in can be retained and the negative aspects surgically eliminated if this is possible, and if the Spyware Hunters have any impact on plug-in problems or identification, or it’s an apples oranges situation.

Do You Have Parasites? Jim Eschelman’s Site

SMBP

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