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Technology Advice by Ryan Taylor Adams

Internet Explorer Only Prints Source Code

January 6th, 2008 · 5 Comments · Printer Friendly Version

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It seems that after uninstalling AOL, many people experience an issue with Internet Explorer (version 6 and 7) that causes source code to be printed instead of the normal page view. If you are trying to print from Internet Explorer and are only getting cryptic code, instead of the page view you expect, try the following:

  1. Download Internet Explorer here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx. Save the file to your desktop.
  2. Click your Start button and then the “Run…” button.
  3. Copy this: %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe and paste it into the Run dialog box. Press enter.
  4. The Internet Explorer uninstall wizard will now run. Follow its prompts.
  5. Be sure to restart your computer after the uninstall has completed.
  6. Once your computer reboots, double-click on the file we downloaded in step 1.
  7. Follow the prompts to reinstall Internet Explorer.
  8. Once Internet Explorer is reinstalled, restart your computer again.

Once your PC reboots, the print function of Internet Explorer should work as expected.

Related posts:

  1. Restore the Internet Explorer Desktop Icon in Windows XP SP3
  2. Change the Header And Footer of Internet Explorer Printouts
  3. Increase the Number of Simultaneous (concurrent) Downloads in Internet Explorer
  4. Fix for Grayed Out Or Missing Windows Explorer Folder Pane
  5. Getting Around the “cannot Read From the Source File” Error
?

5 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Reji // Mar 27, 2008 at 10:37 PM


    This can also be resolved by setting Internet explorer as default browser again. Try it…….

    Internet explorer >>Tool >> Internet options >> programs tab

    Note: I have no way to confirm if this works. If you try Reji’s method, please let me know the outcome. -RyanTAdams

  • 2 Marie // May 31, 2008 at 8:54 PM


    I uninstalled AOL and am continuing to have the print problem.
    I have tried both of your suggestions without correcting my problem. Any additonal suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

  • 3 Ryan Adams // May 31, 2008 at 9:15 PM


    @Marie: Did you have this problem before you uninstalled AOL?

  • 4 Marie // Jun 3, 2008 at 8:04 PM


    No I did not, I loaded dsl with AT&T then I uninstalled my AOL that is when my print problem began.

  • 5 Ryan Adams // Jun 3, 2008 at 11:07 PM


    All I can suggest is that you retry the steps above in Safe Mode and make sure you don’t accidentally miss any steps. These directions restore basically everything Internet Explorer related which should alleviate any problems.

    If they steps still do not work, there is a good chance there is another program running that is interfering with IE. I’ve heard of the Canon easy print software causing issues, and there are undoubtedly others.

  • 6 Linda // Jul 28, 2008 at 4:12 PM


    I had the same problem after uninstalling AOL — I tried Reji’s suggestion of resetting IE as the default browser and printing is fine now.

  • 7 Carol // Oct 15, 2009 at 2:14 PM


    @Reji:

    I also had this problem after uninstalling AOL – After reading numerous fixes, I tried Reji’s suggestion because it was the easiest. Glad to say that after 2 days I have had no problems and the printing is great. THANKS