Fixing Iexplorer.exe Application Error

Iexplorer.exe refers to Internet explorer (IE), the browser built in to the Windows operating system. Internet explorer helps you view pages on the internet. While IE is a user-friendly browser, there are a few errors you can encounter while using it, one of the most common errors being “iexplorer.exe – application error”.

Error Message

iexplorer.exe - Application Error

The instruction at "0x6xxxxxxx" referenced memory at "06xxxxxxx". The memory could not be "read".

Click on OK to terminate the program.

What is the cause of the error?

As the error suggests, an application using the browser is causing Internet explorer to crash which signifies that the memory block is trying to be read twice at the same time. This is the reason you see 2 memory addresses.

There are a variety of applications that run with Internet Explorer and these are known as Browser Help Objects or BHOs. A BHO is basically a DLL module that acts as a plugin to enhance the functionality of the Browser. Some of the popular BHO’s are Google and Yahoo Toolbars, and Adobe acrobat plugin for IE.

Internet Explorer is designed to give full control to the BHO that alters the feel and functionality of the browser as required. Most of the modern malwares and spywares camouflage themselves as BHO’s and get installed on the browser leading to this error.

To avoid this it’s always better to be careful about the installation of plugins.

Fix for iexplorer.exe error

The error could either be because of a malware or a genuine software glitch. There is a definite signature for every error that the browser experiences. The best method to rectify this is uninstalling or disabling the plugin causing the error.

There can be two situations here:

  1. When the exact BHO or Plugin causing the error is known
  2. When you do not know which BHO is causing the error

Steps to be followed when you know the exact BHO or Plugin causing the error:

  1. Open Internet Explorer or IE.
  2. Click Tools and go to Internet Options.
  3. Click the Programs Tab.
  4. Click Manage Add-ons.
  5. Click Toolbar and Extensions under Add-on Types.
  6. Click the Plugin on the BHO generating problems.
  7. In the pane below click on Disable.
  8. Click Close and restart the Web Browser.

Rebooting the system will solve most BHO errors. Disabling plugins one by one and checking for errors is one of the best methods to solve these kinds of problems. Once you find the cause, you can disable the plugin causing problems and enable the rest.

If none of these steps works, the best way is to run a system scan. Some disguised BHO’s alter key system files which create iexplorer.exe errors. The procedure to run a scan is:

  1. Insert the Windows DVD into your system.
  2. Restart your system and boot from the DVD.
  3. Choose the option for a command prompt.
  4. At the prompt type sfc/scannow.
  5. Restart the system.

Running this command checks for the integrity of system files and replaces the altered files. These are the best ways to remove the iexplorer.exe errors. It is also recommended that you use reliable antivirus and antispyware tools to perform a full system scan and get rid of any malware that is detected on the system.