Internet Explorer message about manage add-ons, error message: "a program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for internet explorer"

error message: "a program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for internet explorer" 

Manage add-ons page opens up every time a new Internet Explorer window is opened.

I found 3 solutions and only the last one made it work or it was a combination of them, I don't know but here they are:


1. Source: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie8-windows_other/how-to-really-get-rid-of-a-program-has-corrupted/ba3d3a7a-4670-42e4-8888-0712158f15c2

Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

Rename SearchScopes  to SearchScopes_old


2. Source: http://www.pchelpforum.com/xf/threads/search-provider-default-message.86289/


A. Click on the "Start" button and then in the search box above the start button type "regedit" (without quotes) and press enter to open the registry editor.

B. Make sure Internet Explorer 8 is closed then navigate to registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > User Shell Folders.

C. After reaching User Shell Folders right click to the right site of the window and add a new "Expandable String value" with a value name of "AppData" and a value data of "%USERPROFILE%\Application Data" (without quotes).

D. Restart the computer once this is done



*Solution that worked

3. Source: http://superuser.com/questions/462618/windows-7-ie9-search-provider-corruption

quit Internet Explorer
navigate to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Protect\

delete the CREDHIST system file