How to Fix the IE8 Problem: Cannot Display Web Page

Written by: Tricia Goss • Edited by: Michele McDonough
Updated Dec 9, 2009 • Related Guides: Modem | Internet Explorer | Ie8

Internet Explorer 8 offers some cool new features, but you are experiencing a problem with it. Sometimes (or perhaps frequently), you encounter a messaging stating IE8 cannot display the web page you are trying to view. Try some troubleshooting steps that may fix this problem.

Try to Display Another Web Page

The first step to take to try and fix this problem in IE8 is to determine whether you can display any web page in Internet Explorer. Open a new IE8 window and type in the web address of a site you have not recently visited (if you cannot come up with anything, try www.randomwebsite.net). If this web page can be displayed, contact the owner of the web page that cannot be displayed. Chances are, the site is experiencing problems or might be down temporarily.

Use the IE8 Network Diagnostics Tool

If your IE8 cannot display any web pages, try running the Network Diagnostics Tool. To access this tool, simply click the Diagnose button under Internet Explorer Cannot Display the Web Page. Windows will run the Network Diagnostics Tool and attempt to determine a problem. If the tool finds a problem with your connection or with IE8, follow the steps provided to fix the problem with IE8.

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Reset the Modem (and Router)

Sometimes, resetting your computer's modem will fix the Cannot Display Web Page problem in IE8. To do so, turn the computer off. Unplug the power cord from the back of the modem (and the router as well, if you have one) and leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds. Turn the computer back on. Once it is fully booted up, plug the modem and router back in and wait for all of the appropriate lights to be illuminated on the modem and router. Finally, restart the computer one more time. Open Internet Explorer and see if the web page can now be displayed.

Delete Temporary Files

Deleting temporary Internet files can fix some problems with IE8, including the Cannot Display Web Page message. To delete these files, open Internet Explorer and go to the Tools menu from the Menu Bar. Click on Delete Browsing History. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete. Select the check boxes for all of the types of data you want to delete. The only one you might not want to select is Passwords if you use Internet Explorer to save web page passwords. Click the Delete button to delete these files. Close IE8 and reopen it.

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If you find you are still having problems with IE8 and cannot display web pages, you might want to roll back to an earlier version. Read How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 8 to learn how.

sangre Jul 17, 2010 10:55 AM

maybe...

Had same problem of IE8 internet connections. Found best luck with reseting IE8-Tools/internet options/advanced to Reset then Reset on next page(i ticked to reset all). Ok but reoccurred in a couple of days when some of the ie addons were re-enabled. One of the addons were for Adobe Reader so I opened this program and it updated. Since then this addon is enabled again and no reoccurrance of connection problems....yet. Fingers crossed here.

Lee Brooks Apr 19, 2010 10:16 AM

Disable Add-ons

To resolve this issue, disable the add-on called sophos web content scanner.
IE8>Tools>Manage Add-ons>Sophos Web Content Scanner>Disable.
Close IE,>re-open
Problem solved.

Roger Mar 14, 2010 12:19 PM

problems

I read the article you posted, and I still have issues, I even turned my wireless off and hooked up to my router directly, everything was reset.
I see alot of articles all they say is reset this reset that, look at this, but nothing that says this is whats wrong.
To me it is beginning to look like I am about to spend a couple hundred dollars to get a IT profesional to atempt to repair it.

MAC lover Mar 9, 2010 2:20 AM

why is PC so bad at keeping it real.

MAC seems to do this without freaking the entire world out, When are they going to get it right PC burn it.

Helen Nov 29, 2009 6:25 AM

Cannot Display Wepage

This happens to just one website, I have to refresh the page loads of times to get it to load. The website is a well known and maintained one and works fine on my laptop so I know it isn't the site. It's not the network, have deleted temp files etc. Any suggestions please??

Al Nov 14, 2009 12:19 AM

IE8 and "Cannot Display Page"

Ever since I installed IE8 (what a mistake) I've run into all kinds of connectivity problems. In my case IE8 seems to overload the linksys router and some web sites stop working regardless of the machine or browser running in the network. If you wait a few minutes the web sites start running again. The router might be the culprit but I am leaning on IE8 more and more since I never had the problem before. I am writing this comment while waiting for my web page to come back.... and it came back!

R.Habibi Oct 27, 2009 2:04 AM

plz HELP!!!

I can't open Microsoft.com web site on my computer. All other websites work well.
it works on every other computer except my own.
IE 8, Mozila , netscape no one can open this site.
if there is any way to fix this problem please please tellllll me.
thank you

tony Oct 19, 2009 11:43 PM

cannot display webpage

Hi Tricia, Well, i've been surfing the net for the past couple of days trying to find a solution to this ubiquitous "cannot display the webpage." I went through the litany of steps on the microsoft troubleshooting page. System restore worked for about a day, but i think some type of update during the evening put me right back in the same "cannot display box." Now i cannot even system restore to a previous time. IE8 worked great for about 2.5 months, now it's only the "cannot display message." I've tried all of the IE8 reset suggestions, checking/unchecking boxes in my security and advanced tabs in tools/options, turning off antivirus/windows defender and security, and even deleting some of the registry microsoft policies in regedit...all to no avail. i'm running vista on a new computer (puchased july 09) and only began having these issues about 4 days ago. have you found any other solutions that are all encompassing?

John Jul 22, 2009 8:25 AM

Comment

Microsoft really stink nowadays, first with their release of Vista, then IE8, even Window Mail is inferior to Outlook Express due to missing functionality (no switch identity), Microsoft Word 2003 is not good for typing business letters (pressing Enter will make double spaces which is not intended for heading of a letter). I really wonder what is happening with MS

No Updates Jul 15, 2009 9:03 PM

IE8 Problems

I have had the same problem with every computer I have tried to update with IE8. The advice I have received is 'stay away from IE8 at all costs until MS resolves the problems' (normally takes 1 year!). I now use Firefox and have no problems and am wary of and MS Free Upgrades.

Tricia Goss Jul 10, 2009 9:43 PM

'Diagnose Connection Problems'

Are you certain you are using Internet Explorer version 8? 'Diagnose Connection Problems' should be near the top of the Tools menu on the menu bar (along with File, Edit, etc.) or at the very top of the "other" Tools menu. You might also want to read this article: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/40008.aspx

C Jul 10, 2009 12:48 AM

HELP!

When I read your article, I tried to do the same thing by looking for 'Diagnose Connection Problems'. However it does not appear on the page or under Tools. If there is any way to fix this, please tell me so that I can figure this out. All other pages work, however just this one website won't. It's not down however, because it works on every other computer except my own. Alright thank you!

How to Fix the IE8 Problem: Cannot Display Web Page

Try to Display Another Web Page

Use the IE8 Network Diagnostics Tool

Reset the Modem (and Router)

Delete Temporary Files

Comments