IE Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Browsing > Automatically check for
IE updates (uncheck)

NB: Any number of anti-malware tools (e.g., SpywareBlaster, Spybot, Ad-aware
Ad-watch) may be blocking changes to your homepage or your ability to have
the above option "stick".
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org


Steve Hawkins wrote:
> I use 'about blank' so as to avoid loading stuff I don't want to see when
> opening IE.
>
> This works fine except that MS seems to be able to hijack this setting and
> go straight to its update page on opening even though I have my update
> settings set to inform me of updates only. I still get the notifications
> in the 'notification area' so it is very irritating to have to wait while
> I get diverted from what I wanted to do to a page I did not want to go to
> at that time.
>
> How do I get control back from MS?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> SteveH