IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

This problem is caused by a "protective" protocol that I do not support or recommend, that is, loading down the registry by adding a slew of sites to IE's Restricted Sites zone - sometimes tens of thousands of URLs.  Products that "protect" you by loading down the registry in such a way include Spybot, IE-Spyad and Spyware Blaster.

IE7 has made changes to the way that the rendering engine interacts with the Restricted Sites zone - the end result is that if you are using Outlook (not 2007), have IE7 installed and use HTML as your email format, then when you type an email the IE rendering engine will check the registry for entries in IE's Restricted Sites zone **every time you type a character***. 

FIXES:

Remove all of those entries in the Restricted Sites Zone - simply use the programme that dumped all that data into the Restricted Site zone to remove the entries (or use the Reset Internet Explorer Settings Tool) (Tools, Internet Options, Advanced tab)

- or -

Stop using HTML (switch to Rich Text instead)

- or -

Use Word as Outlook's email editor.

***DO NOT*** set Outlook to run in the Internet Zone.

SOAPBOX:

I am reading commentaries in which some complainants demand that Microsoft "fix" IE7 so that they can continue to use the Restricted Sites zone as a "Protection", ignoring the fact that using a protection that depends on adding URLs to IE's Restricted Sites zone is doomed to eventual failure in the same way as adding spam senders to a blocked sender list is doomed to failure.

It is true that in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP the Registry Size Limit (RSL) functionality was removed for the most part, meaning that there are no longer any limits on the total amount of space that may be consumed by registry data in paged pool memory and disk space, but this does not mean we should bog the registry down with ever increasing data like Restricted Zone URL entries (Note: On Windows Server 2003, there is a limitation for the system hive of 12 MB when we use the /3GB switch).

There is no practical limit to the number of URLs that the bad guys can create to spread their wares and we simply cannot continue to add URL after URL after URL to IE's Restricted Sites zone as a way to fight back.  If Microsoft decides to change the behaviour behind the slowdown affecting Outlook, then they should do so for reasons other than people wanting to bog down their systems with tens of thousands of Restricted Zone registry entries - it will be better for us to move away from a "protective" protocol that is doomed to eventual failure.

I can understand the thinking behind using the Restricted Sites zone - it means you can view the sites with minimal risk, whereas using a HOSTS file completely blocks access to sites, but I recommend that iIf you really want to avoid advertisements and spyware domains, use Mike Burgess's HOSTS file, available here:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

 

Published Sun, May 13 2007 13:18 by sandi
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# Microsoft Updates Nightmare: Outlook Very Slow When Typing HTML formatted Email / Blog Archive / amanaloneMUSING

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# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 1:30 AM by Robear Dyer, MS MVP

<QP>

Remove all of those entries in the Restricted Sites Zone - a quick way to do this is to reset Internet Explorer's settings [RIES] (Tools, Internet Options, Advanced tab)

</QP>

Your readers should be aware that RIES does more than just remove all entries in Restricted Sites zone. See "What you must know" section of support.microsoft.com/.../923737

More: windowshelp.microsoft.com/.../81fe3b46-2460-459e-b826-8f134a7fe1771033.mspx

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 7:12 PM by sandi

Thank you Robear but the text right next to the button explains what happens:

""Deletes all temporary files, disables browser add-ons, and resets all the changed settings.  You should only use this if your browser is in an unusable state"

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 17, 2007 7:15 AM by indy

The reason people used this is because IE traditionally has been an insecure browser, and when spyware was ramping up (pre SP2) people were desperate to fix the holes.

Don't blame your customers.  You didn't provide a solution for YEARS, while third parties did.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 17, 2007 7:16 AM by indy

I find it ironic that you recommend a hosts file, which will have unintended consequences to the entire system (slow startup, for example, long DNS queries,) yet you blast using the restricted sites zone as intended for it's original purpose.

Sandi says:

Let's be clear. The Restricted Sites Zone was never intended to be used to hold tens of thousands of URLs.

1) Regarding those machines that hit occasional slowdowns, the fix is:

Open the "Services Editor"

  • Start | Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
  • Scroll down to "DNS Client", Right-click and select: Properties
  • Click the drop-down arrow for "Startup type"
  • Select: Manual, or Disabled (recommended) click Apply/Ok and restart.

2) Long DNS queries - the HOSTS file has been used for years to give the illusion of *FASTER* surfing by pre-mapping, *avoiding* the need for DNS queries (a use, by the way, which I warn against because if a site's IP address changes it will be inaccessible until the HOSTS file is re-edited.)

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 17, 2007 3:25 PM by James T

I have been looking for a fix to this problem since IE 7 was released!

I disagree that using a list of URLs is doomed. Anti-virus and anti-malware programs all use lists or definitions. The blacklists I use for Exchange work well. When Microsoft updates the IMF definitions it works better.

I have used the IE Spyad list for years on my network of 70 systems - it eliminated the malware problem and did it before Symantec Corporate edition or Shavlik finds it on the hard drive. It doesn't slow the systems down or leave empty -page not found- areas in web pages, like a hosts file does. It costs nothing and Symantec doesn't nag me about threats.

The zones in IE are there for a useful purpose so I hope Microsoft fixes this.

Anther work around... in Outlook go to Tools-Options-Security tab then click Ok and Outlook will work normal until the next time it is opened.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 17, 2007 5:03 PM by sandi

Here is a question for Indy and James.

Would your RS zone entries have protected you and your users when the official ASUS site was hacked (several times)?

Would they have protected you when Yahoo Groups India was hacked?

Neowin.net?

spreadfirefox.com?

Circuit City?

debian.org?

Capital City Bank?

Wakulla Bank?

Premier Bank ?

Listen, the bad guys KNOW that people actively try to avoid known malware sites and that they try to avoid advertising online.  Reality is that the hacking of legitimate sites to insert hostile code is a growth industry - and restricted site zone entries will NOT protect you from that - it is impossible to predict who is going to be hacked next.

IE7 in and of itself has protections that reduce the need for old-style tricks like Restricted Site Zone entries in any event.  Drive-by downloads are pretty much neutralised in IE7 and IE7 has been immune to virtually every exploit that affects IE6.  Running Windows Vista provides even greater protection.

Previous articles about hacked legitimate sites - just two of many I have written:

"Remember how I said no site is guaranteed safe?"

"Don't think you're safe just because you only surf to safe sites"

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 17, 2007 7:04 PM by James T

The RS zone entries are not an end all solution to the problem. They are an inexpensive, low maintenance, helpful mitigation.

They make my network less reliant on time consuming Symantec warnings and Shavlik protect scans. I could import similar lists into the ISA server but the zone entries provide a better user experience.

As a bonus the zone entries provide a little privacy from marketers that track every thing you do.

Other than the Outlook problem IMHO they make IE 7 the best browser.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:40 PM by sandi

On the ISA server you can set up a rule to redirect dangerous addresses to an in-house URL (or URLs).

If you want to go even more granular control - redirect ad network URLs to a blank or neutral colored page, and redirect malware sites to a warning URL - you get protection *and* user education.

I've seen, and used, variations on the above ideas on several networks.

In the end loading down the RSZ key with tens of thousands of URLs was never its intended purpose.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Monday, May 21, 2007 1:23 AM by Piers

Well, I have tried Sandi's fix for this, and no effect. It is driving me insane. This problem seems to have happened quite recently. Other forums have suggested that a Microsoft update on 10th May was the culprit.

Any other ideas on how to fix theis REALLY annoying problem?

Piers

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Monday, May 21, 2007 2:38 AM by sandi

@Piers

There are several different fixes. Have you tried *all* of them?

There are other possible causes, and a hotfix for slow performance when using OL, that is unrelated to IE and the RSZ.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, May 24, 2007 1:07 PM by Jeff

Another workaround: left-click on Outlook's Mailbox when you first start Outlook, or set Outlook to start there. Then go to your Inbox. I do not know why it works but postings elsewhere indicate it does and it works for me. My restricted zone list has a couple dozen sites, not huge so something else is causing the slowdown.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Saturday, May 26, 2007 3:20 PM by Richard
thanks for the fix, sandi.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Monday, May 28, 2007 8:12 PM by Lee

Remove the following patch to eliminate the typing lag in Outlook:

KB931768 IE security patch

I removed this recently added IE patch and the lag was gone.  Unfortunately, I feel a bit too vulnerable without the patch, so I reinstalled it.  But atleast I know it is the result of a recent patch and perhaps MS will fix the dran thing...

Sandi says: I will allow this comment to go live but STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST removing the patch. Use the workarounds instead.

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 10:30 AM by Jimmy B
I use Mozilla as opposed to IE. Will the link recommended at the begging of this blog also work for Mozilla?

# re: IE with Outlook - When typing a new email in Outlook, or replying to an email, in html format there is a significant delay from when the letters are typed to when they appear on the screen

Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:41 AM by DScott

What's the risk of using this method..within outlook tools options-security tab and setting the security zones to Internet as opposed to default Restricted?