Diagnosing port problems using "Safe Mode"
Hi,
I have a problem where some software blocks ports. My system is
Windows XP, Service Pack 2, with all Microsoft patches up-to-date.
The problem started by Outlook Express suddenly reporting that it
couldn't connect to my ISP's POP and SMTP servers (ports 110 and 25)
anymore. I don't recall that had made any changes in the software,
but somebody else is using the same XP system, and they may not be so
careful in perhaps incidentally installing some third party stuff.
I disabled the Norten Antivirus, to NO avail.
I looked at the Task Manager process list and at the running services,
but this is confusing with the many, many processes running and no
indication of what may they do to ports.
Then I re-started the XP system in Safe Mode, and Outlook Express
sending/receiving works FINE, indicating that in Safe Mode the
offending software, whatever blocks ports 110 and 25, is disabled.
QUESTION:
How do you find out which software is the offender, blocking ports
110-25 in normal mode. Do you know a more systematic way of doing
this, rather than the guess work of disabling one after the other of
tens of processes?
Thanks,
Wolfgang,
CA
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