Re: Browser stops working but Internet still connected

I solved the very same problem on a friends laptop yesterday. Exact same
symptoms. Turned out to be the McAfee Security Center. Uninstalled all the
McAfee stuff, installed Avast, Windows Defender, CCleaner and problems were
solved. He had two other machines on the same router, but neither of them
had similar symptoms. One thing I noticed on his laptop was when I
attempted to open a web page, it appeared to go to the site for an instant
and then gave the 404 error and IE7 would show the url as http:// in the
address bar instead of the full url. BTW, I did a thorough investigation
for malware, but nothing showed up.

BullDawg

"DP" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:u5maO$ycHHA.5044@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> I'm having this problem on a Vista 64 bit machine, but it also happens on
> a machine using plain old 32-bit XP (though the processor is a single
> core, AMD 64-bit).
>
> I sometimes have problems connecting to websites using the browser. But at
> the same time, I can still check email and participate in NGs (as I am
> now). I can download data from financial institutions using Quicken.
> Instant messenger programs work.
>
> So, while the browser has trouble connecting, the Internet connection is
> obviously still there and working because these other programs show that
> to be the case. I tried installing the Opera browser, and it can't connect
> either during these periods either. So it's not just an IE problem.
>
> Both the Vista 64 and the XP 32 machines go through the same DSL modem.
> The Vista machine is connected wirelessly to the DSL modem.
>
> Both are using IE7. The Vista machine is using the version that came on
> the Vista Ultimate 64-bit OEM disk. The 32-bit machine is using a version
> I downloaded several months earlier.
>
> While I was in the process of writing this, a box popped up in the corner
> of my screen telling me that Avast AV has been updated. Usually that box
> pops up at bootup. But just now the machine had been on for several
> minutes when it popped up. Once that happened, I figured whatever had been
> the problem had ended, so I fired up Opera and it connected. (Before
> anyone says the problem was caused by the AV update, I can assure you
> that's not the case. The problem happens on two machines and I have that
> AV only loaded on one. I've also had the AV update on bootup, but then
> have this connectivity problem show up later.)
>
> Two more things:
>
> 1) When this problem happens, if I put my cursor over the internet
> connection icon in the system tray (on the Vista machine), it will show
> the connection and say "local access only." When I'm not having problems
> with the browser, it will show "Local and Internet."
>
> 2) When this problem occurs, I usually can still access my company's email
> website. I'm not sure, but I assume my company's email server is in the
> same city as my home, which is why I can access it. But I can't access any
> other internet sites.
>
> So, I guess my questions are:
>
> 1) What is "local access only"? Is it a problem with my ISP? With my DSL
> modem?
>
> 2) And why, when in "local access" mode, can I still get stuff from
> non-local sources while using Windows Mail, Quicken and instant messenger?
>
>

I'm not using McAfee, Bill. But thanks for trying.


"Bill" <eschol@remove_this.shinbiro.com> wrote in message
news:OmpoSp1cHHA.4344@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I solved the very same problem on a friends laptop yesterday. Exact same
>symptoms. Turned out to be the McAfee Security Center. Uninstalled all
>the McAfee stuff, installed Avast, Windows Defender, CCleaner and problems
>were solved. He had two other machines on the same router, but neither of
>them had similar symptoms. One thing I noticed on his laptop was when I
>attempted to open a web page, it appeared to go to the site for an instant
>and then gave the 404 error and IE7 would show the url as http:// in the
>address bar instead of the full url. BTW, I did a thorough investigation
>for malware, but nothing showed up.
>
> BullDawg
>
> "DP" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:u5maO$ycHHA.5044@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> I'm having this problem on a Vista 64 bit machine, but it also happens on
>> a machine using plain old 32-bit XP (though the processor is a single
>> core, AMD 64-bit).
>>
>> I sometimes have problems connecting to websites using the browser. But
>> at the same time, I can still check email and participate in NGs (as I am
>> now). I can download data from financial institutions using Quicken.
>> Instant messenger programs work.
>>
>> So, while the browser has trouble connecting, the Internet connection is
>> obviously still there and working because these other programs show that
>> to be the case. I tried installing the Opera browser, and it can't
>> connect either during these periods either. So it's not just an IE
>> problem.
>>
>> Both the Vista 64 and the XP 32 machines go through the same DSL modem.
>> The Vista machine is connected wirelessly to the DSL modem.
>>
>> Both are using IE7. The Vista machine is using the version that came on
>> the Vista Ultimate 64-bit OEM disk. The 32-bit machine is using a version
>> I downloaded several months earlier.
>>
>> While I was in the process of writing this, a box popped up in the corner
>> of my screen telling me that Avast AV has been updated. Usually that box
>> pops up at bootup. But just now the machine had been on for several
>> minutes when it popped up. Once that happened, I figured whatever had
>> been the problem had ended, so I fired up Opera and it connected. (Before
>> anyone says the problem was caused by the AV update, I can assure you
>> that's not the case. The problem happens on two machines and I have that
>> AV only loaded on one. I've also had the AV update on bootup, but then
>> have this connectivity problem show up later.)
>>
>> Two more things:
>>
>> 1) When this problem happens, if I put my cursor over the internet
>> connection icon in the system tray (on the Vista machine), it will show
>> the connection and say "local access only." When I'm not having problems
>> with the browser, it will show "Local and Internet."
>>
>> 2) When this problem occurs, I usually can still access my company's
>> email website. I'm not sure, but I assume my company's email server is in
>> the same city as my home, which is why I can access it. But I can't
>> access any other internet sites.
>>
>> So, I guess my questions are:
>>
>> 1) What is "local access only"? Is it a problem with my ISP? With my DSL
>> modem?
>>
>> 2) And why, when in "local access" mode, can I still get stuff from
>> non-local sources while using Windows Mail, Quicken and instant
>> messenger?
>>
>>
>
>