Internet working but programs can't find network connection

[Guest]

Apparently Windows did some sort of update on Friday night. Friday afternoon
everything was working fine, Saturday morning I had a few issues but was in a
hurry so didn't sit down to try and figure out until today.

First, a number of my programs suddenly had missing critical files (I had to
reinstall my Adobe Acrobate, repair my office files, McAfee security center
won't load, Snapfish Picture Mover has a corrupted database and the HP
Advisor just fails when my computer boots, and a couple of other programs no
longer have the program icon and that's just what I've found so far.) I spend
a VERY frustrating 2 hours in a chat with a completely clueless HP technical
support person, who finally told me to call him (without giving me a number).
He absolutely refused to listen to what I said (he asked me 6 times about my
virus protection insisting that I must also have norton since most HP
computers come with it, so my problem must SUDDENLY be a conflict in two
virus software programs, except I uninstalled the Norton the day I got the
computer and this is a new problem).

Anyway, the major problem is that while I can easily connect to the internet
(I'm on a wireless connection, but not having any problems with it, and I've
reset it numerous times while talking to HP), the programs I'm trying to
repair/update can't seem to locate the internet.

Initially, I was trying to install a trial of Visio, but I couldn't activate
it because it said it couldn't access the internet and when I had a
connection I should try again (I can browse to the internet and have been
able to successful pull up numerous sites, including downloading the trial of
Visio, but the PROGRAMS can't get to it). I then tried to reinstall McAfee
since it isn't working. I could download the files, but again McAfee couldn't
reach the internet to complete the installation and said I was not connected
and to try again once I was connected.

I believe that I may have lost a couple of Windows Vista files -- is there a
way to do a repair on the actual operating system (not the startup files, I
tried that and there are no errors), or can you offer me any other
suggestions on things to try?

I have Vista home premium, which came installed on my Pavilion Laptop. I've
also tried restoring the system to a point prior to the upgrade on Friday,
but the system restores fail for an "unknown reason". I would prefer not to
have to completely restore my system for a back up if that can be avoided.

Thanks for your help and any suggestions.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories and right-click
on the Command Prompt and choose "Run as administrator".
Type in: SFC /SCANNOW and press your Enter key.

This should repair/replace any corrupted system files.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Andre, that definitely started me on the right path. I ran the command
and was told that it found some corrupt files but it wasn't able to fix them
all and I should review the CBS.log for more info (I pulled the log into Word
and it is 14,600+ pages long (holy cow!!))

I'm running the scan a second time right now... any suggestions on what I
should do if the corrupted files can't be fixed in the second pass? How to
easily identify what they are, and where to get non-corrupt copies?

Thanks for your help... already SO much more helpful that HP's tech support.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

I'm running the scan a second time right now... any suggestions on what I
should do if the corrupted files can't be fixed in the second pass?

If that does not work, try repairing your system. Boot from your Windows

Vista DVD, select the System Repair Option > on the setup screen, select
'Repair Computer > Select your installation of Windows > select Startup
Repair option and follow instructions.