Broadband Problems

[Mark Blizel]

Apparently I have deleted something that has made my
broadband connection unusuable. When I start my computer
I get an error message that says Error loading C:\Windows
Download Program Files\bridge.dll. The specific module
could not be found.

I have tried reinstalling Windows XP and that didn't take
care of the problem. I have tried to set up a new
network connection using the network wizard and that
didn't work. XP doens not let me connect to the internet
when it requires a user name or password. I have found
an article about this problem with XP and the fix is to
correct the Registry Editor but when I try to access that
by going to regedit in the run box, it pops up for a
second and then disappears.

I've tried reinstalling the broadband software but that
doesn't completely install. I get a note saying that XP
doesn't recognize the PPPoE connection.

I can't even use the dial up version of the internet
connection because it doesn't recognize my modem. Does
anyone have any suggestions before I dump this machine?

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

Bridge.dll is associated with spyware programs and viruses. Anti-virus
software and
firewalls do not fully protect your system against the majority of spyware
and privacy threats. Spyware is commonly bundled with software downloads,
attached to e-mails, or transmitted through networks so it can appear to be
legitimate software, but once installed it can be nearly impossible to
detect and remove without the help of a dedicated spyware removal tool such
as:

Ad-Aware 6.0 (build 6.181)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

SpyBot 1.3
http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpyWare Blaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html/

HiJackThis
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html

Please make sure that you download the updates for each of these programs to
ensure complete detection of known spyware programs. Although nothing is
absolute in removing spyware and keeping it off, downloading and executing
the programs above can dramatically decrease future infections.

** NOTE: After removing certain spyware programs, your internet connection
may be terminated due to a corrupt Winsock. To restore, please download and
run WinSock XP Fix at http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html

Also please utilize free virus scans from the following sites:

Trend Micro
http://www.trend.com

Bit Defender
http://www.bitdefender.com

Panda
http://www.pandasoftware.com/

McAfee
http://www.vil.nai.com/vil/stinger

After Spyware / Adware is remove, you may get an error finding files on
reboot

After you use anyone of these programs (with the exception of HiJackThis)
you may receive an error of some sort after rebooting your system. This is
pretty common. Many spyware programs add themselves in the Startup location
and execute when Windows boots. If you receive an error when rebooting after
removing spyware, do not panic. This is more than likely a startup remnant
trying to access the spyware program that is no longer on your computer.
HiJackThis is a great utility to find and remove these startup remnants.
However, there is a less technical way of removing these items:

(1) Click START to RUN and type: msconfig
(2) Select the STARTUP tab
(3) Uncheck the file that pertained to the startup error message you
received
(4) Click APPLY and OK
(5) Reboot your system

If this fails to fix the startup error message after reboot, there are still
options:

(1) Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup
(2) Delete the icon that pertained to the startup error message you received
(3) Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup
(4) Delete the icon that pertained to the startup error message you received
(5) Reboot your system


--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI