cannot open search page - something new?

[Justin]

I am having difficulty with xp. I am not sure if this is
a browser based problem or something else. I have
comcast high speed internet. I have been successful in
pinging websites, but when I try to access a website like
google.com, I get an error cannot open search page.
Comcast says that they were able to reach my pc as well,
and that I have an os problem. I tried running spyware
removers (spybot, ad-aware, cms shredder) and avg anti-
virus to no avail. I am unable to connect to any web
page. I tried installing a new browser, with no luck. I
reset all my internet options to default and also tried
unclicking auto-detect. Likewise, I tried a repair
install and trying a different working ethernet card.
All of these were no luck. I tried all of these with and
without zonealarm and avg turned off. This all started
when I tried to install sp2, and I have been unable to
bring up a webpage since. I have since uninstalled sp2.
Could this have something to do with registry or a worm?
Also, if I try to open up Windows Media player, I get
asked the options screen for Windows Media Player 9, and
it keeps asking for input and will not accept any answers
(do not know if this is related or not). I am at wits
end. Please help....

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Justin

Try the following and see if it helps:

Download, install and run WINSOCKFIX available at:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
and
WinsockXP Fix- WinXP
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
Also, with instructions, at
http://www.iup.edu/house/resnet/winfix.shtm
also
From LavaSoft- all versions of Windows-
http://digital-solutions.co.uk/lavasoft/whndnfix.zip
also ....
(NOTE: It is reported that in XP SP2, the command netsh winsock reset
will fix this problem without the need for these programs.)

if still no joy continue below..........

Unable to search from IE6 Address Bar

Check the Registry to see if this file is there. Sometime during removal of
hijackers or spyware files in the Registry can get corrupted or removed as
well. If not, try adding this line to this part of the registry.

(watch for the wrap, it should be all on one line)

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]

"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

or.......

A Single Letter May Be Displayed in the Title Bar
When you run Windows Explorer or start Internet Explorer, the text in the
title bar may be displayed as a single letter (for example, an "M" or an
"E").
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=225123
or
http://www.free-web-browsers.com/support/remove-mysearch.shtml

and........

To Restore Address Search Functions

Restore default Search functions:

In order to restore you default Search functions, download and run the
program below. You will have to redo any customized features you may have
added afterward.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG

or....................

Courtesy of Tony Klein, MS MVP:

This will restore the Windows defaults for a whole lot of Search related
registry entries.

CAUTION: BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST!

Close IE, copy the bold to Notepad, save as Search.reg (save as 'all files',
and doubleclick. Answer 'yes' when prompted to add the contents of
Search.reg to the Registry:

REGEDIT4 (Watch for the line wrap. Each one should be all on on line.)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchasst.
htm"
"CustomizeSearch"="http://ie.search.msn.com/{SUB_RFC1766}/srchasst/srchcust.
htm"
"Default_Search_URL"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=ies
earch"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl]
""="http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\main]
"Search Page"="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&ar=iesearch"
"Search Bar"="http://search.msn.com/spbasic.htm"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPre
fix] @="http://"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]"
ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://

You can also check these keys and edit them, if necessary, as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\
DefaultPrefix default="http://"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\
Prefixes
"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

or.............................

Restrore Search:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG
This will restore your default Search functionality. You will, however,
have to restore any custom setups you may have had before.

Download the fix - Reset Search:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/tools/IEFIX.reg
This will restore your default Search functionality. However, if you had
any custom adjustments you have made will have to re-select them.

or.............

Repairs the corrupted or altered (spyware) HTTP prefixes
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/RepairDefaultPrefix.reg

If these steps do not resolve your problem, please post back to this thread
with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

Jan
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