MSIE can't connect

[Bill H.]

Windows XP Media Center Edition.

"Something happened" today and now her laptop cannot connect to the Internet
using a browser. MSIE 7 says page cannot be found. DL'ed Firefox, and same
thing (used another computer).

Computer is networked and CAN see the other computer and can transfer files.
Can send/receive POP3 email. Can ping yahoo. Using IP address for yahoo in
the browser says "page not found."

CAN access Internet via browser in safe mode. Using normal mode, even with
diagnostic startup selected, cannot access internet.

Generally use wireless (with weak signal) but also moved laptop to office
with wireless router for strong signal. Also connected via hardwire and
still same results (at that point had both wireless and hardwire active), no
browser Internet access.

Turned off firewall, no help. Had Norton 360 (not paid and thus not active)
installed, but we uninstalled it (even though it's no longer on the desktop
nor listed in Programs, it may not have completely uninstalled). No change.

Used the Reset button in Internet options|advanced to reset MSIE. No help.

Used System Restore to go back two days. No good either.

Where else to look?

Thx.

 

[David B.]

Download and run the Norton removal tool to check for any leftover junk.

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

 

[smlunatick]

Download and run the Norton removal tool to check for any leftover junk.

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/200503310816...

And reset the TCP/IP protocol stack. I have successfully used
"winsockxpfix.exe."

 

[Bill H.]

Yeah, I'm thinking about that, but we'd also have to remove pcAnyWhere, a
valuable tool. I wish Symantec's AV removal tool did just that--removed AV
products and not other Norton/Symantec products.

:-(

 

[Bill H.]

tried the "winsockxpfix.exe." Didn't work. :-(

Also dl'ed and ran Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM).

It could not connect to the Internet to get updates, but we ran it anyway.
Seems it found only tracking stuff. The category was "adware.<somethning>"
Elected to remove all it found. Didn't help with the browser/Internet
problem.

--Bill

 

[smlunatick]

Yeah, I'm thinking about that, but we'd also have to remove pcAnyWhere, a
valuable tool. I wish Symantec's AV removal tool did just that--removed AV
products and not other Norton/Symantec products.

:-(

The Norton Removal tool will remove all "Norton" branded product
(including pcAnywhere) and several versions of ACT!. However, you
would still be able to re-install the pcAnywhere after the clean-up.
You must decide which problem is more frustrating: IE not connecting
or having to re-install pcAnywhere.

 

[usernameandpassword]

We have a laptop here with the same issue. I posted about it in another post
but try installing or updateing the .NET framework and see if it works again.

 

[Bill H.]

Thanks.

Final solution was to reinstall/remove the third-party firewall, even though
I had removed it in the beginning. Guess it wasn't totally removed.
:-0

--Bill