Network adapters work only in Safe Mode - HELP!

R

RandySea

Windows XP Pro on Panasonic CF-W2 laptop. Working 100% fine until this
morning.

When I booted up today, I could not connect via Intel Pro wireless adapter
nor via Ethernet. Ipconfig shows nothing at all, i.e., no adapters. Hardware
profiles show both network adapters are "working correctly." Intel Wireless
Troubleshooter shows "Currently there are no issues reported." The system
tray Local Area Connection Status for the Ethernet adapter shows Status
Connected 100.0 Mbps but 0 packets received or sent.

I tried to use a Restore Point but Win showed no changes could be made from
Restore Points. I then booted to Safe Mode with Networking. From there I
could access the internet via Ethernet. The wireless wasn't running,
presumably because some Intel driver didn't load. But the important clue is
that my Ethernet connection was now working normally.

Recent changes to my system:

My Restore Point list shows a Software Distribution Service 3.0 two days
ago. I see MS updates KB958687 for XP security and 959140 for Outlook junk
filter. I don't use Outlook. I haven't tried uninstalling these updates
because the system has booted several times since they were installed.

Updated Norton AV 2008 to 2009 two days ago. Have restarted the system
several times since then with no problem. I just tried using Msconfig and
disabling the Norton antivirus service and restarting, with no change in my
problem.

I have ZoneAlarm 8.0.065.000 on my system. I just tried using Msconfig and
disabling ZoneAlarm service and restarting the computer, with no change in
my problem.

The last major thing I did online last night, except for an email check
using Outlook Express, was to do a TrendMicro HouseCall online scan. It took
2 hours and I did it twice. It reported one hit, which was a trivial utility
that retrieves the CDROM key for Windows and Office. I've had this little
utility for years and did not let HouseCall delete it. I did not reboot
until this morning.

I hadn't realized that I still had an AdAware service running, so I disabled
that today. No change. I don't see any other services that I don't
recognize, but I'm not sure I would remember them all.

A full scan with NAV shows no risks.

Does anyone have any ideas that might help me?
 
R

RandySea

One more point: When I open the Local Area Connection Status for the
ethernet adapter and try to Support/Repair, the message says Windows could
not finish repairing . . . Failed to query tcpip settings of the connection.
 
R

RandySea

I found a freeware utility that fixed my problem in a few seconds plus one
reboot. This after hours of futzing, disabling services, uninstalling
ZoneAlarm and some Windows updates.

http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html

I don't know what screwed up my winsock registry entries, but this program
did it. The website is filled with comments from others who had the same
quick success that I did.
 

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