M
Malcolm
Our home computer (a Dell Dimension running XP Home, SP1) was overrun by
spyware, adware and who knows what else. I've run various programs such as
Ad-Aware and other spyware and IE hijacking detectors. I've removed all
kinds of stuff, but we still had problems with the computer. For example,
when my wife tries to log on to a secure website, instead of getting the
page she expects, she instead gets a page showing an ad for some type of
spyware removal tools.
Also, random popup ads will appear, certain portions of words are
automatically hyperlinked on every site visited which takes you to some site
selling MP3 players, etc. Yeah, it was a real mess. No, I didn't have
appropriate measures in place to prevent it, so shame on me. I can deal with
all that. Here's the main problem:
Eventually, the computer just stopped accessing the internet. The computer
runs through the built-in NIC through CAT5 to a wired/wireless internet
router, then through a DSL modem to the phone line. My laptop (which I am
currently typing this message on) has a wireless link and everything on it
works fine.
Troubleshooting the home computer, I turned on the option to show in the
taskbar whether there was a network connection or not. It showed that there
was. Trying to ping the router showed "no route to destination address".
Checking ipconfig showed a default address assigned to the adapter as if it
weren't talking to the router. I unplugged the cable from the wall, plugged
it into the wired jack on the laptop and DHCP immediately picked up an
address from the router. At this point, I assumed the built-in NIC on the
desktop was toast (we recently endured hurricane Ivan and other stormy
weather, so I assumed maybe it was an electrical thing).
I ordered and received a new D-Link 10/100 PCI NIC, installed it on the
computer and get exactly the same results. The network shows it is connected
(by the way, I get a connection light on the router, too), but no route to
anything. Here's where things get a little more interesting.
I manually assigned an address to the new NIC card that is within the range
that the router would assign (same Class C subnet). When I then pinged the
router, it responded. That proves that the communications between the
computer and router can work. However, when I attempt to connect to the
router's admin page through my browser (I started using Mozilla Firefox) it
pops up a connection dialog for dial-up. Disabling the attempt to dial
dialog causes the browser to immediately stop looking for the router as soon
as I hit Enter (the busy icon flashes briefly, then quits) with no error
messages or anything.
Any suggestions? Internet Connection Firewall is turned off on the computer,
as is Internet Connection Sharing. I'm stumped and getting ready to
reinstall Windows lacking any other useful tips that work.
spyware, adware and who knows what else. I've run various programs such as
Ad-Aware and other spyware and IE hijacking detectors. I've removed all
kinds of stuff, but we still had problems with the computer. For example,
when my wife tries to log on to a secure website, instead of getting the
page she expects, she instead gets a page showing an ad for some type of
spyware removal tools.
Also, random popup ads will appear, certain portions of words are
automatically hyperlinked on every site visited which takes you to some site
selling MP3 players, etc. Yeah, it was a real mess. No, I didn't have
appropriate measures in place to prevent it, so shame on me. I can deal with
all that. Here's the main problem:
Eventually, the computer just stopped accessing the internet. The computer
runs through the built-in NIC through CAT5 to a wired/wireless internet
router, then through a DSL modem to the phone line. My laptop (which I am
currently typing this message on) has a wireless link and everything on it
works fine.
Troubleshooting the home computer, I turned on the option to show in the
taskbar whether there was a network connection or not. It showed that there
was. Trying to ping the router showed "no route to destination address".
Checking ipconfig showed a default address assigned to the adapter as if it
weren't talking to the router. I unplugged the cable from the wall, plugged
it into the wired jack on the laptop and DHCP immediately picked up an
address from the router. At this point, I assumed the built-in NIC on the
desktop was toast (we recently endured hurricane Ivan and other stormy
weather, so I assumed maybe it was an electrical thing).
I ordered and received a new D-Link 10/100 PCI NIC, installed it on the
computer and get exactly the same results. The network shows it is connected
(by the way, I get a connection light on the router, too), but no route to
anything. Here's where things get a little more interesting.
I manually assigned an address to the new NIC card that is within the range
that the router would assign (same Class C subnet). When I then pinged the
router, it responded. That proves that the communications between the
computer and router can work. However, when I attempt to connect to the
router's admin page through my browser (I started using Mozilla Firefox) it
pops up a connection dialog for dial-up. Disabling the attempt to dial
dialog causes the browser to immediately stop looking for the router as soon
as I hit Enter (the busy icon flashes briefly, then quits) with no error
messages or anything.
Any suggestions? Internet Connection Firewall is turned off on the computer,
as is Internet Connection Sharing. I'm stumped and getting ready to
reinstall Windows lacking any other useful tips that work.