'The page cannot be displayed' error

[Randy Morgan]

Hi All,

First time in this NG, so here goes.

I'm configuring a new Dell laptop. Software updates, registrations,
etc. have all gone well, but the following has now happened twice, and
I'm stumped.

I let Windows Update perform its critical updates, and the system works
fine. IE, Outlook, etc., all function as expected. After, however, I
run Windows Update and install the optional updates it suggests I
install, I lose the ability to load a web page using IE.

What's "interesting" is that the system reports that the connectivity is
fine, and I can still send and receive email via Outlook. I can ping,
for example, www.yahoo.com and get a response, but when I try to load a
web page it doesn't load and, after a long wait of more than a minute, I
get a page that says 'The page cannot be displayed'. And, when I first
enter a URL in teh addres bar I get the "usual" messages in the IE
status bar in the lower-left corner. First I'm told the page was found,
and then it says it's loading...but it never does.

After this happened the first time I did a restore using Dell's built-in
utility to put the hard drive back to it's original condition, but the
same thing happened the second time through.

In Windows Add/Remove programs there are no hotfixes that I can
uninstall, and I'm not exactly sure which one did it. I suppose I can
start over again and just not install those updates, but that seems like
a weak response, and since the laptop is going to my non-tech-savvy
in-laws the possibility of them getting into trouble with those updates
approaches 100%.

I haven't been able to find anything relevant on Google or MSFT's web
about this. I saw some pages that talked about Winsock corruption, but
running their suggested fixes didn't help. One site says I should
re-install XP, but given that this is a new computer it's easier to just
start from square one that mess with a reinstall without a CD (the
laptop didn't come with one).

So, I'm stuck. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Randy Morgan]

A bit more information:

I have tried the winsock and LSP fixes I found on other posts in here,
but the problem still exists.

I also downloaded FireFox on a different computer and installed it on
the problem computer; it also cannot load a page, although it says it
has found a site.

Outlook email works fine.

I suppose it's *possible* I got some adware/malware in the short while
the computer was live, but I'm behind a firewall and have not had any
problems on my other computers. Plus, McAfee firewall is live on the
problem computer.

Thanks,
Randy Morgan

 

[Shayne Robinson]

A bit more information:

I have tried the winsock and LSP fixes I found on other posts in here,
but the problem still exists.

I also downloaded FireFox on a different computer and installed it on
the problem computer; it also cannot load a page, although it says it
has found a site.

Outlook email works fine.

I suppose it's *possible* I got some adware/malware in the short while
the computer was live, but I'm behind a firewall and have not had any
problems on my other computers. Plus, McAfee firewall is live on the
problem computer.

Thanks,
Randy Morgan

Randy,

I'll be watching replies to this thread with great interest as I have
almost exactly the same problem.

My PC is a Dell (coincidently), but I don't think that is really
relevant.

I can also send and receive email, chat on MSN and Yahoo IM, chat on
Adult Friend Finder Instant Messenger, and access usenet, but opening
web pages is not possible.

I run Norton Internet Security 2005, Spybot S&D, SpywareGuard, but
nothing picks up anything out of the ordinary.

I am currently using IE6 and operate connected to a cable modem, the
only other computer, a wireless equipped Toshiba notebook, has it's
Internet connection through this via a Belkin wireless router on my
machine.

The Toshiba has IE6 and Mozilla, and neither of those can access web
pages either, but it has all the other access I have on mine as well.

I have posted in other newsgoups (virus oriented) but have not had any
really helpful replies from anyone yet. From the date of your post (3
days ago) I guess you are having the same problem.

While I think that my problem, at least, is the result of a virus,
worm, trojan, I am absolutely amazed that nobody has posted any clue
as to what it may be.

The thought of a re-format and clean install fills me with dread, but
as time slips away, that may be the last desperate step.

Shayne