WinXP socket initialization failure after spyware trouble

[Guest]

I have a Linksys wireless network at home -- with 1 computer "hard wired" to
the router, running WinXP and a laptop running Win2000 w/a wireless adapter.
My laptop can currently access my router and cable modem with no trouble.

The hard wired computer was attacked by spyware this weekend. I believe this
is completely cleaned now, but it has left me with an error stating "Windows
socket initialization failure" and I am unable to connect to my router and
thereby my cable modem and the Internet.

Linksys support suggested that although the spyware was removed, it most
likely changed a setting or corrupted the Windows socket. (I've never even
heard of a Windows socket nor do I know what it does) Can someone please
direct me to some help to fix this without wiping out the computer and
starting from scratch?

Many thanks

 

[Neo Anderson]

Have you tried the system file checker (SFC from the command prompt - sfc
/? will explain itself) to see if any of your system files got damaged?

 

[Guest]

No, I had no knowledge of the SFC. I really appreciate the suggestion -- I'll
try this

 

[Lance]

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 811259
How to determine and recover from Winsock2 corruption
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811259&Product=winxp>

OR if you have XP Service Pack 2, open a command window and run:

netsh winsock reset catalog

Lance
*****

CMCronan said the following on 9/27/2004 5:17 PM: