XP PRO problem affecting connectivity

[stanz]

I was browsing my typical internet sites, when suddenly I received the
message ' Limited or no connectivity ' , and I could not access any
internet sites. After checking my DSL modem, cable, etc, I called my
ISP provider who had me key in a multitude of commands via the cmd
line, and after about an hour+ of trying everything he asked me to do,
finally came back with telling me that the problem with my
connectivity was a problem with my operating system (XP PRO/SP2). I
also have an older laptop running Win 2000/SP4, and when I powered it
up and attached it to the same cable modem with the same cable, it
connected fine, and I am using it to write this message.

The Tech support person told me this was a known problem with XP, and
I needed to find the fix or patch via Microsoft support.

I am fairly PC savy, but fooling around with the OP system or even
knowing where to look in the Microsoft Web site(s) is well beyond my
expertise. This has never happened B4, and I have all the latest
updates installed, have Zonealarm, Avast, and all of the most popular
anti virus/spyware/malware programs installed and active.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[The Real Truth MVP]

Try my Winsock Repair network tool. Download it here
http://pcbutts1.com/downloads/tools/tools.htm

 

[Elmo]

I was browsing my typical internet sites, when suddenly I received the
message ' Limited or no connectivity ' , and I could not access any
internet sites. After checking my DSL modem, cable, etc, I called my
ISP provider who had me key in a multitude of commands via the cmd
line, and after about an hour+ of trying everything he asked me to do,
finally came back with telling me that the problem with my
connectivity was a problem with my operating system (XP PRO/SP2). I
also have an older laptop running Win 2000/SP4, and when I powered it
up and attached it to the same cable modem with the same cable, it
connected fine, and I am using it to write this message.

The Tech support person told me this was a known problem with XP, and
I needed to find the fix or patch via Microsoft support.

I am fairly PC savvy, but fooling around with the OP system or even
knowing where to look in the Microsoft Web site(s) is well beyond my
expertise. This has never happened B4, and I have all the latest
updates installed, have Zonealarm, Avast, and all of the most popular
anti virus/spyware/malware programs installed and active.

Any help would be appreciated.

"After checking my DSL modem, cable, etc"

"and attached it to the same cable modem with the same cable"

It might not matter, but which is it, DSL or Cable?

 

[Mick Murphy]

Click Start>right-click MY computer>Properties>Hardware>Device Manager>and in
the list of Hardware, see if there is a ? mark besides your Network Adaptor.

If there is, you need to reinstall the Driver by right-clicking>properties
on it, or maybe the card has died.
Is it onboard Adaptor, or seperate PCI card?

 

[stanz]

Click Start>right-click MY computer>Properties>Hardware>Device Manager>and in
the list of Hardware, see if there is a ? mark besides your Network Adaptor.

If there is, you need to reinstall the Driver by right-clicking>properties
on it, or maybe the card has died.
Is it onboard Adaptor, or seperate PCI card?

Thanks to all for your ideas, but nothing I have tried, including
installing a patch from Microsoft, Running Winsockfixes, switching
cables (the same cable works on my laptop) reloading the drivers....I
have a funny feeling I'll have to uninstall/reinstall SP2, or start a
fresh install from scratch (have the OEM XP PRO SP1 CD and the SP2
CD...haven't installed SP3 yet....have that CD also)....

Just an FYI......I did find a site that pointed the finger at Spybot
Search and Destroy and Adware as the culprits which made registery
changes. They are both gone from my Dell.

I'll wait a bit to see if anyone come up with anything different....

Thanks again.......Stan

 

[smlunatick]

Thanks to all for your ideas, but nothing I have tried, including
installing a patch from Microsoft, Running Winsockfixes, switching
cables (the same cable works on my laptop) reloading the drivers....I
have a funny feeling I'll have to uninstall/reinstall SP2, or start a
fresh install from scratch (have the OEM XP PRO SP1 CD and the SP2
CD...haven't installed SP3 yet....have that CD also)....

Just an FYI......I did find a site that pointed the finger at Spybot
Search and Destroy and Adware as the culprits which made registery
changes. They are both gone from my Dell.

I'll wait a bit to see if anyone come up with anything different....

Thanks again.......Stan

Spybot and Ad Aware do add services to monitor / shield the PC from
spywares but I doubt they cause your problem.

For connecting the USB port of the Westell cable modem, you definitely
need to correct driver. XP does not have the USB to Ethernet driver
required.

What type of anti-virus or firewall software are you using?

 

[stanz]

Spybot and Ad Aware do add services to monitor / shield the PC from
spywares but I doubt they cause your problem.

For connecting the USB port of the Westell cable modem, you definitely
need to correct driver.  XP does not have the USB to Ethernet driver
required.

What type of anti-virus or firewall software are you using?

I'm using Zone Alarm (I shut it down to see if it was the problem),
AVG, and Webroot Antivirus and Antispyware Security Essentials set to
the highest levels (also shut that down in case it was
blocking,,,nope) installed a windows xp fix KB884020, did Winsockfix,
LSP fix....you name it, I've tried it...started in Safe
Mode...everthing looks fine except I cannot connect. Again, I'm using
my laptop w/Windows 2000 same cable using the same modem just fine.

 

[smlunatick]

I'm using Zone Alarm (I shut it down to see if it was the problem),
AVG, and Webroot Antivirus and Antispyware Security Essentials set to
the highest levels (also shut that down in case it was
blocking,,,nope) installed a windows xp fix KB884020, did Winsockfix,
LSP fix....you name it, I've tried it...started in Safe
Mode...everthing looks fine except I cannot connect.  Again, I'm using
my laptop w/Windows 2000 same cable using the same modem just fine.

Too many anti-virus systems can cause access problems. Several anti-
spywares also added "filters" to block the spywares from get thru.

 

[stanz]

Too many anti-virus systems can cause access problems.  Several anti-
spywares also added "filters" to block the spywares from get thru.

Hello to all who tried to help..........

First.....I Thank you all for your advise..........

As a very last resort, I decided to use System Restore and choose a
date way before (Sept 12.) I had any connectivity problems, which
suddenly started on Sept. 25th. System restore was grinding away for
like 10+ hours, and when I woke up, all my connectivity problems
vanished, and everything is working just like I never had any
problems. I am kind of leery..., but the connectivity & speed are
fine, and everything is working.

Are there any scans for viruses, spyware, Malware...etc. that anyone
thinks I should do now to see if something is lurking in my system
that caused the loss of connectivity........

A few questions......Zone Alarm has and is displaying a message that
it has blocked access from 24.64.237.16 (UDP Port 10788). This has
happened about 5 times since all went back to normal. I have never
seen this message from Zone Alarm in the past.

Next question...every time I reboot the system (and this was occurring
B4 my connectivity problems) my desktop comes up in Windows XP Style,
versus my preferred default of Windows Classic Style. So after the
System reboot is done, I left click on the screen, choose Properties
to get to Display Properties,
then click on Appearance, then on Windows and Buttons, choose Windows
Classic Style from the drop down, then click on Apply, then OK, and
the Desktop reverts to the Windows Classic Style and stays that way
until I reboot.
This is no big deal to me, but I am wondering if again there is some
kind of virus that is doing this.

Any comments on why this is happening ..........

Thanks.....Stan