Can only connect to websites; no email or IM! Help!

[Hatter106]

I think this has happened to me a couple of times in the past, but I can't remember how I solved it then...

The other day, I bought an iPod and it took me hours and hours to get it working. To do so, I had to go into "msconfig" and change a lot of the startup settings, mostly which programs started. I was following the help instructions that Apple gave on their site.
Anyways, the iPod worked, but in the process I had to also fiddle with my internet connection a bit, taking the card out, using a different one, putting the original back in, etc.

To make a long story short, now, I can connect to websites perfectly fine, but I have no access to me email, either Hotmail or in Outlook Express. It just automatically gives a "page cannot be displayed" after I enter my login info.
Also, I can't connect with any IM programs. I'm assuming online games won't work as well.

I'm really stumped here. I've tried restoring the settings I changed in msconfig, but I don't really know what a lot of those programs do, and I'm not sure which ones I used to have running.

I don't think a system restore will work because I tried a few days ago for an unrelated problem, and my attempts kept failing, for several different points. Besides, I'm afraid if I restore to a previous date, my iPod might stop working.

I've made sure that all the SLL boxes are checked in IE... (it's not just an IE problem, though)
I tried to look at my Windows Firewall, but when I tried it, I got a message something to the effect of "Windows Firewall is off. Want to turn it on?" I click Yes, and another message immediately says "Windows Firewall could not be started". Lol...

This is really starting to frustrate me. Does anyone have any helpful tips, please?

 

[Hatter106]

Anyone?

 

[Hatter106]

Please. I really need to fix this!

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Recheck all the items in the startup tab of MSCONFIG, reboot, and try again. If that gets you working again, pay more attention to detail when unchecking things in the startup tab. Slide the column widths out to be able to read entire pathways/locations of the programs that are being started. If enabling all of them again works, and you absolutely must have things unchecked in the startup tab, then do things one-by-one, rebooting each time to see which one/few is/are the problematic one(s).

 

[mechBgon]

Also, if you don't have software firewall protection, then I hope you have a router to provide firewalling, and/or a very tightly secured Windows installation. What antivirus software (brand & version) do you use?

 

[Kaiser__Sose]

lower your MTU value. either in the router in in windows.

 

[Hatter106]

What's an MTU value? And how do I lower it?

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Also, if you don't have software firewall protection, then I hope you have a router to provide firewalling, and/or a very tightly secured Windows installation. What antivirus software (brand & version) do you use?

Well, I was using the whole Norton SystemWorks/Internet Security Pro package, but now it says that the license is screwed up and needs to be uninstalled and re-installed. Another problem caused by this whole iPod mess.

I enabled all the Startup programs, but my email remains down. I don't think it's as much of a MSCONFIG thing than it is a network thing.
See, I only have three PCI slots. I have two ethernet cards, one built-in, the other taking up one of those PCI slots. That's the one I always use.
Trying to get the iPod to work, I took out my PCI ethernet card and replaced it with a firewire card. I hooked up my net cable to the other ethernet port to have connectivity in the meanwhile.
My Network Connections always shows the two cards. One is always disabled, and one is always enabled, the one I use. When I switched ports, I enabled the new ethernet port.
But for some reason, the LAN icon in the systray didn't show up.
I might have restarted here and maybe fiddled with a couple of network options. I don't remember.
I could get web access, though. But I couldn't get email.

When the firewire card didn't work, I put the PCI ethernet card back in, and switched back to it. The LAN systray icon showed up, but still no email, or games, or IM, or anything else.
Like I said, when I go to Network Connections and click on "Change Windows Firewall Settings", it says
"Windows Firewall settings cannot be displayed because the associated service is not running. Do you want to start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service?"
I click yes, and it immediately says,
"Windows cannot start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service."

I think that's the root of my problem.

 

[mechBgon]

Thanks for the additional information Norton is probably preventing you from starting the Windows Firewall since it has a firewall of its own (two software firewalls is not a desirable situation).

Can I suggest you get a router: router and stuff Good way to spend $40. As for the whole iPod/Firewire/NIC situation, could you post the brand & model of the motherboard, assuming this is a "built" computer and not a Happy Meal? computer from Dell/Gateway/etc.

 

[sykopath79]

My recommendation is to uninstall Norton Intarweb Security, it's a horribly bloated and problem-ridden product in my experience. If you are concerned about network security, the best thing to do is purchase a router. If you still want firewall software in addition, I would recommend Trend Micro's PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005 (I use it on my PC and love it... lightweight yet very effective antivirus, and an easy to cope with software firewall).