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Connected to Internet but not IE or Firefox

S

skyeclad

Member
Here's an odd problem. I'm connected to the Internet through a wired connection to a router. All applications including OE detect and are able to access the Internet EXCEPT for my web browsers, IE, Firefox and even Opera. I am able to access web sites through ARES however so I'm confused as to what's going on.

I tried to release and renew the IP addresses and there's no difference. All apps connected but not the browsers. I have the browsers set to detect settings automatically but nothing. At one point I was able to even access the Internet from File Explorer although I think that stopped working too now.

Any ideas why three different browsers can't access the net when other applications that are using the same settings can?
 
you got firewall (hardware and/or software) running? you may have inadvertently blocked something.
 
If possible, try Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta and use the Advanced > System Explorer to look at your LSP stack. Download MS AntiSpyware Beta here.

Also do a full scan using a current-generation antivirus product with up-to-date definitions, if possible. Make sure to enable heuristics and scanning within compressed files so the scanner is using all its weapons.
 
might not be so complex if only browsers are not working.

my 2 cents - check if you have use proxy servers selected in the browsers.


 
I do have a zone alarm firewall running but nothing changes when I shut it down. I even made sure that MS XP firewall wasn't also running.

I don't have the proxy servers checked either.

Yesterday I ran a full scan using Ad-Aware SE 1.05 but I didn't check for viruses. I'll do that but here's something else. I recently changed out my mobo and CPU and it forced me to repair an installation of Windows and then to upgrade back to SP2. Prior to the new Asus Mobo, I was using a PCI Ethernet Card. Now I'm just using the Mobo.

I mention this because I'm not sure if it relates but everything was fine before this upgrade. Since my PC has been down for a week, I think that it's probably more related to this than to any virus or ad-ware.

I uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled it but no dice. That's when I decided to try Opera but that didn't work either. What I don't get is why ARES browser works and other programs that use the same Internet settings from IE work but not the other browsers. It's bizarre.
 
Assuming that the internet was accessible at some point in the past, consider what configurations have been changed since then and which of those changes may have caused the current situation.
 
I tried the MS Antispyware. It found a few things, mostly tracking cookies but nothing else. I also ran a full antivirus scan with the latest update. No viruses.

As far as changes go, birdpup, there was a whole lot of hardware change so I can't be sure what might have caused this. I think it's pretty wierd for everything else to detect and have access to the internet EXCEPT for the browsers. Has anyone heard of this before?
 
You used the MS AntiSpyware to examine the LSP stack and it's all ok, is that correct?

Also, what precise brand and version of antivirus software do you use? I know of at least one browser hijacker Trojan that will affect all browsers (well, all popular ones anyway), and am interested to see if your software is known to detect it or not.
 
Shoot, I forgot the LSP stack. I just did a full scan. I forgot your specific suggestion.

Sorry, I'll go back and do that.

I use AVG virus scanner.
 
Originally posted by: skyeclad
Shoot, I forgot the LSP stack. I just did a full scan. I forgot your specific suggestion.

Sorry, I'll go back and do that.

I use AVG virus scanner.
Click to expand...
AVG is far from a strong performer on Trojans. You might try the routine I wrote up in this text file for a quick second opinion that doesn't require uninstalling anything or having a working web browser either.

 
OK, I checked the LSP stack. I didn't see any potentially unwanted or broken entries. I did see some unknown ones but they were all Nvidia related(firewall I think) and Google. The nvidia firewall is off.

I think the wierdest part of this is that the File Explorer can access the web when I click on a bookmark. I can even run a windows update from it. I just find it wierd that it's so program specific. I mean isn't the File Explorer and Windows explorer almost the same program?

What does the routine that you link do, check for Trojans?
 
The program in my link would basically detect anything McAfee is capable of detecting with their regular antivirus programs, including Trojans, worms, viruses and some adware/spyware.

It could just be that Windows is Seriously Messed Up? and needs a reinstallation.
 
Well, the McAfee did find some viruses and trojans. Ugh. It wasn't crazy but not good. Anyhow, it hasn't changed anything. Still no IE access.

I'll try the Winsock XP fix and see what that does. I'm getting to the point though that I'm starting to think a reformat and re-install might be in order. I really didn't want to do that since it means that I'll need to back-up my critical files and reinstall a bunch of applications and games which means I need to go and find all the disks and passwords, etc.

However, these problems are annoying and now my USB mouse keeps freezing up for a few seconds every minute or two. That didn't happen before either.

One important question, if I do a reformat and reinstall, how can I preserve my e-mails? Can I just save the Inbox and Sent files?
 
If you use Outlook Express as your email program, open it in a non-full-screen window. Make an ordinary New Folder on your desktop, open it, and just drag-&-drop emails from Inbox into the New Folder. Later you can simply drag-&-drop them back to Outlook Express. Probably want one folder for Inbox, one for Sent Items, maybe one for Contacts.

If you like, post the output of the McAfee scan, it is C:\report.html. Sometimes it helps to know thine enemy (the viruses that it found).
 
It worked, Amdskip, the winsock fix did it. Thanks a lot!

I appreciate all the help I received on this perplexing problem. Thanks mechBgon, I have a cleaner PC today thanks to your advice.

Thanks again guys!
 
Originally posted by: skyeclad
It worked, Amdskip, the winsock fix did it. Thanks a lot!

I appreciate all the help I received on this perplexing problem. Thanks mechBgon, I have a cleaner PC today thanks to your advice.

Thanks again guys!
Click to expand...

When some spyware is forcibly removed by anti-spyware apps can leave portions of the system crippled, such as that Winsock stuff. Sort of like yanking out weeds by the handfull - sometimes you rip up a lot of good plants, or else wreck their roots. Similar thing here - the spyware installs its own pointers in the LSP stack or elsewhere. With the spyware executables removed, the pointers no longer have anything to point to, so the Internet traffic goes nowhere.

BTW, have I mentioned recently that spyware writers, along with relentless spammers, are selfish scum that are knowingly giving a great many people a lot of headaches, just for some more money? Almost makes me wish I believed Hell existed, and that the lot of them would be headed there.
 
I would recommend running a scan with HijackThis (I don't have a link right now but Google should find it for you) and post it on a forum like Techsupportforums.com for analysis to completely eliminate spyware.
 
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