Is this a network problem?

[solleyman]

Here's my thread I opened in the AT Computer Help category.

Some have thought this might be indicative of a network problem, but I'm kinda dumb of network failure modes.

A little more info than the original thread, now that it may be network related...

Wireless Belkin router
Desktop has wireless PCI card
XBox360 is hardwired to router, doesn't seem to be having problems.
TiVo is wireless to router and also doesn't seem to have any problems.

Guess I'll buy a new wireless card and see if that fixes it, unless you guys know that's not the problem.

Or, I guess I could hardwire the desktop to the router when I get home and see if that fixes it.

 

[JackMDS]

Hmm... Looks to me like a corruption in core software. I think you should refresh the Win XP install.

Refresh XP Installation.

Boot from the XP original CD. Skip the first screen that offer Console Repair, and continue as though you install a New XP.

After you Agree etc., the new install screen will come on and would detect the current XP installation.

You would have an option to Press R for Repair.

Use it, would take about 45Min. and you would have a Refresh Installation of XP while keeping all your data and XP configuration.

P.S. If you made changes to WinXP Security setting (Like Firewall special permission) you have to look over them after the refresh since they might revert to the Default.

 

[solleyman]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Hmm... Looks to me like a corruption in core software. I think you should refresh the Win XP install.

Refresh XP Installation.

Boot from the XP original CD. Skip the first screen that offer Console Repair, and continue as though you install a New XP.

After you Agree etc., the new install screen will come on and would detect the current XP installation.

You would have an option to Press R for Repair.

Use it, would take about 45Min. and you would have a Refresh Installation of XP while keeping all your data and XP configuration.

P.S. If you made changes to WinXP Security setting (Like Firewall special permission) you have to look over them after the refresh since they might revert to the Default.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll give that a shot next.

Not sure if this adds anything to the diagnosis or not, but iTunes just tried to auto-download an update and it said something along the lines of "iTunes signature is corrupt. iTunes will not install."

Anyway, if the problem is a corruption in core software, is there any chance the refresh wouldn't work and I'd have to do a full wipe/reinstall? (Please say no, please say no, please say no.....)

Thanks again.

 

[solleyman]

Bump. Did the reinstall. Same crap.

Often have to hit refresh over and over in IE to get something readable....otherwise just a bunch of garbage characters.

Any way to distinguish between a wireless router problem and a wireless pci card problem? Router and comp are far away, so I can't easily hardwire to take the wireless card out of the loop, and even if I do, and it works hardwired, it might still be a problem with the wireless of the router.

Any chance this is a problem with the cable company furnished modem?

Sheesh.

Edit: more info to help diagnose...just pinged yahoo.com, microsoft.com, ebay.com, and google.com. Only google and yahoo worked (didn't timeout). I can, however, browse to google and ebay. I can get valid search results from google, but searches at ebay just sit there and wave IE the windows flag at me. Not sure if that helps at all....

 

[solleyman]

Turns out it was a virus. Thought the closure of this problem might help someone down the road.

Went to one of those forums that works with HiJackThis logs (geekstogo.com, in this case).

Problem solved.