Need help, fixin ma's computer.

[NoStateofMind]

Hey guys, my Mother has screwed something up again 🙁

What she did I'm not sure, but I'll list the symptom and what I've tried.

Symptom :

When opening the browser (firefox/IE) it never connects to any site. Says "Loading site blah blah" on the bottom left but never changes.

Things I've Tried :

Checked for internet connection. Skype loaded up online at startup. Checked internet connection through control panel. It is recieving and sending packets.

Entered into FireFox/IE and deleted all Cache, Internet Files and downloads/offline internet files.

Went into FireFox to check internet settings. Set it auto detect, which wasn't selected. Tried in IE "Internet Options " to do the same, but wouldn't open 😕

Unplugged Cable Modem, restarted PC. Same as above.


The last thing she did was :

Uninstalled a casino game. Which one I'm not sure.

System Restore (what was on the HD, not the DVD's she made). She went back to the earliest date.

Any advice would be helpful! What could it be?

 

[JackMDS]

First run AntiVirus, and Anti Spyware applications

Then do this, http://www.ezlan.net/clean#refreshnet

Your Mom does not have to do any thing "Bad", if her son does not protect her (Internet Connection) it would happen again in few days.

Get her a Router even if she has only one computer, and install protection suit.

Freeware Security suit for Internet Connection Protection.

 

[jlazzaro]

manage -> local users and groups -> groups -> basic user. do yourself a favor and add her to that group asap ;0

 

[Lemon law]

Could ie and firefox be firewalled out?---or somehow some security setting is maxed out?

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Could ie and firefox be firewalled out?---or somehow some security setting is maxed out?

I think he is asking if you somehow have port 80 (http) firewalled, which is very unlikely.

Is her TCP/IP connection set for auto detect? Are you using a router with DHCP?

Go to: Start>Run>Cmd>IPCONFIG
Is there an IP address listed? Was it assigned manually or automatically? Can you ping the router?

 

[coupland]

I would suggest people may even be jumping the gun in diagnosis. Sure you can transfer packets, but have you even checked that name resolution is working? Ping google.com and see if it replies. If not, then you know why you can't find any web sites. If it does, then at least you know your network card, router, cable modem, TCP/IP, DNS, and internet connections are all working great, and that's a huge help in narrowing down the potential causes.