Re: Problem connecting to websites

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 09:36:01 -0700, "James" <James@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>I have an hp laptop that will connect to my internet carrier, but will not connect to any websites, I get the "cannot display this page" and the "cannot find server" messages. I have made all the settings to the exact same thing as my hp desktop wich is working fine. I can't do a "restore" on it because the computer is not making any restore points. I reloaded Windows XP Home edition, but the laptop is the same as before the reload. I've ran a couple of virus checks that are already loaded on the laptop, but they don't find any viruses.
>
>The laptop was working fine until my son downloaded some files and one of them caused a problem and he proceeded to delete some files.

James,

Check out these two Microsoft articles:
<http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=299357>
<http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811259>

Search your entire system drive, including hidden and system folders, for file
"hosts". There is one legit copy, in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\. The
others are possibly bogus, and part (but just part) of the problem. Examine the
contents of each copy found, using Notepad. (HINT: Scroll to the end of each
Hosts file, by hitting Ctrl-End, then back up to the top, page by page, before
deciding that the file is empty. Look out for blank lines at the beginning and
end of the file, after localhost, placed there by an exploit!)

First, download LSP-Fix and WinsockXPFIx from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>,
and CWShredder from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. All are
free.

Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, then run CWShredder.
Have it fix all variants.

Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>. Both free.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log. <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it, or a link to your forum post, here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

Chuck thanks for the help! I couldn't find the Windsock program, but the Shredder and LPS got this laptop working again. The Majorgeeks website seems to be a very good site for the progams you need to keep your computer working. Thanks again!

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 09:36:01 -0700, "James" <James@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I have an hp laptop that will connect to my internet carrier, but will not connect to any websites, I get the "cannot display this page" and the "cannot find server" messages. I have made all the settings to the exact same thing as my hp desktop wich is working fine. I can't do a "restore" on it because the computer is not making any restore points. I reloaded Windows XP Home edition, but the laptop is the same as before the reload. I've ran a couple of virus checks that are already loaded on the laptop, but they don't find any viruses.
> >
> >The laptop was working fine until my son downloaded some files and one of them caused a problem and he proceeded to delete some files.
>
> James,
>
> Check out these two Microsoft articles:
> <http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=299357>
> <http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811259>
>
> Search your entire system drive, including hidden and system folders, for file
> "hosts". There is one legit copy, in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\. The
> others are possibly bogus, and part (but just part) of the problem. Examine the
> contents of each copy found, using Notepad. (HINT: Scroll to the end of each
> Hosts file, by hitting Ctrl-End, then back up to the top, page by page, before
> deciding that the file is empty. Look out for blank lines at the beginning and
> end of the file, after localhost, placed there by an exploit!)
>
> First, download LSP-Fix and WinsockXPFIx from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>,
> and CWShredder from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. All are
> free.
>
> Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, then run CWShredder.
> Have it fix all variants.
>
> Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
> <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
> <http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>. Both free.
> 1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
> scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
> 2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
> HJT Log. <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>
> 3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
> forums (and post it, or a link to your forum post, here):
> <http://forums.net-integration.net/>
> <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
> <http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
> <http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>
>
> If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
> spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
> network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.
>
> Cheers,
> Chuck
> Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
>

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 12:33:01 -0700, "James" <James@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Chuck thanks for the help! I couldn't find the Windsock program, but the Shredder and LPS got this laptop working again. The Majorgeeks website seems to be a very good site for the progams you need to keep your computer working. Thanks again!

Excellent, James! Thanks for the update.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.