Vista 64bit - no internet

Hello all,

Just got my hands on this box. It gets an IP, gets DNS numbers, I can ping websites, but cannot pull up any web page.

Any thoughts?

I have tried these with no luck:

Network diagnose and repair (no problem detected)
Uninstall and reinstall network driver (Nvidia)
Installing IE8 over IE7
System restore back to as far as I could
Winsock fix (netsh commands)
Safe mode with networking
Last known good config
Windows repair (does not report a problem)
Spybot will full updates - nothing detected

The only other thing that comes to mind is to try a different browser - I am downloading Firefox right now.

Any tips? I am having to download everything on a different PC and transfer it over.

Windows Firewall. Third party firewall. Try ie with no add-ons.

Windows firewall is off. Firefox didn't load any pages either. I did try IE with no addons. No change.

This is very discouraging....

Try a different network card.

are other computers on this same network able to connect to the internet? it could be an ISP issue.

From what you are describing, it looks like there is a proxy server in the mix somewhere blocking access.

Do an 'ipconfig /all' on that and another of yours and compare.

Also a 'properties' on that NIC and another of yours and compare.

You've pretty much cleared the chance it is OS related, so it makes sense it is an NIC or setting issue.

I'm curious, is this a fresh windows install or was it just handed to you in its current state? If it was just given to you in its current state I might suggest a malware scan preferrably with combofix first, then a follow up with malwarebytes. I've seen some of these infections block browsers from accessing the net. You must run the combofix in safemode also or it's not going to find the infection.

Quite often when i see this type of problem i use firefox portable off a USB stick to test.
1 thing i do do after what you have tried is,
Go to device manager and remove the nic and tell it to delete the drivers if it asks and then reboot and let it reinstall the nic

Combofix will not work on this, since it is 64bit. I am running Malwarebytes right now, it has not found anything yet....

I will try a different NIC, though it looks like the onboard one is fine (it is communicating with the world outside).

Will try to reinstall drivers. Tried once, but will do again.

Thanks everyone, but more information needed, please.

Firefox portable did not work. I completely uninstalled and deleted the Nvidia network driver and rebooted. Reinstalled driver, same thing.

Try another card. It seems futile, but try it anyway, please.

Tried another card new out of the box. Still not working. Vista is saying to plug a cable in to either interface, which I already did.

The new card is showing a link light, the Ethernet switch is also showing a link.

Have tried a different cable just for fun, no change.

help....

Heh oops forgot combofix didn't work in 64bit. My other suggestion is to set it on fire. Remember to punch it, kick it, and yell obscenities at it beforehand. It'll make you feel better.

I had edited this before but it didn't take....

I would suggest trying also a2cmd by a-squared in safe mode with a deep scan for a thorough followup on ths system. Really I'm leaning in the direction that it's either a stealthy bug or a case of repair installation.

SCORE!

I noticed AVG 8 Free was on here. I thought, what the heck, might as well uninstall it and see what happens. Rebooted, now it works! Go figure....

It took a fresh pot of coffee to figure that one out...

Well at least I guessed right and thought it was a software problem. Wonder what made AVG lock the browsers down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Niclo Iste

Well at least I guessed right and thought it was a software problem. Wonder what made AVG lock the browsers down.

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Because it's AVG....

The problem is back. I'm not sure what changed to make IE stop working again, but its dead. AVG is still removed. Whats strange is Windows updates will download, HP updates works, but anything through either IE will not load a web page.

Well, once again, it is working. I was looking in the start menu and noticed a Symantec folder - it was empty. There was nothing pertaining to Norton or Symantec in Add/remove programs. I decided to get the Symantec uninstaller and run it. This machine had NIS on it, I guess the customer removed it and installed AVG. After running the tool, rebooting, the system is once again pulling web pages. Geez what a mess. I hate Vista.

Thanks for the update it helps me in knowing what to look out for in symptoms of virus scan conflicts with other scanners.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Matridom

Because it's AVG....

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Jakkwb, Matridom's got this right! I see machines where the current version of AVG causes Internet access problems fairly often. Along with NIS, McAfee is also a pretty frequent offender about failing to uninstall correctly and causing connection failures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slgrieb

Jakkwb, Matridom's got this right! I see machines where the current version of AVG causes Internet access problems fairly often. Along with NIS, McAfee is also a pretty frequent offender about failing to uninstall correctly and causing connection failures.

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I've found the big key to removing these apps is to use the uninstaller that comes with the program and not add/remove programs.

I might as well add my 2 cents. The following statement is a regular occurence ion the chatroom about AVG
"<WDGuest388> So, have caught a nasty virus/malware, priverously i got """"AVG free wirus""""",now i bought Avast! , oke i scan my pc it shows tonns of viruses, i deleate em , i restart pc and its full of em.It blocks my internet connection too."

No need to say much more about AVG
We see this alot

BUT! I thought Safe Mode boot didn't use any add-on proggies like AV's.

How does something NOT booted screw up the OS? Or is it more the add-on have left traces that didn't uninstall and these lead to blind alleys and screw up?

Maybe so! I like the Spybot 'System Internals' cleaner - has always found left over registry crap quite well.

Most AV programs actually do load components in Safe Mode these days. That didn't used to be true, but AV software and malware may both be running in Safe Mode. Usually they aren't fully functional, but if you were to run Combofix in safe mode with NOD32, AVG, and several other AV programs installed, you'd see a warning.

You're absolutely right about how leftovers can play Hell with system function too.