Problem - Internet access/winsock but Netscape works

[Iris Mazeppa]

I have internet access problems-winsock, may have been caused by

malware or a virus.

It clobbered the clock and most of my internet access see below.



Using Windows XP:

1. Cannot access internet, except with the Netscape browser. It fails

for MS Internet Explorer,

Mozilla Firefox, M/S Outlook (no emails from Earthlink/Comcast ISP:

"Windows

cannot connect to the internet using HTTP. HTTPS or FTP. this is

probably

caused by firewall settings", and also cannot install McAfee as it

needs the internet to do the installation. Also it cannot get the

updates for TurboTax 2009 as it also needs this internet connection.



2. Get winsock error "attempting to validate the winsock base

providers:2" etc.



3. Clock is off. Adjusting it works but the setting is never saved.

So every morning I reset the clock, then reboot, then the network

connection icon comes up and I can use Netscape fine. Note: Still

having access to the internet with the netscape browser allows me to

download stuff such as fixer programs.



4. Tried netsh winsock reset and the TCP/winsock utility, no solution

5. Tried to reinstall NIC, TCP, MS for Networks etc., no solution



There are several posts in Google groups about this error but the

comments are

very confusing and do not seem to cover my case very well.

Can anybody help me? Do I need a new NIC although Netscape works?

Thanks a lot!

Iris

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Are you running WinXP SP2 or SP3? ...IE6, IE7, or IE8?



Was the computer fully-patched at Windows Update when it got infected?



What anti-virus application or security suite was installed when the

computer got infected and was your subscription current? What anti-spyware

applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?



Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the

computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought

it)?

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002





Iris Mazeppa wrote:

> I have internet access problems-winsock, may have been caused by

> malware or a virus.

> It clobbered the clock and most of my internet access see below.

>

> Using Windows XP:

> 1. Cannot access internet, except with the Netscape browser. It fails

> for MS Internet Explorer,

> Mozilla Firefox, M/S Outlook (no emails from Earthlink/Comcast ISP:

> "Windows

> cannot connect to the internet using HTTP. HTTPS or FTP. this is

> probably

> caused by firewall settings", and also cannot install McAfee as it

> needs the internet to do the installation. Also it cannot get the

> updates for TurboTax 2009 as it also needs this internet connection.

>

> 2. Get winsock error "attempting to validate the winsock base

> providers:2" etc.

>

> 3. Clock is off. Adjusting it works but the setting is never saved.

> So every morning I reset the clock, then reboot, then the network

> connection icon comes up and I can use Netscape fine. Note: Still

> having access to the internet with the netscape browser allows me to

> download stuff such as fixer programs.

>

> 4. Tried netsh winsock reset and the TCP/winsock utility, no solution

> 5. Tried to reinstall NIC, TCP, MS for Networks etc., no solution

>

> There are several posts in Google groups about this error but the

> comments are

> very confusing and do not seem to cover my case very well.

> Can anybody help me? Do I need a new NIC although Netscape works?

 

[Iris Mazeppa]

On Feb 19, 12:19 pm, "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Are you running WinXP SP2 or SP3? ...IE6, IE7, or IE8?

IE7.1 and WinXP SP3

>

> Was the computer fully-patched at Windows Update when it got infected?

Yes, but I am not 100% sure.



> What anti-virus application or security suite was installed when the

> computer got infected and was your subscription current?

McAfee, not current, maybe half a year



What anti-spyware

> applications (other than Defender)?

Proventia



What third-party firewall (if any)?

Proventia

>

> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the

> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought

> it)?

Yes, Norton trial , McAfee. Nothing came installed.

Hope this helps!

Thanks,

Iris M.





> --

> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

>

> Iris Mazeppa wrote:

> > I have internet access problems-winsock, may have been caused by

> > malware or a virus.

> > It clobbered the clock and most of my internet access see below.

>

> > Using Windows XP:

> > 1. Cannot access internet, except with the Netscape browser. It fails

> > for MS Internet Explorer,

> > Mozilla Firefox, M/S Outlook (no emails from Earthlink/Comcast ISP:

> > "Windows

> > cannot connect to the internet using HTTP. HTTPS or FTP. this is

> > probably

> > caused by firewall settings", and also cannot install McAfee as it

> > needs the internet to do the installation. Also it cannot get the

> > updates for TurboTax 2009 as it also needs this internet connection.

>

> > 2. Get winsock error "attempting to validate the winsock base

> > providers:2" etc.

>

> > 3. Clock is off. Adjusting it works but the setting is never saved.

> > So every morning I reset the clock, then reboot, then the network

> > connection icon comes up and I can use Netscape fine. Note: Still

> > having access to the internet with the netscape browser allows me to

> > download stuff such as fixer programs.

>

> > 4. Tried netsh winsock reset and the TCP/winsock utility, no solution

> > 5. Tried to reinstall NIC, TCP, MS for Networks etc., no solution

>

> > There are several posts in Google groups about this error but the

> > comments are

> > very confusing and do not seem to cover my case very well.

> > Can anybody help me? Do I need a new NIC although Netscape works?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

>> What anti-virus application or security suite was installed when the

>> computer got infected and was your subscription current?

> McAfee, not current, maybe half a year



Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%

trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of

Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT

fix this!



HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307



After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so

take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting

the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and

before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been

freshly formatted:



4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx



Other helpful references include:



HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched

(after a clean install)

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c



HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a

clean install)

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b



Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029

manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029



NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer

when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is

reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the

appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service

Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application

(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).



Norton Removal Tool

ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe



McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool

http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe



Also see:



Steps To Help Prevent Spyware

http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx



Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms

http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx



Avoid Rogue Security Software!

http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx



If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting

this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002





Iris Mazeppa wrote:

> On Feb 19, 12:19 pm, "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

>> Are you running WinXP SP2 or SP3? ...IE6, IE7, or IE8?

> IE7.1 and WinXP SP3

>>

>> Was the computer fully-patched at Windows Update when it got infected?

>> Yes, but I am not 100% sure.

>

>> What anti-virus application or security suite was installed when the

>> computer got infected and was your subscription current?

> McAfee, not current, maybe half a year

>

> What anti-spyware

>> applications (other than Defender)?

> Proventia

>

> What third-party firewall (if any)?

> Proventia

>>

>> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the

>> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you

>> bought

>> it)?

> Yes, Norton trial , McAfee. Nothing came installed.

> Hope this helps!

> Thanks,

> Iris M.

>

>

>> --

>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

>>

>> Iris Mazeppa wrote:

>>> I have internet access problems-winsock, may have been caused by

>>> malware or a virus.

>>> It clobbered the clock and most of my internet access see below.

>>

>>> Using Windows XP:

>>> 1. Cannot access internet, except with the Netscape browser. It fails

>>> for MS Internet Explorer,

>>> Mozilla Firefox, M/S Outlook (no emails from Earthlink/Comcast ISP:

>>> "Windows

>>> cannot connect to the internet using HTTP. HTTPS or FTP. this is

>>> probably

>>> caused by firewall settings", and also cannot install McAfee as it

>>> needs the internet to do the installation. Also it cannot get the

>>> updates for TurboTax 2009 as it also needs this internet connection.

>>

>>> 2. Get winsock error "attempting to validate the winsock base

>>> providers:2" etc.

>>

>>> 3. Clock is off. Adjusting it works but the setting is never saved.

>>> So every morning I reset the clock, then reboot, then the network

>>> connection icon comes up and I can use Netscape fine. Note: Still

>>> having access to the internet with the netscape browser allows me to

>>> download stuff such as fixer programs.

>>

>>> 4. Tried netsh winsock reset and the TCP/winsock utility, no solution

>>> 5. Tried to reinstall NIC, TCP, MS for Networks etc., no solution

>>

>>> There are several posts in Google groups about this error but the

>>> comments are

>>> very confusing and do not seem to cover my case very well.

>>> Can anybody help me? Do I need a new NIC although Netscape works?