I have been experiencing the strangest network problem with my Windows XP Pro computer. I can get an IP address and ping my router/websites, but i cannot browse webpages. There are two webpages that I can browse however, that I know of. It seems I can also check email through Microsoft Outlook. I cannot update antivirus.

I can get to http://mail.google.com when using google chrome as my browser, and only google chrome. Will not work in IE, firefox, safari. I can also navigate to ftp://ftp.microsoft.com in any browser. There may also be other websites but these are two I stumbled upon.

-I have checked that the browsers are not trying to use a proxy.
-My firewall is disabled.
-I have scanned my computer with Malware bytes.
-Ran Winsockfix.
-I have also ran the windows tool in Internet explorer to diagnose network problems. The diagnosis tool tells me there is connectivity to http://microsoft.com and ftp://ftp.microsoft.com. The tool also advised me that it would reset the winsock catalog.
-I've also tried using netsh commands to reset the winsock and ip configurations.
-The problem is not my network card because I installed a wireless network card also and I have the same problems.
-I also have a laptop attached to the same router as my desktop and the laptop is working fine. I cannot ping the laptop from the desktop vice-versa.

For a while i noticed that if I did not have an active VPN connection on my computer I'd seem to have connection problems. I do not have access to the VPN connection anymore. This may have nothing do with the current issue, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

I have tried to provide as much information as possible, but if you would like more information or have any suggestions of what I can try I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks


more info:
C:\Documents and Settings\Chris>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : myhome.westell.com
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : ?
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : ?
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :


Network Diagnostic log:
Last diagnostic run time: 11/23/08 20:21:59 WinSock Diagnostic
WinSock status

infoError attmpting to validate the Winsock base providers: 2
errorNot all base service provider entries could be found in the winsock catalog. A reset is needed.
infoRedirecting user to support call


Network Adapter Diagnostic
Network location detection

infoUsing home Internet connection
Network adapter identification

infoNetwork connection: Name=Local Area Connection, Device=Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC, MediaType=LAN, SubMediaType=LAN
infoNetwork connection: Name=Wireless Network Connection, Device=802.11g PCI Wireless Network Adapter, MediaType=LAN, SubMediaType=WIRELESS
infoBoth Ethernet and Wireless connections available, prompting user for selection
actionUser input required: Select network connection
infoEthernet connection selected
Network adapter status

infoNetwork connection status: Connected


HTTP, HTTPS, FTP Diagnostic
HTTP, HTTPS, FTP connectivity

infoFTP (Passive): Successfully connected to ftp.microsoft.com.
warnHTTPS: Error 12057 connecting to www.passport.net:
warnHTTP: Error 12002 connecting to www.microsoft.com: The operation timed out
errorCould not make an HTTP connection.
errorCould not make an HTTPS connection.

I have determined that the issue seems to be that I can't use the http protocol, which is why i was able to access gmail in the google chrome browser (it was using https). I can also access https in firefox (not IE).

I believe this problem may have stemmed from an AVG update. After doing some research i had removed WinXP service pack 3 and also AVG. I tried to use the AVG fix file for the known issue of AVG breaking http, but the fixfile.exe returned the error: no files to be fixed. (possibly because I had already uninstalled AVG).

I am really running out of ideas now. Just thought I would share some updated information for those who would like to try to help.

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