Member Avatar for pascalg

Hello!

I have a problem with my windows XP machine : no way
to use any web browser I tried Netscape, Opera, etc...
and no way to use the mail (Thunderbird).
Beside this, Skype works well (well, I didn't try to use
the voice services, but the chat only). So it looks like the
web interface is properly configured.

Any hint of what could happen?
Is there any way to block (and therefore unblock) an
application from reaching the web?

Thanks,

Pascal

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by gemini4

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Brief context: reported that web browsers and mail cannot reach the Internet while Skype chat works, and Norton produced a prompt when a ping was attempted. and pointed toward firewall/antivirus interference and basic connectivity checks. Below are focused, practical isolation steps and low-risk repairs that were not covered in the thread.

First, isolate third‑party filtering: boot into Safe Mode with Networking (F8 at startup) and test a browser. If web access is restored there, the problem is almost certainly caused by a security product or a network filter left by one. A full removal using the vendor’s official removal utility (rather than Control Panel uninstall) is recommended if the security suite is suspected to be the cause; such tools clear drivers and service remnants.

Next, verify name resolution and the TCP/IP stack. From an elevated command prompt, gather these outputs and inspect them for obvious errors:

ipconfig /all
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
nslookup yahoo.co.jp
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

Check the hosts file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts for unexpected entries that map sites to 127.0.0.1. Confirm browser and mail client proxy settings (Internet Explorer: Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings; Thunderbird: Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Connection Settings). A raw TCP test (telnet <hostname> 80) can show whether outgoing HTTP is being blocked at the socket level.

If the issue remains after the above, the collected command outputs will distinguish DNS problems, IP lease issues, or a corrupted Winsock catalog. These diagnostics guide whether repair (winsock/ip reset), removal of leftover security drivers, or a clean reinstall of the network stack is appropriate.

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Member Avatar for rasputinj

Have you checked to see if you have a firewall running either Windows, or McAfee/Norton. Windows normally will not do that but I know Norton can do funny things. Now does the browsers start up but no connect. I would also run a adaware or spybot to clean things out. If Skype works then you are connecting to the net. If you go to command prompt, go to run them cmd, can you ping sites like yahoo?

Member Avatar for pascalg

Have you checked to see if you have a firewall running either Windows, or McAfee/Norton. Windows normally will not do that but I know Norton can do funny things. Now does the browsers start up but no connect. I would also run a adaware or spybot to clean things out. If Skype works then you are connecting to the net. If you go to command prompt, go to run them cmd, can you ping sites like yahoo?

I just tried to ping yahoo.co.jp (I am in Japan). I got a
warning from Norton saying "careful, ping is trying to access
the net. What do you want to do?", then a couple of choices
that can be translated like this:
- Automatic (recommended);
- Authorization;
- No authorization.

I choosed the 2nd one, and ping says it cannot find yahoo.co.jp.

I never paid Norton since it was already installed when I
bought the PC. It was supposed to be a 6 months trial, so
is it a Norton revenge because I didn't pay? :D
Is there a way to remove norton completely in this case3?

a adaware or spybot to clean things out

I have downloaded it. I hope it will not screw up everything...

Thanks for your reply anyway, and sorry to reply late, but
I had a business trip.


Pascal

Member Avatar for gemini4

Your Norton is certainly blocking some of your programs from accessing the internet.

Here's an article on how to configure Norton:

The article describes how to make sure Internet Explorer is not blocked. Do the same for Thunderbird

If that doesn't do it uninstall Norton. ... I would not reinstall it back.

Instead I would use just the Windows Firewall and a free antivirus program called AVG.
You can download AVG from here: http://free.grisoft.com

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