No connection to the internet... but no!

[Moses]

Odd little issue I have...

Before I wiped my computer clean of spyware a few days ago, I would occasionally get pop-up messages which would say something like:

This page not available offline...

and then I'd have two buttons:

<<Try again>> or <<Cancel>>

Likewise, when I'd click on a WMV stream while cruising the internet (with Mozilla firefox), I'd get something like:

Not connected to the internet (with the little blue 'e' internet explorer symbol over a white 'page' symbol, next to a threatening red symbol).

<<Connect>> or <<Cancel>>

Well, I still get the latter problem when attempting to view some WMV's, and I can't seem to get certain streaming video/music sound files to work at all.

Any suggestions?

I'm running XP SP1 with MSN and Mozilla browsers to connect to the internet (DSL).

-Da Mose

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by controlmind

Download and run LSP-Fix

controlmind

It is not a very good idea to recommend downloading tools like this unless you are going to explain to the user exactly what to do with it. And in order to do that, you would have to know which item in the LSP-chain is broken (if there even is one). It would be a better idea to dig a little deeper first to find out what the real problems maybe before just posting quick messages to download tools that average users should not be using. Using a tool like this improperly, can really break a connection completely when it may not be truly broken.

Moses already indicated having problems with spyware so that should raise a red flag for some further investigation.

[Moses]

What kind of information can I provide to make this little endeavor easier for you?

-Da Mose

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by Moses

What kind of information can I provide to make this little endeavor easier for you?

-Da Mose

Well if you believe that you have malware related problems that need fixing, I'm going to move this thread to the Spyware Forum and what you should do is follow the steps below. After following the steps in the READ ME FIRST, the followup HijackThis log will let us know what else needs to be fixed. If you cannot access the internet at all to do downloads then you should immediately indicated this. And then try to get HijackThis onto the problem PC via another method (like a floppy, a CD, a flash drive etc from another PC you can download to. In fact, that would work for the other programs too.)

- Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal

Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

- Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.


After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps below:

- Download HijackThis 1.99.1

- Unzip the hijackthis.exe file to a folder you create named C:\Program Files\HJT

- Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file.

- Before running HijackThis: You must close each of the following:your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc. And any other unnecessary running programs.

- Run HijackThis and save your log file.

- Post your log as an ATTACHMENT to your next message. (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post).

[chaslang]

One question too.... how do you connect to the internet (dial-up, cable, DSL, etc)?

[Moses]

I actually worked with bjgarrick last week and just got my comp clean sweeped, pretty much. I don't really think this is directly related to malware, as it happened before and after I "cleaned up", even before I started exploring the internet too much again afterwards.

I connect by DSL.

I really am stumped.

-Da Mose

[Moses]

Could it be that my comp still thinks it's connecting by dial-up? I can go places with Mozilla and such, like right now, but I can't connect to MSN most of the time because it thinks I'm offline (even though my DSL box is glowing like normal), and I can't see those videos or listen to those sound files I click on. I'm only seeing one connection option in my "connect to" thingy.

Ugh, did I just use the word "thingy"? Sorry, it's late where I am.

-Da Mose

[bjgarrick]

In Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options > Connections

Is it set to "Never dial a connection" ??

[Moses]

Ok, it (my only connection in those options) is set to "Never dial a connection", but I remember why. A while back I kept getting boxes popping up saying "Connecting..." which would be followed by boxes that said "Error: There was no dial tone" or something similar, with a counter counting down to a "Redial".

Well, I don't connect through dial-up anymore, so I'm at a loss as to what to do. I'm not exactly a computar-savvy fella, as you can tell.

-Da Mose

[bjgarrick]

Originally Posted by Moses

Ok, it (my only connection in those options) is set to "Never dial a connection", but I remember why. A while back I kept getting boxes popping up saying "Connecting..." which would be followed by boxes that said "Error: There was no dial tone" or something similar, with a counter counting down to a "Redial".

Well, I don't connect through dial-up anymore, so I'm at a loss as to what to do. I'm not exactly a computar-savvy fella, as you can tell.

-Da Mose

That option should be checked if your on DSL.

What exactly is the problem?

[Moses]

Ok, I connect through DSL, and I usually browse using Mozilla Firefox. Occasionally I'll use MSN as a browser, though. I haven't been able to connect through MSN (most of the time) because it states that it "could not find a connection to the internet" or something similar, which is nuts because I can obviously cruise using Mozilla. Also, if I try to access most WMV files or sound files on a website, a box will pop up telling me there is "no connection to the internet". Sometimes I can get the video or music to work if I hit the "retry" button on that box. Sometimes, back when I had a lot of spyware problems, IE would try to open up a pop-up ad, but it wouldn't connect because IE "couldn't find a connection to the internet" or something.

This problem just appeared one day and I'm really in the dark about what my Control Panel>>Internet Setting should look like.

-Da Mose

EDIT: Also, and again, this is something that happens sometimes and not others, I'll be able to get into MSN, but then MSN messenger won't work due to (I suspect) the above problems.

[Major Attitude]

Controlmind, first and only warning. We have knowledgeable people here, please do not assist in here, we got a great, functioning system with a couple excellent people. Some of your advice will cause damage. Thank you.

Originally Posted by controlmind

Download and run LSP-Fix

controlmind

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by Moses

I actually worked with bjgarrick last week and just got my comp clean sweeped, pretty much. I don't really think this is directly related to malware, as it happened before and after I "cleaned up", even before I started exploring the internet too much again afterwards.

I connect by DSL.

I really am stumped.

-Da Mose

It would not hurt to post the HJT log I asked for just so we can be sure no visible malware programs are at work.

[Moses]

Okie dokie.

-Da Mose

[bjgarrick]

Moses,

Before we try anything else you must update your OS. Download Service Pack 2 from the provided link. After download is complete install, reboot and post a fresh HJT log. Also, check to see if your problem remains because this update may fix it.

Windows XP Service Pack 2

[Moses]

Little problem with that. About 7 months ago I was having major problems with my old OS (Windows ME), so my buddy Sean reformatted my hard drive and installed a (pirated) copy of Windows XP on my computer, and that's what I have been using ever since, so I won't be able to use SP2.



-Da Mose

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by Moses

Little problem with that. About 7 months ago I was having major problems with my old OS (Windows ME), so my buddy Sean reformatted my hard drive and installed a (pirated) copy of Windows XP on my computer, and that's what I have been using ever since, so I won't be able to use SP2.



-Da Mose

That was two mistakes:
1) Using a pirated version is a very bad idea as you see now because you cannot get any updates, security patches, etc. You need to buy your own copy.

2) Never upgrade to WinXP from older Windows versions. It is always better to clean install.


While your HJT log appears to be clean, there appears to be something wrong too. You show no typical HJT lines that would appear prior to the O16 lines. This is not normal.
Who deleted (i.e. fixed ) all those registry entries? Or are you using HijackThis to filter certain lines?

[Moses]

I'm the only one who has used Hijackthis for this computer, and I'm not using the filter at all.

:o

I just realized I'm getting direct help from TWO majorgeeks forumites, with auxiliary help from a third! I'm such a lucky ducky.

:D

-Da Mose

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by Moses

I'm the only one who has used Hijackthis for this computer, and I'm not using the filter at all.

Okay so then I would have to ask, did you delete entries using HijackThis prior to coming here because you are missing many startup items that should be showing.

Generate a StartupList log using HijackThis.
Run HJT and on the first screen, click the button that says "Open the Misc Tools section". In the next window first select "List also minor sections (full)" and then click the button that says "Generate StartupList log". CLick Yes to the Do you want to continue prompt. Now a notepad window will come up with the Startuplist.txt file. It is already saved in the the directory HJT is running from. So just come back here and upload the file as an attachment to your next message.


Also download: "StartDreck", from here:
http://www.niksoft.at/_data/startdreck.zip

Unzip to its own folder and start the program,
Press 'Config'
Press 'Unmark All'
Check the following boxes only:
Registry -> Run Keys
System/drivers> Running processes
Press 'Ok'
Press 'Save' and select the location to save the log file
(default is the same folder as the application)

Please attach the log in this thread.

[Moses]

Ok, Chaslang, here's the HJT startup log.

That "Startupdreck" link doesn't seem to want to load right now.

-Da Mose