Can't connect to internet...

... with anything but SeaMonkey browser. :confused

Acer Aspire one V1.03
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
2 GB memory


Firefox doesn't even open. It starts a process that's visible in task manager, but doesn't use any cpu cycles... VERY strange.

I've tried Avant, Qupzilla, SlimBrowser, Safari, and Skype.
I've tried to update software like Malwarebytes or Spybot, and they fail too.

But SeaMonkey (luckily) lets me connect.

I've tried searching, have done all the DNS flushes and IPconfig reset stuff, and checked for the ridiculous "use proxy" check box - none of that seems to be the case.

Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter
Auto IP Address: 192.168.1.6 / 24
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
Dhcp Server: 192.168.1.1
Physical Address: 00:24:2C:5C:C1:2F
Networking Dns Servers: 156.154.70.22
156.154.71.22

I'm not sure how to proceed here - is there some way to check the registry or winsock or TCP/IP or analyze and determine how SM works while everything else doesn't?

(I would dearly love to "just" get a new computer, but finances really don't allow for that yet.)

 

I tried booting up in Safe Mode, and Opera does indeed connect - so I'd say there's something going on with the system OS or a driver, rather than the browser(s).
No AV or firewalls running, so it's not that.
For the moment it's a stumper.

 

It sounds like you may have an infection . . . you might be better served to post this in the malware section. You said you had no firewall or AV running. Do you mean you never have, or just right now for trouble shooting purposes?

If you are using XP with default settings, your System Restore module should be running. Is it? If so, have you tried to restore the computer to a point before this issue occurred? About the best way to do a restore on a potentially infected computer is by disconnecting it from the internet, booting into Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and at the prompt type C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe Wait for the Restore module to start (might take a long time, depending on your system) and then restore the computer to a time before this issue occurred. Then run Malwarebytes and remove anything it finds.

You really need to be running a good AV and firewall at all times, especially with XP as it is no longer supported, and as time passes it will become increasingly unsecure.

 

Thanks, Spad.
I'll start a new thread over in Malware, and see what we can do.
Maybe my next computer will be a Linux box....

 

No problem. I hope it was of help to you. Post back when you get it squared away.

Linux has it's own issues; limited software support is one . . . and it certainly isn't impervious to virus/malware activity. I like Linux Mint, especially if I have an older system I want to repurpose.