final resolution.....thanks to all at geeks and a cautionary tale....

Hi guys
Firstly, a huge thanks to Chas and the guys for helping me finally sort my mates computer (thread: "Posting for friend:Followed sticky now no internet at all")

After the removal of all the nasties, IE was just totally not playing....Programmes could access the internet (such as update, Norton, etc. etc.) but the minute you clicked on IE then the computer started being awkward!!!
So, Chas said "goodbye" and recommended I continue my crusade on the Software forum......
I duly did so and eventually it was decided that a full reinstall of IE was required.
I took a deep calming breath and followed the steps into the dim dangerous world or regedit!!!

I convinced 'puter that it really wanted to update IE to IE6 SP1 (via the editting of the registry) and it duly took me to the update site. 20 minutes later and I am patting myself on the back as the puter is doing a restart to finalise the reinstallation. After the restart I smugly double clicked the IE icon...... exactly the same problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swore...I wailed.... I cursed the Gods...... and I tried reinstalling it again.....to no avail.

We re-ran all the way through the "before posting" sticky.....and I finally decided that the only answer was a system restore to day 1....so set my mate on the onorous task of backing up everything possible in preparation for the nasty deed.

This morning (nearly 3 weeks after the start of it all) I went round, feeling rather like an executioner....ready to due my duty.

I had decided that it would be for the best to deactivate Norton before shutting down and then removing all the peripherals before the red-disc-boot. So, I went into Norton to turn it all off............................................................................ is anyone ahead of me here????

HERE IS THE CAUTIONARY TALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that my mate always lets Norton decide what to block etc. so all his programmes read as "access automatic"....But there......for all to see........yes.......have you got it?.......... "INTERNET EXPLORER.....BLOCK ALL"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i DONT KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED....but someohow at some point Norton decided in its infinite wisdom to close off IE altogether... there has been no warning or question over whether we wanted Norton to take this action.

2 clicks later and my mate is surfing like he never left!!!

So, when you have followed the guys help here, dont assume anything. If things are still not working, look for the obvious!!
I have decided to believe that only at the reinstallation of IE did Norton automatically close down IE.....but cannot shake the feeling that it has probably been to blame since we first cleaned up the system!!

Anyway, thanks again guys!!!!

Rick

 

Yeah Chas that is what I thought... I do have a theory or two......

firstly, my mate has a tendency to rush ahead if he knows the "click sequence" so could have OK'd a message asking if blocking was required..

secondly could Norton have auto blocked it during the re-install?? (unlikely I know).

Thirdly, since he has everything set to "automatic" would Norton have blocked it if something nasty was going on???


anyway, it is all by the by now!! IE and everything is working better then ever. I just wanted to let you guys know that you need to factor in people like me doing something stupid into your help schedule!!!

So, maybe a question like "Have you checked that it is not your firewall" could be useful when idiots like me say "Ive done everything you said and its still not working" Thanks again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111


rick