Internet connection not detected

I am having a problem. I am working on a friends computer and I have cleaned off lots of adware, spyware, etc. The system is windows XP Home edition. I have tried to connect my dsl to it and it never fully installs but it shows it's connected. I also have set up a dial up and it's counting down the information sent and received but I can't get a browser to recognise it. IE needs to be updated, Mozilla installed now won't give me a connection either. Firewall is turned off. Any help will be appreciated.

 

does your dsl work? what never fully installs? have you tried disabling and enabling your network connection (control panel --> network connections, select appropriate one, and right click)?, i'd also change your dialup stuff. either in internet explorer, or control panel "internet options" connections tab, select never dial a connection. you might have to reboot to try it? what firewall (windows firewall)? also, have you tried it in safe mode with networking? if it works in safe mode then something is preventing you from accessing the internet. g/l - sos

 

I am working on my dsl connection now, I just moved the cable over and tried to install the software. It didn't finish installing, told me that it couldn't detect a way to connect, local connection status detected it. The only suggestion I didn't try was safe mode.

 

The only time I have come across this problem is when a certain internet service provider was installed and I wanted to go to another. The only solution I could find was to replace Internet Explorer. That provider was used here and I can't figure out how to download a complete copy of IE. Regular XP firewall was enabled here. Zonealarm will be installed when I get it up along with Avg anti-virus.

 

I had the same problem installing the dialer for dsl. I ended up having to call them and get walked through the process to fix it. I can't remember what they said because I went out and got a dsl router. Just entered the info that the dsl provider gave me, set my systems to obtain everything automatically, and I didn't have to deal with that crappy dialer software that hosed up my system the first time. Also, with the firewall built into the router, I don't have to use Zone Alarm(which messes up some of my programs and won't allow me to configure port forwarding).

 

http://majorgeeks.com/download4372.html

 

as far as i know, you don't need any special software to access the internet thru your dsl/cable. when i 1st got my dsl hooked up, i had to get it setup (using their software, creating a username/password, etc.), that's why i was asking if the dsl worked previously (like on another computer). whenever i bring computers home for me to work on (win 98 - xp), i don't need any extra software to access the internet (as long as they have a ethernet card). if they don't then i have to install a program so i can use their usb port with my modem/router. - sos

 

Did you try configuring your Proxy in IE properties? (Tools >> Options >> Connections >> LAN Settings) I had a same problem when I unchecked everything from the LAN Settings it worked out. Try it for yourself.

 

I downloaded Winsockxpfix and it worked I am able to connect. My new problem is that there are 2 viruses embedded deep in system32 files and cannot be cleaned. I am now trying to clean them out in safe mode. The happens to be a Dell, I really need to bring the settings back to factory specs. I went on the Dell site and found this information:

Run the Dell PC Restore Utility

1.

Power the computer on.
2.

When the Dell screen appears press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard, press the F11 key, then release them both at the same time.
The Dell PC Restore by Symantec window appears.

NOTE NOTE: Only press the keys one time, if you press them more than once you will receive a keyboard error and will have to start the process over.

3.

Click the Restore button.
A caution message appears advising that all data will be lost.
4.

Click the Confirm button.
The progress window appears.
When the restore is complete the message The system recovery process was successful. appears.
5.

Click the Finish button.
The computer will restart.

Your software is now back to the way it was when you first received your computer.

However I can get everywhere else but the restore. I came close one time but it just barely flipped on the screen. I slowed the keys down to make sure it's hit only once and this produced no other results.

 

You do realize the restore procedure you're trying to run will erase all your friend's data files he has created or downloaded? Is that really what you want to do?

 

YES! I've made sure that his files he wanted are all backed up. He knew this might happen, I also told him that any of the files he would reinstall had to be scanned for viruses, etc. before reinstalling. He also knows I don't clean it up again for him.

 

I haven't found anything yet I couldn't get rid of with AVG, Spybot S&D and AdAware.You could use Recovery Console, rename the system files in question, and then expand good copies from the XP CD.

 

That's the problem....... NO CD. In safemode things seem to be leaving so we will see where to go from there.

 

Just finished with second scans and nothing was found in Safe Mode. Rebooted and the same message is there. c:\windows\system32:chnuixb.dll. Access is denied. Cannot find c:\windows\system32cmd32.exe. Now Avg comes up and tell me again Trojan horse backdoor Afcore.bb. cannot be cleaned or removed.

 

go to A:> and type in FORMAT C:

at this point it's best to completely erase the hard drive and re-install win xp. I think there is so much garbage left over that you/he will always have problems. You said you have all important data backed up anyways.

be sure you have ALL drivers before doing this. You said it was a Dell, so there should be a drivers disk. For the amount of time you are going to spend trying to find the real cause (which you suspect as being a bug) you can do a complete format and re-install in less time.

I usually put in a win 98 boot disk, chose option 2, then run fdisk, then format C: after rebooting. Unless you have a corrupted bios, this cleans everything and gives you a nice fresh start. Makes a BIG difference..like getting a new computer.

This gives you a chance to install anti-virus programs and as many spyware programs as you want with a "virgin" system and update them all. You will have a perfect "restore" point if you ever need one.

 

As to the "cannot find" error, in regedit, IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE EDITING YOUR REGISTRY, go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

and look for a key with that filename, and delete it.

Look in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run as well.

 

Probably the reason why you can't see the files, is cause it has either the hidden or the system attribute.

I'd go to the cmd prompt, then the directory where it is located. They type in:

dir /ah

this will show all the files that are hidden. Does it show up now?
how about

dir /as

anyway, if you find the file, make a note of it and type in

attrib -r -h -s -a filename
del filename

recommend doing this in safe mode.
or better yet in recovery console, but try safe mode first.

 

OK, Thanks for the input I will have to take a little while to sift through it and see what happens. I think I mentioned that there is NO CD meaning no magic disks for XP or the drivers. It's kinda like praying for the right answers and hoping you get it right the first time. Will let you all know what happens when I get through it.