Issues with web browswers

My Mum's laptop had lots of problems to I reinstalled Windows Vista. There seems to be some problems that I cannot resolve. Comodo Firewall wouldn't install properly, any way I have removed it. The laptop connects to the Internet but web browsers are causing issues. Firefox just won't open. IE opens buts says it can't connect. I thought it might be Windows Firewall (it's the only firewall on the laptop) so I turned Windows Firewall off and then tried again and still the same problem so I know it's not a firewall issue. I really don't know how to resolve this one. Any ideas gratefully appreciated.

 

Is this a general problem with all 3d party software? Sounds like it?

 

Regarding the reinstall I am not sure, the former I think, because I think it said it was a destructive reinstall, i.e. all data would be lost.

The laptop is an Advent 7301 and uses MS Vista Home Premium.

No yellow !'s in Device Manager. All seems OK there.

In Network and Internet the line between the three is green.

Comodo didn't give any error messages it just wouldn't open.

Plus, this laptop always seems to have lots of problems and crashes or restarts for no obvious reason, e.g. if you unconnect the external modem from a USB port the laptop restarts; today I lowered the sceen/lid and it restarted and said it had not been shutdown properly and suggested restarting in Safe Mode.

 

What happened when you started it in safe mode then? Did you get any error messages? Numbers?

 

Hi

Nothing happened when I started it in safe mode. So from safe mode I first logged off then I shut down. After which I switched it back on and it started up as normal. I know it must be difficult to help on this one because I' getting no error messages. That's really why I'm posting about the problem. There doesn't seem to be much to work with but I know there's a lot more expertise on here than I have so really am looking for help with this really frustrating issue.

Thanks

Mark

 

I've run that fix but the same problem persists

 

Comodo actually offers to install the firewall for you via remote assistance. It's a part of their 30 day free trial offer. Could be worth a try.

Did you install all the updates to that Vista via Microsoft Update?

 

I am 100% certain that Comodo is not on the laptop.

I did run Microsoft Updates and it install 107 updates. In fact it was only after this that the laptpop started to play up.

After I had reinstalled Windows to make sure connecting to the internet was safe I downloaded from the Net a variety of programmes on to a data pen on my home PC: Avira antivirus, Comodo firewall, Spybot S&D, SUPERAntispware, Spyware Blaster plus CCleaner and then installed these on the laptop before connecting to the Net.

Then I connected to the Net and completed the installtion of and updated the above software. So up to that ppoint all seemed OK.

The problems seem to have started after I updated Windows.