Major PROBLEM with multiple things.!! (MSN, Microsoft, IE)

Hi,
I am currently new to this forum, but i have made a search to see if this problem has been brought up, but i cant seem to find it.

Anyways, about a month ago i've come up with serious troubles with many tasks.
Problems I am having are:
- Can't Sign In MSN, AIM, Trillain (Claims that there is a problem with my internet connection but there is not that i can find. - MSN also has
0x81000301 error)
- Can't go on many of Microsoft websites (hotmail.com, microsoft.com etc)
- Other websites also do not work, (ebay.com.au, ign.com)
- Norton Anti-Virus does not load up (the icon is there but when i click on it nothing happens)

This problem is quite annoying, and i have even tried reinstalling windows (formatting only c:\, alongside i also have 2 other drives)

This happened roughly at the beginning of September (i think maybe during SP2 update), Also i have tried emailing microsoft from another computer (hotmail.com does not work) about this problem and was given solutions, none that work.

I think this may be a virus of some sort but cannot find what. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time
Peter

 

Please take the time to read the following. You could have malware on your pc.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407
READ ME FIRST: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal

 

thanks for the idea, but it didnt work

i downloaded all the ad-aware and spy-ware programs and scanned.. tried some websites, they still dont work.

would reinstalling windows on a full clean installation work (like format my entire HDD) that is the last resort i suppose. Any other suggestions?

 

Well If you were to go that route and reinstall windows. I would do a low level format first (AKA fill drive with zeros) A utility to do this can be downloaded from the website of the hard drive manufacturer. But before doing this you might try running a repair on windows or system restore.

 

well, i already have reinstalled windows without formatting all my drives.
No one heard of a virus that can do this?

i've seen many other people have this problem before, but not to my extent where a reinstall of windows doesnt even fix it

 

by chance are the sites you're trying to visit HTTPS (SSL) sites or pages?

 

i'm unsure...

is hotmail (SSL)?
MSN Messnger?(would it be SSL)
Microsoft.com?
ign.com?

and either way, i've reinstalled windows, so whatevers bound to be fixed right?
unless my modem setting have been changed some how..

edit: i am currently using a Netgear DG814 4-port internet gateway

 

theortically speaking, any problems due to configuration on your machine should be completely wiped out on a format and reinstall.

If you're sill having problems it is either some 3rd party software or something other than your PC, like a firewall setting (software or hardware).

 

Well, I'm guessing that a format, clean install has not been performed, as all I see is reinstall, and for most people, that means an upgrade over itself.

I would try SafeMode w/ Networking and see what the results are.

 

that's exactly what I was thinking adryn.. and also why I specifically mentioned "format".. hoping that might prompt him to post his procedure.

 

well, i tested safe mode and it did not work.

i have a 120 gb and 80 gb hdd on my pc.
i split the 120 gb to c:\(10gb -windows drive) d:\(100gb) e:\(80gb extra hdd)

i formatted only c:\ and made the reinstall on it, from the boot up in dos.

but i thought that might fixed the problem, so im sketchy about it being a virus on the boot sector

 

help plz.. anyone

 

when you go to help / about in IE ..what does the Cypher Strength say?