No network connection

Hi,
My XP computer suddenly stopped connecting to the internet. It connects to my wireless routers (one at home, one at work) just fine, but no internet or email. I tried using an ethernet cable, same result, and tried using "PDAnet" which connects to my phone via USB... this didn't work either. This last time I noticed a message that said something about "DNS not verified".

I tried running winsockfix once with no effect.

Thoughts? Without the internet life runs slowly...

Joe Sand

 

Forgot to add that there doesn't seem to be any evidence of malware. I did have a virus problem a few months ago (which you guys helped my fix) but there's no indication of that here. I ran a couple scans... avast and malwarebytes, with no problem found.

One observation: I have personal firewall installed, as well as avast. I signed up for the trial of avast's full version, which is still active, and includes a firewall. Is there a problem having two firewalls? The only reason I thought of this is because I noticed that the avast firewall's service won't run, and cannot be started.

 

all three are 192.168.254.254

 

Does this mean anything?

 

Yes. You should try turning off or uninstalling the second firewall to try to connect. Also you can try disabling the first for a short period of time as you are behind a router so you have a layer of protection with the router's NAT function.
It's possible that the second firewall has fouled up the settings of the first.
If that is the case, plodr can help set you straight as she is way more talented in the software aspect than I am.

 

I looked on another computer that's working fine, and the IP settings are the same... I turned off Personal Firewall, and the Avast firewall isn't working for some reason. That's suspicious.

 

Ok, I got it. The Personal Firewall and Avast setup was part of the suggestion I got here after a trojan infection that took me down a few months ago, but must have assumed I would use only the "free" version of Avast. At some point I gave in to the Avast free 30 day trial of it's full version... didn't cause problems right away, but apparently it did after awhile. I turned off the Personal Firewall, and went back to Avast free, restarted, and all is well!