SP1 Update - Affecting Web Pages Loading

After installing SP1, webpages in both FireFox and IE will not load, it hangs at a white screen. I can verify that I have internet connection due to the Avast popup window stating my antivirus definitions have just been downloaded and updated.

Web pages will load if I disable either the "Avast" AntiVirus or the "PC Tools Firewall" temporarily.

How can I resolve this without risking my computer by having my security turned off?
Thanks

 

Well, seems to me if you disable your antivirus and firewall, that there is your culprit. You might try running a repair on those in add/remove programs.

You could always roll back the SP1 upgrade and see if the problem goes away. It's possible, though unlikely, that those two programs are not compatible with SP1.

 

That's what I thought too, but I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling both. No change.

I'm not able to do another system restore, I had a hell of a time with the SP1 download (it failed via Windows Update, finally successful through MG) and the computer said it couldn't go back to another time. Which was shocking to me because I've never had major issues with this computer, I'm forever updating everything, scanning everything, I'm pretty paranoid about keeping my computer updated.

I'm stuck where I'm at now...

With Avast being such a well known anti-virus, I would've expected more people with the same issue as me if it were a compatibility issue.

What do you suggest I do?

 

I've installed SP1 on 2 PCs - one running Microsoft Security Essentials (free) and one AVG 2011 Free. Have not had any issues with either IE8 or Mozilla.

This being said, I'm in no hurry to download IE9 until I'm sure Microsoft has all the kinks worked out of it. :banghead

 

I used to run AVG on my old computer, but I was under the impression it wasn't as good as it used to be, I was encouraged to switch to Avast when I bought this one. Are you suggesting I switch? Is there an AVG removal tool other than add/remove to be sure all hidden files have been deleted?

Do I switch my Firewall too? If so, which one do you suggest?

 

AVG Free is back to being a decent program. I have it on my desktop.

Microsoft Security Essentials (free) is also suprisingly good. I put it on my notebook PC as a test and have left it in place - so far, nothing has slipped past it (as noted in clean Malware Bytes scans).

For my firewall, I simply leave the Windows 7 one turned on and have the firewall turned on in my router.

As noted above, I also run a full Malware Bytes scan on each PC every 7-10 days just as a precaution.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I had a typo in my previous post... I meant to ask if there is an Avast removal tool other than the add/remove option to be sure all hidden files have been deleted?
Thanks

 

Update on desktop computer:

Microsoft Security Essentials - downloaded
Windows 7 Firewall - turned on

Webpages are now loading.

(I wonder why this happened as my laptop has identical programs and the SP1 install went fine on it)?

Anyways, it's working! Yay!
Thank you for your help.