Alienware 15 R4 - laptop on Win 11 came in with the browser no longer reaching websites after an update, not sure of what. Especially when opening new tabs.
Basically used for gaming and browsing, only games installed.
First opening any of the already installed browsers, Edge or Chrome, sometimes work correctly but opening a new tab or clicking on a link fails to access the target site.
Spybot S&D was installed, removed and manually cleaned up registry of any left-overs re Safer Networking as well.
Newly installed Firefox seems to work, except clicking on a link sometimes opens: oovaultydotcom that's offering Total AV. Couldn't find anything about oovaulty when googling.
Steps so far:
1) - Cleaned up caches, reset browsers to default, repair-installed Edge.
2) - Repair-installed Windows
3) - Ran Adwcleaner, MBAM trial (no longer offers full system scan?), Ccleaner for deep cleaning of temp and redundant registry entries, Antivirus Removal Tool, SFC... nothing detected
4) - Uninstalled wless drivers including attempt to delete currently installed set and re-installed from freshly d/loaded package. Reset network.
5) - Cleared and reset HOSTS file.
Side testing to confirm NIC is ok.
1) - Installed a fully working Win11 test drive + using the on-board NIC - works flawlessly.
2) - Disable on-board NIC + use a USB NIC - works flawlessly ==> something interfering with on-board NIC?
3) - Ethernet connection with on-board NIC disabled or enabled - works flawlessly.
MS Defender is the only protection now, nothing suspicious as far as I can see in firewall and other settings when comparing with my own laptop, maybe I'm not noticing.
3) - MBAM installed seems to overcome whatever is interfering with the connection though no malware was detected or removed.
Uninstalled MBAM - the problem returns.
Re-installing MBAM - problem fixed.
N&P might be an option but client doesn't like the idea of re-installing/reconfiguring everything and hunting for passwords.
Where else should I check? Any other detection/malware cleanup tool?
Mostly hate giving up on something so close to resolution
Basically used for gaming and browsing, only games installed.
First opening any of the already installed browsers, Edge or Chrome, sometimes work correctly but opening a new tab or clicking on a link fails to access the target site.
Spybot S&D was installed, removed and manually cleaned up registry of any left-overs re Safer Networking as well.
Newly installed Firefox seems to work, except clicking on a link sometimes opens: oovaultydotcom that's offering Total AV. Couldn't find anything about oovaulty when googling.
Steps so far:
1) - Cleaned up caches, reset browsers to default, repair-installed Edge.
2) - Repair-installed Windows
3) - Ran Adwcleaner, MBAM trial (no longer offers full system scan?), Ccleaner for deep cleaning of temp and redundant registry entries, Antivirus Removal Tool, SFC... nothing detected
4) - Uninstalled wless drivers including attempt to delete currently installed set and re-installed from freshly d/loaded package. Reset network.
5) - Cleared and reset HOSTS file.
Side testing to confirm NIC is ok.
1) - Installed a fully working Win11 test drive + using the on-board NIC - works flawlessly.
2) - Disable on-board NIC + use a USB NIC - works flawlessly ==> something interfering with on-board NIC?
3) - Ethernet connection with on-board NIC disabled or enabled - works flawlessly.
MS Defender is the only protection now, nothing suspicious as far as I can see in firewall and other settings when comparing with my own laptop, maybe I'm not noticing.
3) - MBAM installed seems to overcome whatever is interfering with the connection though no malware was detected or removed.
Uninstalled MBAM - the problem returns.
Re-installing MBAM - problem fixed.
N&P might be an option but client doesn't like the idea of re-installing/reconfiguring everything and hunting for passwords.
Where else should I check? Any other detection/malware cleanup tool?
Mostly hate giving up on something so close to resolution
