Stupid website problem ARGH!

[Vicenarian]

Ok, Win7 x64 Home Premium running Norton (Not sure, but client said he MAY have been running F-Secure in the past). Other computers (connected wired and wireless) on the same network, worked fine.


Symptoms:
- All of a sudden, computer can't access websites. I CAN access the sites if I type the IP address into the browser's address bar however.
- Machine CAN ping website hostnames, AND IP addresses.

Stuff I've tried:
- I have changed the connection's DNS settings to Google's (8.8.8.8 primary DNS and 8.8.8.4 for secondary), and then flushed the DNS cache, but no fix.
- Tried resetting IP (netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt) and fixing winsock (netsh winsock reset catalog) I even did this TWICE to be sure!
- Tried disabling firewalls, didn't fix.
- Reset all settings within IE, no proxies set.
- Checked HOSTS file, looked clean, AFAICT.
- Removed some type of "PC Optimization" program (not sure on exact name)
- Booted into Safe Mode with Networking, same problem

Ok, so I was running short on time. Did a system restore to 2 weeks back, and voila everything worked, but all the other things I tried above didn't do a thing.

Does anybody have any insight into this? It's confusing me.

 

[rapidcom]

What browser?

fillerrr

 

[KM@ Dave]

Turn off all Firewalls and see how you go?

 

[Vicenarian]

What browser?

fillerrr

Any browser...chrome, firefox, IE.

Turn off all Firewalls and see how you go?

Turned off all firewalls. Plus, in Safe Mode, no firewalls run (I think?)

 

[Martyn]

Was just about to say remove Norton

 

[SmithFamilyDesigns]

I know its not a true solution, but run norton removal tool. Damn near guaranteed to resolve the issue and pretty well known symptom of norton.

 

[uprighttech]

Rizone Complete Internet Repair has saved me in many situations where the Internet connection was hosed. It's free and portable.

http://www.rizonesoft.com/downloads/?did=2

 

[Scales]

I had a similar issue a while back and it was Norton security suit. Unfortunately I can't remember what setting or where it was that fixed this for me. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

 

[Painless]

I know its not a true solution, but run norton removal tool. Damn near guaranteed to resolve the issue and pretty well known symptom of norton.

+1 I have had similar situations in the past and running Norton Removal Tool is the answer. Even if Norton has been uninstalled some time in the past it seems to come back to cause problems - I don't know why.



John

 

[rsarceno]

I do the same thing, I normally remove Norton as one of the first step. Problem or no problem.

I think you where on the right track working on the DNS. I think it's was just a coincident that you where using Google DNS while Google was having system/network problem (Something to do with Google +, running out of disk space that escalated to Network issue)

Do you try other DNS (4.2.2.1 through 4.2.2.6). I normally use Google 8.8.8.8 for primary and 4.2.2.2 as secondary.

Roel
________________________________________________________
Sarceno Network Consulting
http://www.snccomputerrepair.com/

 

[iisjman07]

Had a client a couple week back where a dodgy fsecure update killed the internet connection: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/F-Secure-Uninstallation-Tool.shtml

 

[Vicenarian]

Had a client a couple week back where a dodgy fsecure update killed the internet connection: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/F-Secure-Uninstallation-Tool.shtml

I think you are all on the right track. It could have been Norton, but I am sort of leaning towards it being the F-Secure update (simply because I worked on 2 PCs last week, both running F-Secure that had network problems. Search my past posts for more info). Thanks for the link to the F-Secure removal tool Never knew about it before.


I'm seeing computers with this issue come in at least once a week, so once I find another machine with the same problem, I'll give both AV removal tools a shot, and report back here with my findings. THANKS GUYS!


Edit: Just FYI, the other computer I worked on last week also had network issues, but that time, the computer was getting a Class B IP address from the router (while other connected computers got a proper IP) that was in the range for the US postal service! Removed F-Secure and all was well. I think there is a trend here with F-Secure causing a bunch of network-related problems.

 

[anth]

Got one in today with a a similar problem..ran combo fix and that seem to resolve the issue.