Can't connect to Internet using internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox

Ashvin Busviah · Nov 7, 2010

ISSUE
windows 7 home premium is connecting to internet fine.
Can connect to Windows Live Messenger. But it won't connect to the Internet at all on Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox getting cannot display page please diagnose and diagnose can't find any problem..

Safe mode Internet explorer and Mozilla Firefox works fine, both connects to any webpages.

THINGS TRIED
1. Ran malware bytes scan- 315 infected files found and removed

2. Ran Avast "bart" boot from cd virus scan- no viruses found

3. Reset the winsock under CMD

4. Disable all non-microsoft services on msconfig.

5. Check internet setting both the TCP and yes it is not set to "work offline".
6. There is no proxy settings there..

7. Reset Internet Explorer to factory default..

8. Given access to Internet Explorer and Mozila firefox under firewall

9. Check Internet connection on different profiles.

10. Use Internet explorer without add-ons

11. Laptop have no antivirus program at the moment
It was running Microsoft Security uninstalled it doubting perhaps that was the issue.

12. Rerun Avast Bart Boot from cd virus scan- 2 infected files found

13. IPCONFIG/FLUSHDNS, IPCONFIG/REGISTERDNS

14. Run ccleaner and Spyboot to see if any more infected files are found

15. Create a new profile with administrator right and check if Internet works under that profile.

FIX- SOLUTION
Ran Norton removal tool to remove leftovers of Norton 360 files, restart laptop and internet explorer and mozilla firefox connects straight away.

It’s a shame that Norton is creating so much issues. :mad:

Chase · Nov 8, 2010

Wow, I've been using Norton 360 for almost the last year and have never ran into an issue like this.

Thanks for the info for such an occasion does occur.

Lorien · Nov 8, 2010

Thanks for the update Ashvin. Most AV products leave behind remnants and have special removal tools to clean them up: http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/05/05/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/, but Norton is particularly bad in this regard (and McAfee is also pretty bad, but not even in the same league). I also notice how much you found with the next product (which also doesn't surprise me although there was a time a decade or two ago when Norton was at the top of the list but that's no longer true these days). Plus I've seen quite a few system and network problems that were resolved by simply removing Norton in the proper way and switching to a different, better, and free alternative.

@Chase, of course the decision is yours, but I wouldn't pay a dime for AV/AM/AS software as it seems that the best products currently available are all free (or stated differently, I know of no paid product that is any better though PandaSoft which I used for 4 years before MSE comes the closest and may even be better than some recommended free options in several ways - including detecting and removing infections and spyware - but IMHO isn't better than MSE or Avast and possibly some others even at that and it is costly). Then again, if I feel I may have been infected, I find a way to get a free trial and test with it as well (with my own domain, I have as many e-mail addresses as I want so I can keep signing up) - along with half a dozen or more other products - but NOT Norton or McAfee even on a free trial basis - (and advanced detection malware and virus scans that I probably shouldn't be using as I haven't been properly trained, but do so anyway as I REALLY don't want to be infected).

I strongly recommend using MSE as the real-time primary product (though Avast is also very good but not my personal preference), supplemented with Malwarebytes to catch anything that's missed (and so far, it hasn't caught anything missed but gives me a sense of comfort as it is probably the best at finding and deleting malware and is pretty much the first program Jacee, both Richards, and many other regulars here and on other forums including the specialized malware-removal forums (and I) recommend running when trying to fix or identify an infection). I also real-time scan with Prevx 3 (but can only scan with the free version) and it has protected me from more than one website considered to be unsafe - but I've seen very few recommend this product and don't usually do so myself as it is at best a supplement and while I think it has helped me, most feel MSE is sufficient (though I've found none who have a real problem with it and it can be run concurrently though that does take up resources - not a lot but some that most don't think are necessary).

Anyway, if you've had no troubles, consider yourself lucky. It must be true for many (despite what I've seen) or they'd no longer be in business. I sincerely hope that continues to be the case for you if you stay with it.

Thanks again, Ashvin!

Can't connect to Internet using internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox

Ashvin Busviah

My Computer

System One

Chase

americano

My Computer

System One

Lorien

Account Suspended

My Computer

System One