Cannot access internet or router unless I add new user

[alex1000]

I have a small network running 2 identical XP Pro machines and a Linux box. Here is the problem.

1. I cannot connect to the internet or directly to the DSL modem on one machine. This PC originally connected but I found that I had to do a system restore to get internet connectivity again after the machine was powered off. I can ping 192.168.0.1 from this machine but I cannot open the corresponding web page (to router or direct to modem).

Unfortunately all of my system restore data was recently deleted (how, I don't know) so I cannot restore.

I can share data across my LAN.

I can also start up in safe mode and access the internet with no problem.

2. The two other computers have no internet connection problem.

3. When I add a new user to the problem PC I can connect to the internet with no problem.



Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811259

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=892889

faq779-4625

 

[alex1000]

I already tried repairing the Winsock since I saw this step in another thread. No luck.

General question: Is Winsock a global setting for all users or is it user-specific? As I mentioned I can access the internet when I create a new user so the problem seems to be related to the user setup.

My temporary work-around is to create a new account and then copy the user profile from the non-working to new user account. This works and allows me to have the same desktop settings, startup, etc.

Some additional information on the bad account:

1. The Internet connection shows that I am connected to the internet.

2. This is not modem dependent. I brought the PC home to work on and it has the same issue on two different modems.

3. I have also updated the NIC driver to the latest version.

Since I have a workaround this is not as urgent as it was yesterday but I will re-read your links to see if I can solve the issue.

Thanks for the information.

 

[alex1000]

Here is procedure that I used:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151

 

[bcastner]

Winsock is a "global" setting in the extent that it reflects registry entries in HKLM instead of HKCU, and I hesitated before recommending this course of action. However, not every user has an identical set of startup programs at launch of the OS, and a cleanup seemed advised.

Your temporary workaround, (to create a new account and do a profile copy) is certainly valid if there are issues in the local profile that is problematic with NTUSER.DAT, the profile registry store. There are possible issues where the TCP stack and service parameters can be entered in HKLM and in HKCU. Normally, XP should overide and HKCU entry with that in HKLM if it exists.

Which leaves the open question of a BHO (Browser Helper Object) or other malware entry in the original profile at fault. (Again, your new profile has a different NTUSER.DAT).

Or even legitimate programs that have been removed. One common example:

http://www.bl.com/moshe/text/quiddities/norton_errors.html

One quick malware test would be to logon under the original username, start IE, Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, and uncheck 'enable third-party browser extensions.' Exit IE, and restart the workstation and IE and test again.

Finally, profile corruption is fairly common and maddening. I have begun routinely adding this additional service to supported client workstations:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

This is more a go-forward help than an immediate one.

Best regards,
Bill Castner

 

[alex1000]

Yikes! I am back with the same problem.

Everything was fine until today and I believe that it is due to MS Outlook.

This morning I re-booted and I had Internet problems again. I restored to the previous day's state and it was working again. I then setup Outlook again (since it is not copied when the new profile is created) and everthing was fine until I logged off. On subsequent boots the Internet was gone again. At this point I restored and then then rebooted about 5 times and in each case my Internet connection was OK (no Outlook). I then setup my e-mail in Outlook again and the Internet immediately failed on reboot. Another restore fixed the problem.

So it seems like setting up Outlook and then powering down is the issue. Setting up Outlook is OK as long as I don't shutdown.

I took your advice on checking for malware (no go) and also tried the hive program (also no go). Another point of reference is that another identical machine runs Outlook with no problem. So at this point I will use my DSL e-mail account until I can find a solution.

Thanks for the help.