Web Browser stopped working! (SP1)

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After I uninstalled SP2, my web browser returns a “Cannot find server or DNS Error” when I attempt to log on a website. No problems with sending or receiving mail or accessing web-based info from within Quicken or the Help console within the operating system. I’ve tried three different browsers (IE, Firefox, Opera). The other computer on my home network has no trouble with IE surfing the web. I have installed all the updates up to SP2. I had installed SP2 but determined that it was causing problems with two of my software programs so decided to uninstall it– and now this!

Any suggestions about what might be going on?

Thanks, Dave

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Dave,
What method did you use to uninstall SP2?
I think you may have to reinstall IE ( which includes OE ).
Or check out post 356039

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Thanks. I forgot to mention that I have also tried this. I uninstalled SP2 from within Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. When I discovered the browser wasn’t working I found the trick mentioned in post 356039 and then reinstalled XP (including activating it). Unfortunately the problem remained.

Dave

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Is Internet Explorer configured to use a proxy server?
Are you behind any sort of firewall?

StuartR

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Good thoughts but no to both questions. The browser sure acts like it is being shut down by a firewall. There is some brief activity then “Done” but no webpage. I wondered if there was a registry key left from the SP2 uninstall that is closing it down.

Dave

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Good thoughts but no to both questions. The browser sure acts like it is being shut down by a firewall. There is some brief activity then “Done” but no webpage. I wondered if there was a registry key left from the SP2 uninstall that is closing it down.

Dave

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Is Internet Explorer configured to use a proxy server?
Are you behind any sort of firewall?

StuartR

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Thanks. I forgot to mention that I have also tried this. I uninstalled SP2 from within Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. When I discovered the browser wasn’t working I found the trick mentioned in post 356039 and then reinstalled XP (including activating it). Unfortunately the problem remained.

Dave

Reply | Quote

Dave,
What method did you use to uninstall SP2?
I think you may have to reinstall IE ( which includes OE ).
Or check out post 356039

Reply | Quote

More mystery– On the “The page cannot be displayed” page that comes up when the browser does not load there is a “Detect Network Settings” link that, when clicked, does nothing. I note on the bottom of the screen that it is to initiate a javascript. Is this a clue as to where the problem might lie?

Dave

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Can you browse by IP address such as 207.46.245.92 for microsoft.com?

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

I’m beginning to feel discouraged……

Dave

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At this stage it might be a good idea to try a different web browser. That may help us to tell whether it is a client problem or a network problem.

StuartR

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I’ve tried Firefox and Opera with no luck. I think it’s a network problem.

Dave

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I’ve tried Firefox and Opera with no luck. I think it’s a network problem.

Dave

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So tell us a bit more about how you are connecting to the Internet.

StuartR

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OK. I have dial-up and was originally connected thru the modem on my machine. I started having a problem with connecting around the same time the browser problem arose. The error message said something about the wrong COM port but I checked that all out and and found nothing wrong or different. Nonetheless, I changed my configuration so that now I connect to the internet thru a networked computer that has a modem and serves as the primary connector for the XP Internet sharing. I had hoped that would take care of the browser problem but no luck.

I can still retrieve and send email and can access web-based info thru Quicken and the OS Help Center so the problem is only when I attempt to use a web browser to surf.

Dave

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I’m stumped for the moment, and it is rapidly approaching bed-time here in the UK.

I am going to move this whole thread from the Windows XP board to the Networking your Home board because it sounds much more like a network problem than a Windows XP one, and you are more likely to get help there.

StuartR

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I’m stumped for the moment, and it is rapidly approaching bed-time here in the UK.

I am going to move this whole thread from the Windows XP board to the Networking your Home board because it sounds much more like a network problem than a Windows XP one, and you are more likely to get help there.

StuartR

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Have you added the browser(s) to your firewall program list?

Make sure that the firewall is NOT blocking it from using the internet. Since the email is working that program is working so something is blocking the browsers.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Thanks, Dave. Since I have uninstalled SP2, I am not aware of where you register exceptions to the Windows firewall. I do know that I have the firewall option turned off but am wondering if in the uninstall, something went amiss so that it blocks the browser activity. But I do not know enough about how all that works to know for sure.

Dave

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For the MS Firewall, go to “Start, Help and Support”, and enter Firewall in the search pane and you should get ample help about the Firewall.

Do you have any other firewall and/or pop-blockers running?

If you are NOT running any firewall I would get a good one, and the MS firewall is NOT good enough, including the one that comes with SP2.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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No other firewall or popup blockers are running.

Dave

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Can you post a screenshot of your IE Tools | Internet Options | Connections? How did you configure ICS?

Joe

--Joe

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Can you post a screenshot of your IE Tools | Internet Options | Connections? How did you configure ICS?

Joe

--Joe

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No other firewall or popup blockers are running.

Dave

Reply | Quote

For the MS Firewall, go to “Start, Help and Support”, and enter Firewall in the search pane and you should get ample help about the Firewall.

Do you have any other firewall and/or pop-blockers running?

If you are NOT running any firewall I would get a good one, and the MS firewall is NOT good enough, including the one that comes with SP2.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

Reply | Quote

Thanks, Dave. Since I have uninstalled SP2, I am not aware of where you register exceptions to the Windows firewall. I do know that I have the firewall option turned off but am wondering if in the uninstall, something went amiss so that it blocks the browser activity. But I do not know enough about how all that works to know for sure.

Dave

Reply | Quote

Have you added the browser(s) to your firewall program list?

Make sure that the firewall is NOT blocking it from using the internet. Since the email is working that program is working so something is blocking the browsers.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

Reply | Quote

OK. I have dial-up and was originally connected thru the modem on my machine. I started having a problem with connecting around the same time the browser problem arose. The error message said something about the wrong COM port but I checked that all out and and found nothing wrong or different. Nonetheless, I changed my configuration so that now I connect to the internet thru a networked computer that has a modem and serves as the primary connector for the XP Internet sharing. I had hoped that would take care of the browser problem but no luck.

I can still retrieve and send email and can access web-based info thru Quicken and the OS Help Center so the problem is only when I attempt to use a web browser to surf.

Dave

Reply | Quote

So tell us a bit more about how you are connecting to the Internet.

StuartR

Reply | Quote

At this stage it might be a good idea to try a different web browser. That may help us to tell whether it is a client problem or a network problem.

StuartR

Reply | Quote

Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

I’m beginning to feel discouraged……

Dave

Reply | Quote

Can you browse by IP address such as 207.46.245.92 for microsoft.com?

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

More mystery– On the “The page cannot be displayed” page that comes up when the browser does not load there is a “Detect Network Settings” link that, when clicked, does nothing. I note on the bottom of the screen that it is to initiate a javascript. Is this a clue as to where the problem might lie?

Dave

Reply | Quote