Many programs blocked, some work, XP SP3

Question

The problem is that many programs (such as all IE and other browers) cannot access the network. But let me explain before you get the wrong idea.

I am quite familiar with networking in general, so I can tell you that the outgoing network traffic is not even reaching the network hardware interface. In looking into the problem, I am using Wireshark to monitor network traffic. What happens is that some programs can send packets out (and thus receive responses) but others cannot. For example, anti-virus programs cannot update themselves, but PUTTY can reach anything I send it to.

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.1 OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3, 32 bit Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz, x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 13 Processor Count: 2 RAM: 1023 Mb Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE, 512 Mb Hard Drives: C: Total - 476929 MB, Free - 437737 MB; Motherboard: ECS, GF7050VT-M, 1.0, 00000000 Antivirus: avast! Antivirus, Updated: No, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled

Originally I had McAfee Internet Security installed. Suddenly one day, McAfee was unable to update itself, and IE (and other browsers) stopped working.

Answer 1

Are you saying that no applications other than putty access the network? I find that strange. Maybe it is just a simple DNS issue? Have you tried doing a ping on like www.google.com and the equivalent of its IP? or 8.8.8.8 ?

See if you can ping both a domain and an IP address. I am suspecting from the lack of info provided that it is either one of these:

• Firewall (left-over McAfee?)
• DNS issue (only allows IP access, no dns queries work = no internet for IE/rest).

Check that out, and give us some updates.

Answer 2

Try checking the Windows Firewall and see if it is on strict or if any weird settings have been configured - I would personally go to the last tab and choose the reset option.

Alternatively from the command prompt, you can type:

 NETSH FIREWALL RESET

If you are not using the Windows Firewall, then check the settings on whatever firewall you are using.

If still having the problem, I would check your router and make sure that all outgoing traffic is allowed.

Lastly, if it still has not been resolved, can you provide more information - how you connect to the internet, is this a standard home machine or at an office etc.