For the last few days i have been unable to update various programs on my pc. They include AVG Free edition/Spybot-search and destroy/Ad-aware and i am also unable to use IE.
I have been on to AOL and they deny any fault on their part.
I am using a wireless network (BT VOYAGER2100), but i have checked their site to no avail.

I do not have any problem surfing the net or indeed downloading files etc.

Operating system?

What did you last install on your machine?

My guess would be a virus... but I could be wrong... possibly even a security setting..

Try grabbing the F-Prot DOS anti virus checker and writing it to a bootable CD (Nero or EasyCD can do this pretty simply) then boot into the CD and do a full disk scan...

If you get really stuck I can sort one out for you for a small charge...

Have'nt got a clue what you'r on about but i would have thought that AVG/ SYGATE/ AD-AWARE/ SPYBOT and SPYWAREBLASTER would be enough to keep all virus's out?.

As for the charge, i thought this forum was here to help people?

Vidster,

There's free advice in Martin's posting about what you need to do. As far as the small charge - the info already given you is probably what you'd pay a few quid for in a computer shop.

Some viruses or trojan horses are smart enough now to disable anti virus stuff if they get run.

A small fee to cover the creation of a bootable write-protected disc with all the gubbins on isn't unreasonable.

Joe

I do'nt see how it can be a virus as we are running two computers
and we have the same problem on that one too!, This is why i think it could be something to do with the wireless network.

You say you can't use IE but you can surf the net. Can I assume you're using a different browser (Mozilla / Firefox / Opera)?

If so, then perhaps IE (and various programs which may use IE 'behind the scenes') are using a proxy server which isn't working.

Start, settings, control panel, internet options, connections, lan settings. See if 'use a proxy server' is ticked. Try unticking it.

I am using AOL but the proxy settings have been switched off since installing my wireless network. I have also noticed that i CAN actually use IE but so far this has only been to access BT's website(The manufacturer of my wireless network).
My internet settings are configured to 'automatically detect settings' under LAN SETTINGS.

When i try accessing any site using IE, i have noticed that i get the usual 'website found waiting for reply' and then nothing happens until the page time's out. This is similar to what is happening when i try to update other programs and use Windows media player/Real player. It's almost like the firewall is not allowing their access, although i have tried it with the firewall disabled with no difference.

go to start, run, type 'cmd' (without quotes), then in the dos box, type:

tracert 127.0.0.1

then type:

tracert www.google.co.uk

then when its finished, select the appropriate bits (it turns white), then press enter (this will copy the selected area), then paste it here (shift-insert).

I have done as you say LL200 and as you can see it went 'Pete Tongue'.
Looks to me as though it is'nt accessing the internet?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\>cd
C:\Documents and Settings\

C:\Documents and Settings\>cd\

C:\>tracert 127.0.0.1

Tracing route to localhost [127.0.0.1]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms localhost [127.0.0.1]

Trace complete.

C:\>tracert www.google.co.uk

Tracing route to www.google.akadns.net [64.233.161.99]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * * Request timed out.
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * * Request timed out.
21 * * * Request timed out.
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * * * Request timed out.
24 * * * Request timed out.
25 * * * Request timed out.
26 * * * Request timed out.
27 * * * Request timed out.
28 * * * Request timed out.
29 * * * Request timed out.
30 * * * Request timed out.

Trace complete.

C:\>

Any ideas?

Vidster

Are you using a router for your wireless network because that may have an inbuilt firewall. Check your configuration - you may have to input trusted urls to allow access to certain sites if it has an inbuilt firewall. I had to do this to get on the tesco website as my router wouldn't let me on.

Hope this helps

You'r not wrong!!. I do have a built in firewall with my router.
Will i be able to disable the firewall?. I've had a quick look in the configurations but could see no referance to the firewall.

Well the tracert results shows that the DNS is resolving correctly.

Try typing 'ipconfig /all' in a DOS window and pasting the results again (if you're worried about pasting this information, PM me with it but also reply to the thread).

Also try typing:

telnet www.google.co.uk 80

and tell me what it does (describe it exactly).

Has it ever worked? Did you make any changes just before it stopped?

I have PM you LL200 but i could only include 1500 characters so i had to delete the first couple of lines!.
I also tried typing telnet ww.google.co.uk 80, My firewall popped up so i allowed access, then nothing. I just got a flashing 'blip' in the corner.

I have also noticed that Windows media player and Real player are not letting me stream video or audio clips.
I have phoned BT about the firewall but they say it is'nt activated and the problem lies within xp and xp-pro?

The ipconfig information you PMd me with all seems fine.

I dont think your router has a firewall built in (except NAT, which some people call a firewall but isn't really, it should be switched on and wouldn't cause the problems you are seeing).

I would try disabling Sygate firewall first and see if that helps. If not, enable it again and disable Windows XP firewall (if that's on).

I've still got a few more ideas if this doesn't help... :)

Another thing to try. Lets do the telnet thing but this time do the following:

type:

telnet www.bt.com 80

you should then see just a flashing cursor. Type 'get' (no quotes) then press enter (once or twice). You may not actually see what you are typing but do it anyway.

Then, hopefully, you'll see some text, something like Bad Request or similar. Post that here.

This is what it came back with!




<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Bad request</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY><H1>Bad request</H1>
Your brow
ser sent a query this server could not understand.
</BODY></HTML>

C:\>ection to host lost.

The results from telnet says that there is nothing wrong with your connection or router. Something somewhere is blocking access to certain programs (or, to be more exact, something is permitting access only to certain programs).

So try disabling your firewall(s) next.

OK, I've cancelled all security in msconfig and services, re-booted and tried again, no luck!. So in desperation i went into task manager and disabled any process i did'nt need, still no luck!.
I'm going to try a selective start up in msconfig but i do'nt fancy my chances.

I do'nt think i've said thanks for the help yet LL200 so, THANKS for all the effort. You've been more help than my usual pc forum!

Just a small note.. the small charge thing is because I work with computers, and I do have to cover my costs... If I didn't I'd be a lot poorer very quickly..


In terms of the problem... it's sounding a lot like your router is blocking a lot of traffic for some reason...

You'd probably find it worthwhile to find as much info out about your router as possible and see if there's any possible configuration changes you can make via a web interface or something similar..

Oh and also, you may well find that you've got a another software firewall somewhere on the system (like windows own one) that could be causing problems...

Next up from that again is virus behaviour but admittedly it is sounding like firewall / router configuration issues from all the above..

Best of luck...

I have been on to BT (50p a min' robbing t**ts). We have gone through all the settings etc and they say that it is a software problem in windows xp. They also say that if i install sp2, the problems will go away.
I find this strange considering, everything was working right until around the time i installed my router!.
Plus what did people do before sp2?. Anyway, they say the built in firewall is'nt switched on.
I've checked windows firewall and it's not swiched on.
I have done a selective startup but found it impossible to check correctly, due to windows refusing to install the AOL files.
It is getting to the stage where a clean install is required, that way no one will be able to blame xp!.

I still think it is related to your router. Whilst it may not show any reference to a firewall in the paperwork some of them work so that they provide a form of firewall - mine certainly does anyway.
(LL200 - I know this isn't a real firewall but it puts up a blank barrier so it acts in a similar way).

Go to your configuration page for your router and look for a trusted sites page or some way that you can input urls on mine I think it's the initial page - I'm going from memory and as I set this up last November that is alittle foggy. However type in the url of one of the sites you can't get onto save and then try again see if that helps. As I said I couldn't get onto the tesco site when I first got mine.

The only other way I would suggest to try testing this would be to try plugging your broadband modem directly into the network card on your pc thereby bypassing your wireless router and see if you can connect, if you can (and I could) then then problem has to be with the wireless router and is more than likely just a security setting that needs adjusting. It might also be worth checking that your encryption settings are correct.

The reason I believe it is not router-related is because vidster is able to telnet to port 80 and get a response back, therefore traffic is flowing through the router.

Its very difficult to remotely debug these kind of things, but I'm sure it is software, and the first thing I'd check is whether it works after disabling Sygate. Or check Sysgate's logs.

I'm sure a clean install isn't required just yet... :)

i see u mention SP2?

wel after i installed it, ive had problems with my connection saying "limited or no connectivity.

not fully solved the problem myself, but be aware that SP2, like all service packs, may solve some problems but come with their own!

I can actually access any web site that i want, by typing the address normally. What i am not able to do is update various programs, using their automatic update functions.
Windows update comes on every night and is stuck on 47% downloaded and when i try to update AVG, it finds an update, goes to 343mb downloaded and then stop's.
When trying to stream video or audio files, Real player says it can not connect and windows media player starts looking for a connection, then time's out.
When i try using IE, I can access a page every so often but most of the time, again it time's out.
I have disabled sygate in msconfig and in systems, then re-booted and tried again, no difference. In fact i have disabled all my security including spy-ware programs, to no effect.
It is worth noting that i have no problem downloading programs manually!!.

My modem is built in to the router but i do still have my original broadband modem, i'm thinking of taking the wireless card out and re-installing the old modem just to see if it is the wireless network.
Does anybody know if i am entitled to a refund on the wireless system if it turns out to be the problem (I have only had it approx 3 weeks!)?.

Try using your original broadband modem and see if that works with your firewall running if you can update of it has to be something to do with the security settings on the wireless router that is preventing you downloading. That would be my opinion anyway (for what it's worth).

I have finally managed to re-install my old modem and guess what, everything's back to normal!!!.
Now i know it is the router that is the problem, i can give it a proper go, to get it sorted!.
I have been on the phone to BT (Again), they have told me how to alter the MTU and PPPOTM settings so i'll give it a go and post my results.

Glad you're having some success. I was running out of ideas... :) Keep us informed as I for one hate being beaten, especially by computers...

Guess what?, I told BT that i wanted a refund and they found the problem in about 2mins flat!.

What i have had to do is run a 'fix' program (Built in to AOL software), and change a setting that i knew was wrong all along.
The last time i rang BT they had me change the MTU setting from 1500 (Default) to 1380. I told the tech guy that this was wrong as i had read in the AOL guide that it should be set to 1400. He told me i was wrong and i listened, like a fool!.
Well it did need setting to 1400 and hey presto, everything is back to normal.

Well i'm chuffed with:
1. YOU guys on this forum for ALL the help and advice over the last few days, THANKS!

2. My system being up and running to full capacity again.

I will endeavour to repay everyone with my limited knowledge in the future.

JOB DONE!

Technically, an MTU of 1380 should have been fine (you're supposed to reduce it until everything works, so if 1400 works, then 1380 should work but with some degree of decreased performance due to packet fragmentation).

Anyho, problem solved.

I look forward to your help in the future :)

Yeahh!, I agree. I wonder if it was more to do with the system 'fix' utility in AOL.

Ohh, on another subject. I will be starting another thread on upgrading laptop ram (Just as soon as the headache has cleared up from this escapade, lol).

I'm glad you got sorted:thumbsup: My guess was right then - it was the router, although I haven't got the foggiest idea what the settings were you were talking about. I don't follow the jargon as I am reasonably new to networking, I just recognised the symptoms and suggested the easiest option, so that you could rule out the most obvious and determine the cause.

Anyway well done!

Actually, you change the MTU in Windows not the router... :)

That's strange because i had to change it through their web site interface?.

Really? Through the router interface or through AOL's interface?

I had to use IE and type the url number address. If i try doing it through AOL, i just get a search page.
The page that loads is where you change most of the settings to do with channel selection etc. This is also where you need to connect the router to the internet in the first place, otherwise you can not 'play' on the internet.