Need cheapass help with my computer please!

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Ok guys, here is the deal: For the past three weeks or so my laptop started acting "weird". It would give me server not found messages very often to pages that I knew were working such as my e-mail, yahoo, this page, university's webpage, etc. I thought it was a virus or something because I was already on my third browser (IE stoped working a while ago, then Netscape, and I finally started using Opera). It got to the point where I cannot go to the pages I want whenever I wanted to, very frustrating.
So I went to my PC, which I rarely use, and found the same problem. I did a whoel system restore, I installed a new Antivirus, and got all the Windows updates... and I still have the same problem!! What's wrong? I cannot even get the newest virus protection because the program cannot communicate with the server! Some pages qiell eventually work (hence my writing here). What could I do? Could it be my modem or router? Please help. My Xbox Live works perfectly, so I have no clue whats wrong.
Sorry about the long post, but I need some help. I use road runner (broadband), I have a Motorola modem and a D-Link router.
Thanks in advance guys
 
[quote name='Rig']Ouch. Those sound like some really bad probelms OP. I hope someone here can help you out...[/quote]

//smacks Rig for posting the obvious and making a useless post

Sounds like some really bad spyware. Tried Spybot, Ad-Aware and HijackThis yet?

Also, if you're using IE, switch to Firefox.
 
[quote name='Scorch'][quote name='Rig']Ouch. Those sound like some really bad probelms OP. I hope someone here can help you out...[/quote]

//smacks Rig for posting the obvious and making a useless post

Sounds like some really bad spyware. Tried Spybot, Ad-Aware and HijackThis yet?

Also, if you're using IE, switch to Firefox.[/quote]

//places bandage where Scorch smacked me

I wanted to keep it on the front page... :)
 
1) Get rid of all the spyware on your system.

2) Scan for viruses.

3) If you have Norton Systemworks: Run Windoctor

It can detect any program errors or missing files .exe, .dll that you may be lacking.
 
Definately switch to Firefox. However, although it baffles me that you can connect to Xbox Live yet cannot with 2 different machines, inquire about Roadrunner's firewall. If not that, and as screwy as this sounds... see if it's a Service Pack 2 issue and some kind of conflict with your connection. I'd say try uninstalling SP 2 and see what happens, and try pinging different ip's to see what happens. I solved a similiar problem with someone's connection to Bellsouth via DSL, where it was SP 2's built in firewall not allowing a connection to any site but yahoo (pinged yahoo and it worked fine, yet pinged MSN and it didn't. It was VERY strange).

And as suggested above, no computer should be without Ad Aware.
 
[quote name='Rig'][quote name='Scorch'][quote name='Rig']Ouch. Those sound like some really bad probelms OP. I hope someone here can help you out...[/quote]

//smacks Rig for posting the obvious and making a useless post

Sounds like some really bad spyware. Tried Spybot, Ad-Aware and HijackThis yet?

Also, if you're using IE, switch to Firefox.[/quote]

//places bandage where Scorch smacked me[/quote]

I smacked you with a foam bat, you wuss!
 
Blech. This could be any number of things.

1. Try a power cycle - unplug modem and router. Plug in modem FIRST, then router, then reboot computer.

If no worky...

2. Try a full system scan with antivirus.

If nothing found...

3. Boot into safe mode and run a scan in there also. Also run spyware scanners in both normal/safe modes.

4. Open start menu. IN run command, type in "msconfig." Hit enter. Click on the far right tab. These are programs that start up with Windows automatically. Disable ALL of them. (uncheck them). See if that changes anything.

5. Try to update virus/spyware scanners as best as possible.

6. Try updating firmware for router, drivers for LAN.

7. Make sure Windows is updated fully.

8. Problems occur after Service Pack 2 was installed? Consider uninstalling it if this is pertinent.

If none of that works, consider a full format. I assume by "restore" you didn't do a full format, just restored to an earlier point? Might need to do a full format, could be a virus that bad.

Let us know.

Cheers,
Strell
 
Try this out, a lot of times spyware will damage your internet connection (actually your tcp/ip stack) either while it is installed or when it is removed using something like adaware,spybot, etc. Assuming your using DHCP, you shouldn't have to do anything except for run the program and reboot. If you enter IP addresses into each of your computer you will need to re-enter those upon reboot.

Additionally it could be your router, try plugging a computer directly to the cable modem and see if anything changes, the router could somehow be blocking traffic on port 80 (which is used for websites) for some reason.
 
Wow! Thanks for all your post guys! Well, by "restore" I meant I actually restarted the computer to the way it was when I first bought it. I used the system restore cds. That way I beliebe it cannot be spyware or virus (I'm not sure though, I'm not very good at computers). :oops: I'll try the power cycle. The problem existed before I got the Xp pack 2. How do I update the firmware of my router or modem? Is it necessary after the restore? The modem was given to me by Time Warner (road runner).
Thanks guys... as a true cheapassgamer I would hate to have to take it to the shop or something where $$ is involved! The computer still has Best Buy's replacement plan, but this obviously is not covered I think. It might not even be the computer at all right?
 
"i'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is DHCP?

[quote name='zzl365']Try this out, a lot of times spyware will damage your internet connection (actually your tcp/ip stack) either while it is installed or when it is removed using something like adaware,spybot, etc. Assuming your using DHCP, you shouldn't have to do anything except for run the program and reboot. If you enter IP addresses into each of your computer you will need to re-enter those upon reboot.

Additionally it could be your router, try plugging a computer directly to the cable modem and see if anything changes, the router could somehow be blocking traffic on port 80 (which is used for websites) for some reason.[/quote]
 
[quote name='Scorch'][quote name='Rig'][quote name='Scorch'][quote name='Rig']Ouch. Those sound like some really bad probelms OP. I hope someone here can help you out...[/quote]

//smacks Rig for posting the obvious and making a useless post

Sounds like some really bad spyware. Tried Spybot, Ad-Aware and HijackThis yet?

Also, if you're using IE, switch to Firefox.[/quote]

//places bandage where Scorch smacked me[/quote]

I smacked you with a foam bat, you wuss![/quote]

In that case.... I'm telling! :p
 
I had the same problem and it turned out it was my D-Link router causing it all. My Xbox would run fine but both my comps were constantly losing connection. After about 6 calls to D-Link I find one guy who told me to just send it back to them. I did some research and talked to many people who told me to stay away from D-Stink. I bought a Belkin and it runs perfectly. Other thing is the modem. I know Comcast replaced mine recently because it just went bad.
 
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It means your ISP assigns you an IP automatically. Usually it changes everytime you connect to the service but sometimes you can request it be static, or the same always.
 
Thanks, I'll try to hook it up from the modem first, if that doesn't work I'll something else. Thanks for the help. I'll let you know if I got it fixed.
 
I had the same problem because Comcast did some updates. Just go to D-Link's website, choose the model you have, and download the firmware. Then run the D-Link wizard and click on firmware. You'll be able to browse for the files you downloaded. Just put them in and hit update.
 
already been suggested, but definitely search for spyware, switch to firefox, update firmware in router, scratch self, rinse, repeat. good luck!
 
Ok, it's the router for sure. I plugged my modem directly to the PC and it works perfectly. I just need to get new firmware for the router then. Thank you so much for your help guys. This post will probably help other people also.
 
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