Mysterious "Microsoft related ?" problems

[Boris]

First day of the supposedly "Happy" :( New Year)

What I can't do

I'm unable to access any of my Hotmail accounts via OE (which I have been able to do for 4+ years)

The message I get is :-

Unable to poll for new messages on your HTTP server.

Account: 'C John Hotmail',

Server: 'http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp',

Protocol: HTTPMail,

Server Response: '',

Port: 0,

Secure(SSL): No,

Socket Error: 12029,

Error Number: 0x800CCC0E

Neither am I able to access any web pages with either IE7 or my preferred SlimBrowser (based on IE)

The message I get is :-

This program cannot display the webpage

Most likely causes:

You are not connected to the Internet.

The website is encountering problems.

There might be a typing error in the address.

What you can try:

Check your Internet connection. Try visiting another website to make sure you are connected.

Retype the address.

Go back to the previous page.

I can't access my router via IE or SB either - but I can with FireFox.

What I can do

FireFox works fine at the same time - with all the web pages I've tried.

I can and have updated all my various "Pest Control" application definitions today.

Checked my Linksys router via FireFox and made sure its firewall is disabled so that's presumably alright.

Checked that both IE and OE are allowed to pass through Zone Alarm

IE cache and cookies definitely cleared

This is sending me crazy - anyone got any bright ideas ???

DNS problem ? - but if so why does FireFox work.

Socket problem ?

[Boris]

Still baffled :(

Network Diagnostics for XP says :-

error Provider entry RSVP UDP Service Provider could not perform simple loopback communication. Error 10091.

error Provider entry RSVP TCP Service Provider could not perform simple loopback communication. Error 10091.

error A connectivity problem exists with a base winsock provider

[cozofdeath]

It looks like an IE problem to me. Have you tried looking in Tools, Internet Options, Connections tab, Lan Settings button and see if Use a Proxy server is checked, even if you didn't check it. Some programs will do this for you when you don't want them to or people forget to uncheck it.

If that doesn't work you could try going into the Advanced tab in Internet Options and click the Reset button to reset iexplorer.

If these don't work post back, theres more that can be done.

[cozofdeath]

You may also want to try this...

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html

Its safer than using netsh from the command prompt to fix your socket layer.

[Boris]

Already tried - WinSock XP Fix & LSPfix to no avail.

I've also

- flushed and reregistered the DNS cache.

- added a couple of Static DNS as well as the normal dynamic one.

- uninstalled IE7 (but its the same in IE6)

It was working fine when I disconnected just after midnight and I was stone cold sober (unlike the rest of the house) as I had to provide Dad's Taxi service home for my daughter at 2.30 am !

:0 :0 :0

I've just found it !!

Someone ???? ............ has been dabbling ???

"Use a Proxy server" is checked under Connections / LAN Settings ......... methinks that some of my youngest's friends must have been surfing in a somewhat happy state after I'd disconnected !

cozofdeath .............. Thanks for all the help offered.

[andsome]

Glad it's sorted, but surely this is a salutary lesson to EXPRESSLY forbid other people to use your computer. Only 'Er indoors and my granddaughter ever uses mine, and my Granddaughter is forbidden to do anything other than the application that I have set up for her. Access to the INTERNET is strictly forbidden.

[Boris]

All very well for a closed environment !

BUT

Have you ever tried enforcing your control policies on the best part of a dozen University students who have been "enjoying" themselves for some hours previous on New Years Eve ?

Presumably the alcohol intake caused the problem ?