Windows Vista Utimate sp1 Internet Connectivity Issues

[Soulstice]

Here's what I got:

Dell Inspiron 1525

Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU T5750 @ 2.00GHz 2.00 GHz

RAM 3GB

Windows Vista Ultimate sp 1 32-bit

Netwok Adapters:

Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card

Marvell Yukon 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller

As of about a few hours ago, and no problems previously I can no longe successfully connect to the internet via wireless or direct connect with the ethernet cable. It recognizes my wireless network, as well as the local area connection; however the red "x" sits between the network and the internet on the network and sharing center screen. And both connections show "local only". Now, to elimate some of the obvious answers, let me state some of the things I've attempted already:

1) I've reset numerously, including a factory reset on the modem/router/wireless router. And, no other computers have a problem getting on the internet via wireless or direct connect ethernet cable.

2) I've checked the ethernet cable I'm using on another compute and it works fine.

3) I've tried just about every cmd entry know including:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /all

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /renew

netsh int ip set dns

netsh winsock reset

4) I've tried pinging the gateway, nothing. 4 sends, 0 repies

5) I've tried manually plugging in all the IPv4 protocols manually; default gateway, DNS, and nothing. Setting it to automatic doesn't do anything either.

6) I've used every repair and diagnose option I could see on windows, nothing.

7) I've checked device manager to see if my network adapters were working properly, and they were, checked for driver updates, none. Uninstalled both devices, then ran a "scan for new hardware" which located them and reinstalled them. Still nothing.

8) Tried different browsers, nothing.

9) Ran an entire "full scan" with Avast, and afterwards still nothing. Had Avast do a boot-time scan. Didn't fix anything.

10) Booted to "safe mode with networking". Still didn't connect.

What vexes me is no other machine has an issue connecting to the internet either wirelessly or ethernet connection, and my devices are recognizing a connection, but there are no packets received at all. Please help! I consider myself a fairly savvy individual when it comes to this stuff, but I'm at wits end, and I've been getting nothing but the most captain obvious answers from previous people that I've done over and over again to no avail.

[Soulstice]

Oh yea, I also did a system restore to a few days before, when I had internet access, and nothing. Still the same.

[MANEMAN]

Hi there.

As of about a few hours ago.

Well you certainly seemed to have achieved quite a high level of diagnosis in the few hours before posting here. Kudos.

System Restore files are also subject to corruption by cleverly written malware. You can never be 100% certain that the files are absolutely "Clean", intact, and uncorrupted.

System Restore + ERUNT backup + a Disk Image of the operating system would be the very least to be used as a contingency plan by me personally. Throw in "Second Copy" for data backup, and I just may consider myself covered.

One of the problems of handing over diagnosis remotely to someone else is that the "Forum Helper/Adviser" is completely clueless as to the types of software installed on a computer which may well be causing troubles of the sort that you are experiencing. As such it can never be viewed as true diagnosis, but more as helpful suggestions and advice.

I mention software because a while back I installed a batch of software on a computer for a friend after doing a clean install of the operating system. I left the computer then for a few days before continuing with the update.

Internet connection at this time was then impossible and I did not at first connect this with software.

After a very long time I discovered that installing Photoshop CS3 had caused the problem. Bonjour Services in this older version of software was blocking connection by operating too early. Setting it to "Delayed Start" or "Stop" in Services then made internet connection possible.

Interestingly Safe Mode with Networking didn't help me either. I didn't dig around to find out why, I was just pleased to get a connection again.

My point being that we cannot be fully aware of your software setup.

I've been getting nothing but the most captain obvious answers from previous people

All of this within a few hours of the problem occurring. - My, you had been busy asking around in such a short time hadn't you ? Once again kudos for your tenacity.

I will just state the obvious once again just in case it jogs your memory, and of course for those others who read the forum and may have similar problems. Also included are a few links that you may find useful.

Check hardware peripherals and leads.

Unplug from all USB sockets not used for internet connection.

Turn off Firewall and antivirus temporarily

Try System Restore.

Try resetting "Services" to factory default after making a backup of them.

Reload registry from a previous backup.

Reinstall operating system from a recently made "Disk Image"

Self diagnose where possible. Make good use of search engines such as Google.

If you hit a dead end, the diagnosis & fix are taking too long, or you have been unfortunate enough not to have the foresight to make a Disk Image, doing a fresh install of the operating system or resetting to factory defaults can at times work out faster.

http://windows.micro...ection-problems

http://downloadsquad...faults-web-app/

http://www.binarynot...ng-nt-services/

http://www.softpedia...et-Repair.shtml

(Useful if you are not used to CMD entries. A quick press of this can work magic at times !)

http://bertk.mvps.org/html/q_a.html

http://www.macrium.c...eflectfree.aspx

http://www.tweakhoun...trueimage_1.htm

http://www.catonett....og/archives/194

http://www.secondcopy.com/

Be aware of Chameleon if infected computer is suspected.

http://www.malwareby...ucts/chameleon/

John.

[MANEMAN]

Apologies. One of the above links goes nowhere, and I have now remembered the backup procedure link for "Services" :)

/>http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-vista-service-pack-1-service-configurations/

/>http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/script-backup-services-startup-type-xp-vista/

John.

[MANEMAN]

Whilst I am on a roll with the links I will mention the fact for those who do not know, that it is possible to "Ping" without CMD with a portable tool called "WinPing"

You can read a review here: http://helpdeskgeek....t=Google Reader

Direct download from here: http://patrice-zweng...les/WinPing.zip

( http://patrice-zweng...rograms.html#P4 )

This is a darn good website too for links to networking and internet stuff:

http://4sysops.com/a...table-ping-gui/ - Scroll down the page past WinPing.

This guy is a proper and genuine Microsoft MVP.

John.

[Soulstice]

Thanks for all the information and help. Unfortunately, I do not possess the OS disks for this machine. Nor do I have a bootable OS image. I've tried returning the machine to factory default settings using the F8 command to get to the advanced boot menu, but on that menu, for some reason, there is no "repair" option like there usually is, which would give me the restore to factory defaults options. ANy thoughts?

[MANEMAN]

From the pages of the owners manual for your model computer:

(The computer was shipped with alternative options to instigate factory default settings.)

.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.

Restoring the Computer to the Default Factory Configuration

The Dell Factory Image Restore option allows you to restore your hard drive back to its original factory configuration as when you first ordered it from Dell. This option appears on Dell computers that were originally pre-installed with Windows Vista^® and does not include computers purchased through the Express Upgrade promotion or computers that were upgraded to Windows Vista from another version of Windows. NOTICE: When you restore the computer to the default factory configuration, all data on the C drive is deleted. Before performing this procedure, back up personal files. If you do not back up personal files, the data is lost.

• Restart the computer. To do this, click Start ® ® Restart.
  When the restore operation is completed, click Finish to restart the computer.
  
  • Press <Down Arrow> to select Repair Your Computer on the Advanced Boot Options menu, and then press <Enter>.
    
    
    
    
  • Specify the language settings that you want, and then click Next.
    
    
    
    
  • Log in as a user who has administrative credentials, and then click OK.
    
    
    
    
  • Click Next. The computer is restored to the default factory configuration.
    

.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.

As the above option is not working for you, firstly try all the fixes I gave to you in earlier posts ( I take it that you haven't yet as the individual processes required are not so far mentioned by you.)

The only alternative to fully restoring to factory defaults is Dell's second option.

• "If you received an Operating System CD with your computer, you can use it to restore your operating system. However, using the Operating System CD also deletes all data on the hard drive. Use the CD only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem."

  
  If you did not receive a CD it may serve you well to apply to Dell for one now.
  

John.

[MANEMAN]

You took me by suprise really. :)

I did say - " If you hit a dead end, the diagnosis & fix are taking too long, or you have been unfortunate enough not to have the foresight to make a Disk Image, doing a fresh install of the operating system or resetting to factory defaults can at times work out faster."

I didn't expect you to have hit a dead end that early in diagnosis and jump straight to the easy way out. Where is your staying power ? :lol:

I've had another idea. Howzabout uninstalling SP1 and reinstalling it or just overwriting it ? It may sort something out.

Here is a direct link to Microsoft for SP1

http://download.micr...0-X86-wave0.exe