For a few weeks now an update from Firefox kept installing and failing, so I decided to do a clean uninstall and then reinstall Firefox fresh. Since this my internet browsing capability has died. I play MMOs and still connect through them, but both Firefox and IE get locked in a waiting for website message and time out before page loads. Have tried reseting router, multiple reinstalls of both browsers, cleared all caches and related temp folders, ping tests (all working fine), windows network diagnostics (again working fine), sfc/scannow (nothing), winsockfix (nothing), and am posting this from a laptop connected to the same router that also can access my PC through the network and vice versa. I have also scanned my computer for malware and viruses and found nothing. Any help would be appreciated.

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Lets see if any registry corruption within the OS may be inhibiting browser usage.

Download a copy of HijackThis and save it to your desktop in a folder.
Do a scan and save the HijackThis logfile. Do not remove anything.
Post your log file here. Link to HijackThis:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Trend_Micro_HijackThis_d5554.html

Thanks for the reply, but I was able just now to fix the problem on Mozilla's support site.

This revealed another issue that you might be able to help. McAfee was running it's fire wall after I had disabled it from within McAfee. In msconfig the McAfee services I chose initially through them were identified as being from McAfee but the firewall and a few others were identified as unknown. When the unknown services were disabled an error message popped up stating I needed to be an admin for effects to take place. I am the only user on this computer and so therefore am the administrator. Regardless I decided to boot in safe mode, log as admin, and disable them from there. The unknown services were still disabled (so what needed admin?) and when msconfig was closed in safe mode (still logged as admin mind you) the error message popped up again. ??? After rebooting in regular windows (XP Home that is) the services were still disabled and my browsers worked. Yet now McAfee is registering errors stating that the firewall is missing files and I need to reinstall. I have done this and the problem with their firewall persists. Since my initial problem has been taken care of I will be going to McAfee for support but any help you can offer would be great. I have Hijack this and here is the log. This is after the browser fix and Unknown McAfee processes disabled.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:58:43 PM, on 5/4/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16640)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\point32.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\itype.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
C:\Program Files\Startup Manager\startman.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\KhalShared\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\dpupdchk.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InterVideo\RegMgr\iviRegMgr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MPS\mps.exe
C:\Program Files\Comcast\Desktop Doctor\bin\sprtsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\msc\mcuimgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell4me.com/myway
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://mysearch.myway.com/jsp/dellsidebar.jsp?p=DE
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.dell4me.com/myway
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\VIRUSS~1\scriptcl.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Veoh Browser Plug-in - {D0943516-5076-4020-A3B5-AEFAF26AB263} - C:\Program Files\Veoh Networks\Veoh\Plugins\reg\VeohToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliPoint] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliPoint\point32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [itype] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\itype.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Startup: Startup Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Startup Manager\startman.exe
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nwprovau.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.mcafee.com
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-us/4,0,0,90/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/en-us/1,0,0,23/mcgdmgr.cab
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: InCD Helper (read only) (InCDsrvR) - Ahead Software AG - C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: IviRegMgr - InterVideo - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InterVideo\RegMgr\iviRegMgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Update Manager (mcmispupdmgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Protection Manager (mcpromgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Redirector Service (McRedirector) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Privacy Service (MPS9) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MPS\mps.exe
O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\PROSetWired\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: SupportSoft Sprocket Service (ddoctorv2) (sprtsvc_ddoctorv2) - SupportSoft, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Comcast\Desktop Doctor\bin\sprtsvc.exe

--
End of file - 7039 bytes

IMHO, McAfee is akin to Norton/Symantec in that its software is 'system hijacking' once installed and has its own inbuilt 'survival code' making it extremely difficult for users to disable, and even uninstall when they no longer want it......I have long been critical of these software developers for this and other reasons.
This is what would be contributing to the 'administrator privelage' messages as even though you are logged as admin, you need to run the files directly as admin to perform any changes!

In other words, once their software is installed on your system, they want you to keep it there and continue paying the necessary licence fees associated with it!

Obviously, the choice in software protection you chose to utilize is entirely your decision, but you will never find any of their products on my system when there are far better available, even as freeware!

This is simply my opinion, and as my wife keeps telling me, im not always right! hehe.

Anyway's, obviously you know that these services will need to be re-enabled for your firewall to operate correctly again. (Ensure that they are checked in both the msconfig startup and services tabs, if listed, and try returning the startup service to 'normal mode' in the general tab.
Dont worry too much about the fact that MsConfig lists them as unknown as this is fairly common amongst a lot of applications.

I have had a look at your log file in detail and there are no 'suspicious' applications or services (Malware) running in your registry that shouldnt be there, however there are a few left over registry reminants that i would prefer to see removed.
Im not entirely sure that these are directly related to your issue with the browser, but it wouldnt hurt to get rid of them anyway.

Please run HiJackThis again and do a scan.
Place checks next to the following entries if still present in the code and close all browser and other windows except for HijackThis, and click "Fix Checked".

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://mysearch.myway.com/jsp/dellsidebar.jsp?p=DE
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)

A reboot should see this take effect!

P.S You shouldn't need a software firewall if your behind a router (hardware firewall enabled)

Best of Luck

Regards

Thanks, will do that in a sec as McAfee reverted itself back to it's dysfunction when noticed the files were missing, and so likewise the browser block. I have heard from many the same sentiments you disclosed in your reply and never had an issue with McAfee prior to now, but am converted by this experience. I have had dealings with Norton (in my opinion the virus that supposedly fights viruses) in the past and have since never installed them on my following systems. What would you suggest as freeware since I only used McAfee as it was free with my broadband? Also as for the problems with uninstalling what also would you suggest to clean it off? Right now I'm running a HouseCall on my PC just to double check after the windows uninstall of McAfee, and will be doing the same on this system once the PC is back up and running. Thanks again for your help and words to the wise.

Oh, as for the firewall I disabled it from within McAfee yet it continued to run, but was only discovered when firefox was uninstalled and then reinstalled. Hence the issue... and the rest you know.

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