Member Avatar for isitme

Weird problem, one browser works other ones do not. AT&T (Yahoo) Browser works fine, but when I try to use MS Internet browser or Firefox they do not connect. Any suggestions!?

Thanks in advance!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Reverend Jim

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This pattern still pops up on modern Windows: one browser works, the others will not. What is really happening is that different browsers can use different network stacks. Chromium/IE/Edge lean on Windows WinINET/WinHTTP, while Firefox can use its own proxy/DNS path. That is why ’s point about connection settings matters, and why seeing success after removing a suite hints at a web filter inserting itself between the browser and the network.

Quick, safe checks that do not rely on any single browser UI:

  • See if WinHTTP has a hidden proxy that only some apps use:

    netsh winhttp show proxy

    If anything other than “Direct access (no proxy)” shows, clear it:

    netsh winhttp reset proxy

  • If you are on a corporate network that uses a PAC/WPAD, sync WinHTTP to the system browser settings instead of clearing it:

    netsh winhttp import proxy source=ie

  • Repair a broken Winsock/LSP chain (often damaged by malware removal or aggressive security add‑ons):

    netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /flushdns

    Reboot afterward.

  • Firefox-only works? It may be bypassing bad DNS or a proxy via DNS over HTTPS. In Firefox, toggle DNS over HTTPS in Network Settings to confirm. If toggling flips the symptom, fix system DNS or the proxy rather than the browser.

  • Temporarily disable any antivirus "HTTPS scanning"/"web shield" feature to test. If browsers spring to life, re-enable and add exclusions or update the suite.

If nothing changes, try Safe Mode with Networking; if it works there, a third‑party driver or filter is the culprit. This complements @The Dude’s and ’s tips by targeting the OS-level plumbing that often outlives a browser reinstall.

Recommended Answers

All 20 Replies

Member Avatar for The Dude

Welcome to the site!!

Try making sure that WORK OFFLINE is not checked in FF or IE (Having this checked will make them ignore the connection to the net)

Good luck!

Member Avatar for isitme

I am not "off line" in fact I just installed
both (ms internet explorer and firefox yesterday) Thanks any other ideas out there??????

Thakz

Member Avatar for Gaidahan

I have the same problem. This happens after I installed MalwareBites and scanned with antiMalware and cleared the Mal objects. Now only Firefox works, IE, google Chrome, and Safari all stopped worked (could not connect.) Anyone out there has fixed this problem before? There seems no answer on the whole internet... Thanks in advance!

Member Avatar for sanbap

Same here. Stranger situation though. Initially Only Firefox worked, not IE8, nor chrome. Then, I uninstalled IE8. IE7 started working and Firefox and Chrome no longer work. Any answers to solve this is appreciated.

It's almost as though a worm wants to control only one browser and disables the others.

Member Avatar for idcj

Check your connection settings in Firefox->Tools->Options->Network settings and make sure it is the same in other browsers too. I would also suggest you change your start page to a blank one to speed up browser start.

Member Avatar for ame1904

Check your connection settings in Firefox->Tools->Options->Network settings and make sure it is the same in other browsers too. I would also suggest you change your start page to a blank one to speed up browser start.

I am having serious issues with IE. Firefox works brilliantly, but IE is acting really weirdly. We use Outlook lite at work and I used to be able to see my personal documents through the website but no more. When I click on hyper-links in IE it ignores them and when I want to use Papal through EBay the link just takes me back to EBay. I have tried every suggestion that I have read to no avail. I have tried upgrading to IE 8, but the system keeps telling me that it can't install as it has detected a more recent version(!). I am getting really frustrated now as there are things that only IE can download! Can someone please, please help me?
Thanks x

Member Avatar for Fernley

I have the same problem of firefox working but nothing else. I checked the connection settings of firefox and it only works if it auto detects proxy settings for the network. Another little thing is that this started happening soon after I got opera.

Member Avatar for evolknight

I have finally found a solution to this problem. I had to uninstall Norton 360 and restart my computer. All my browsers came back to life!

Member Avatar for elsiekins

I have the same problem. This happens after I installed MalwareBites and scanned with antiMalware and cleared the Mal objects. Now only Firefox works, IE, google Chrome, and Safari all stopped worked (could not connect.) Anyone out there has fixed this problem before? There seems no answer on the whole internet... Thanks in advance!

I have the exact same thing ! i tried to reinstall chrome but that didnt help will try to uninstalll malware bytes later

Member Avatar for elsiekins

I solved mine by looking on internet explorer proxy settings unfortunately chrome takes these from IE

Member Avatar for rishi_11_2002

fixed by unchecking all proxy settings in the IE

go to Tools->Internet Options->Connections->LAN Settings

in there.. uncheck everything!

that fixed both IE and Chrome for me.

Member Avatar for Chronister

Your other browsers may have stopped working because the malware installed some add-ons to your browsers.

Member Avatar for rishi_11_2002

yes, the malware did that. removal of malware (u may think) fixes the issue, but damn those malwares!

Member Avatar for Robert_57

If having trouble with ie, press alt, then click on file in upper right hand corner of browser, then uncheck "work offline".

Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

- you do realize that the browser version being used when this thread was created have been upgraded so many times that the questiob no longer requires an answer.

Member Avatar for An_4

Have you checked your internet settings and the safety of your web browsers?

Member Avatar for Davidyoung07

check the proxy server settings in the browser.

Member Avatar for happygeek

Erm, see what the Reverend said a few posts up. This is such an old question, relating to a problem with an EIGHT year old browser client that is no longer used by anyone. Answers now, however well-intentioned, are pointless as they simply do not, cannot, apply to the OP's problem.

It's always a good move to check the date of the post you are replying to before hitting the post button yourself...

Member Avatar for daniel_72

Some problems don't depend on time. Some others are recurring. Some answers aren't only useful to OP.

Member Avatar for Reverend Jim

That may be the case for something like a programming technique/paradigm but almost certainly not for something that relates to an 8 (or more) year old

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