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Recently, sometimes when browsing internet explorer (or any web browser such as Firefox or Maxthon) will not load up any internet pages. However, Outlook and Messenger will access the internet. To get it working again, the computer has to be restarted. Any ideas as to what is causing it?Any help would be greatly appreciated as it is moderately annoying!

Ryan

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by helloimtim

Dani AI

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This pattern — web browsers failing to load HTTP/HTTPS while Outlook and Messenger keep working, and a reboot restoring functionality — strongly suggests the problem sits at the HTTP/proxy/browser layer rather than a total TCP/IP outage. noted the ISP saw a live connection and ’s advice to scan for malware was already followed, so the next checks should target browser-specific settings, DNS/name-resolution, LSP/proxy interception, and outbound filtering by security software.

Useful diagnostics (perform in sequence and collect the results for further analysis):

  1. Confirm basic IP vs name resolution:

    ping 8.8.8.8
ping www.google.com
nslookup www.google.com
tracert www.google.com

  2. Check system network state:

    ipconfig /all
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netstat -an | find ":80"

  3. Verify browser access path: ensure no proxy is set (Internet Options → Connections → LAN settings for IE; Firefox → Network Settings). Inspect C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts for unexpected redirects. Use telnet www.example.com 80 or curl -I http://www.example.com to test raw HTTP if available.

  4. Test browsers without extensions/add-ons: run Internet Explorer “No Add-ons” and Firefox “Safe Mode.” If pages load, systematically disable toolbars/extensions.

  5. Check for HTTP interception or filtering: temporarily disable any third-party firewall/AV web-shield (do so only briefly) and re-test. Some security suites and leftover adware install LSPs that break browser traffic while leaving other services intact.

If multiple machines on the same network show the same symptom, isolate to the router/ISP (router reboot, firmware check, try a cellular tether). Before performing stack resets or major changes, create a system restore point and back up important data. Collected command outputs above will guide the next, more specific remedial steps.

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Member Avatar for helloimtim

Did you scan for spyware or virus problems. Try that. Make sure windows is up to date. Try that and let me know.........

Member Avatar for Member #27070

At the moment it seems to be behaving itself, as these things do. However, this also happened to my mums computer at home and when Ad-Aware, Spybot and McAffee were run nothing came up. I rang up onetel to ask for help and they determined that there was a connection but that IE was not accessing the internet. They then pointed me towards the Microsoft support team, who were on holiday, and so I just ended up doing a system restore instead. I think I even tried a WinSockXP Fix but that didn't work. I think this also happened with my sisters laptop as well thinking about it! That ended up getting restored too!

Member Avatar for helloimtim

At the moment it seems to be behaving itself, as these things do. However, this also happened to my mums computer at home and when Ad-Aware, Spybot and McAffee were run nothing came up. I rang up onetel to ask for help and they determined that there was a connection but that IE was not accessing the internet. They then pointed me towards the Microsoft support team, who were on holiday, and so I just ended up doing a system restore instead. I think I even tried a WinSockXP Fix but that didn't work. I think this also happened with my sisters laptop as well thinking about it! That ended up getting restored too!

Yea sometimes that is the only way to fix xp. Thats why I keep all my programs backed up big time and worse comes to worse reload xp. I even orderd service pack 2 on cd. Free. Free shipping. Takes about a week. Handy to have thats forsure. Sorry I couldnt help you out more. Have a nice day

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