Member Avatar for fsumc

I recently had a problem with spyware and the like. I went thru a major evaluation of my computer, downloading hijack, ewido, microsoft antispyware, adaware, spybot and the like. Everything was working fine after I did that. However, now I cannot connect using my wireless internet. I can connect using AOL dialup, but when I am connected that way, my Internet Explorer "Cannot find server" and my Netscape says "The proxy server you have configured could not be found. Please check your proxy settings and try again." I cannot use AIM, Yahoo messenger, or use the SSH Secure File Transer Client i use to connect to my school either.
I downloaded Firefox but that was unable to connect as well.
I tried reaching a site using an IP () instead of a URL and I was able to reach the page..
Can anyone help me out here? Even before I was using wireless, I could still use all of the above while I was using AOL dialup. Thanks!

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Dani AI

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The symptoms reported by (transient browser/app failure that cleared after a reboot) point to a few common causes: leftover proxy settings, DNS or DNS-cache issues, Winsock/LSP corruption after spyware removal, or a third‑party firewall/security product blocking traffic. 's firewall suggestion is reasonable — those products can block specific adapters or reapply rules that persist across networks.

A concise checklist for when this reappears:

  • Verify proxy settings (Internet Options -> Connections -> LAN Settings) and ensure no manual proxy is set unless intentionally used.
  • Inspect the hosts file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts for unexpected entries that map hostnames to IPs.
  • Power-cycle the wireless router/AP and the PC to clear transient state in both devices.
  • Temporarily disable any third‑party firewall/antivirus network shields to see if connectivity is restored.

Useful command-line tests and repairs (run an elevated Command Prompt):

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
nslookup example.com
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
sfc /scannow
  • nslookup helps confirm whether DNS resolution is failing.
  • netsh winsock reset clears corrupted protocol handlers left by some malware cleaners; a reboot is required afterward.
  • sfc /scannow checks core system files if something deeper is broken.

When browsers can reach numeric IPs but not names, focus on DNS/proxy/Winsock. When instant fixes like a reboot occur, also consider flaky wireless drivers or DHCP issues — updating the adapter driver and setting IPv4 to obtain addresses automatically (if DHCP is used) can prevent recurrences. Always back up the registry or create a restore point before manual edits.

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Member Avatar for fsumc

ok, nevermind i guess...i rebooted and its working now..weird

Member Avatar for tayspen

could have been a firewall issue. if it happens a gain try configuring your firewall. or use Mozilla(in siggy)

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