Network help needed!

[pascalg]

Hello!

I have a problem with my windows XP machine : no way
to use any web browser I tried Netscape, Opera, etc...
and no way to use the mail (Thunderbird).
Beside this, Skype works well (well, I didn't try to use
the voice services, but the chat only). So it looks like the
web interface is properly configured.

Any hint of what could happen?
Is there any way to block (and therefore unblock) an
application from reaching the web?

Thanks,

Pascal

[rasputinj]

Have you checked to see if you have a firewall running either Windows, or McAfee/Norton. Windows normally will not do that but I know Norton can do funny things. Now does the browsers start up but no connect. I would also run a adaware or spybot to clean things out. If Skype works then you are connecting to the net. If you go to command prompt, go to run them cmd, can you ping sites like yahoo?

[pascalg]

Have you checked to see if you have a firewall running either Windows, or McAfee/Norton. Windows normally will not do that but I know Norton can do funny things. Now does the browsers start up but no connect. I would also run a adaware or spybot to clean things out. If Skype works then you are connecting to the net. If you go to command prompt, go to run them cmd, can you ping sites like yahoo?

I just tried to ping yahoo.co.jp (I am in Japan). I got a
warning from Norton saying "careful, ping is trying to access
the net. What do you want to do?", then a couple of choices
that can be translated like this:
- Automatic (recommended);
- Authorization;
- No authorization.

I choosed the 2nd one, and ping says it cannot find yahoo.co.jp.

I never paid Norton since it was already installed when I
bought the PC. It was supposed to be a 6 months trial, so
is it a Norton revenge because I didn't pay? :D
Is there a way to remove norton completely in this case3?

a adaware or spybot to clean things out

I have downloaded it. I hope it will not screw up everything...

Thanks for your reply anyway, and sorry to reply late, but
I had a business trip.

Pascal

[gemini4]

Your Norton is certainly blocking some of your programs from accessing the internet.

Here's an article on how to configure Norton:
http://www.toughadmin.com/internettroubleshooter/security/norton.htm

The article describes how to make sure Internet Explorer is not blocked. Do the same for Thunderbird

If that doesn't do it uninstall Norton. ... I would not reinstall it back.

Instead I would use just the Windows Firewall and a free antivirus program called AVG.
You can download AVG from here: http://free.grisoft.com