Arrgh!!! Windows 7 desktop won't connect to web.

[Lone_Gunman]

I have an Asus desktop that about a week ago decided it just doesn't want to connect to the web. Well, it is connected, but it won't download my email and may load google but it won't load any web pages with any kind of content.
It's not the Internet because my iPad and my BluRay player work just fine. I can stream Netflix and browse the web with them, no problem.
I was worried that I had somehow gotten a virus, even though I have had Trend Micro since I got the machine, so I backed everything up and did a destructive restore back to factory settings. Aaaaand it's still doing the exact same thing.

I'm at my wits end, I'm about to just shoot the damn thing and go buy a Mac.

You guys have any idea at all what the deal might be? I have found nothing that has helped on the web, the diagnostic tools built in to window cant find a thing, I'm at my wits end.

[SouperMan]

Scan your computer for viruses and malware. If it comes clean, check your DNS settings on the computer, and then check lmhosts file.

Sounds like a connection is made between the router and your computer (and I assume you are getting a IP address). What comes next is your webpage calls/requests that get translated from text to IP addresses...and the DNS settings and lmhosts file might have issues that prevent a complete resolution (which in turn allows you to connect to the webpage).

[SouperMan]

Scan your computer for viruses and malware. If it comes clean, check your DNS settings on the computer, and then check lmhosts file.

Sounds like a connection is made between the router and your computer (and I assume you are getting a IP address). What comes next is your webpage calls/requests that get translated from text to IP addresses...and the DNS settings and lmhosts file might have issues that prevent a complete resolution (which in turn allows you to connect to the webpage).

[soul]

Visit http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.aspx and scan your machine.

Follow these and you will never have any issues with Windows -

1) Always run as normal user, instead of administrator (90% issues gone)
2) Run only programs that you trust and are downloaded from trusted sites
3) Keep Windows updated, automatic updates
4) Use the free Microsoft Security essentials, keep it updated
5) Schedule defrag, weekly
6) Use tools like autoruns (www.sysinternals.com) to remove unwanted programs from the start. You will find tons of programs that are not required to run all the time, Adobe being the worst offender.

[reggie 00]

Not sure if its the samething

I had a similar problem awhile back. Certian programs wouldnt access the internet. I could ping them in ipconfig, but wouldnt open in IE.

Come to find out for what ever reason Windows Firewall changed the setting to block content some how. Changed it back to allow and all was good

[Oldnoob]

Try reboot your pc in safe mode than run the anti virus or malware scan. Some virus/malware will block you from access to internet.

Also check your fire wall setting too.

[the86d]

If you have a router, that is a hardware firewall, and I would not a software firewall on the PC, as Micro$haft still can't get that right. (Especially if you are running WPA or better encryption on your wireless, and/or you are using a homegroup.)

I have also seen times where Norton Internet Security whacks out things and Internet access is... funky.

1) Try removing your AV/Internet Security software as a test, and see if that works...

2) Try a different browser, not IE, not Safari, and not Chrome.

[Lone_Gunman]

Well, the computer is clean, no viruses, according to trend micro. I can't get online to download any other AV program or use an online scanner. I'm not sure how to check the DNS servers and lmhosts file. I have it set to detect the DNS servers automatically.
I logged on to my router and pinged an IP address and it sent/received 4 packets, but when I have the router do a self test the Internet drops out and the self test fails.
The web works fine for everything that is wirelessly connected to my router, BluRay, iPad, iPod, Kindle, just not my computer. I'm thinking that the updates that came out from MS a couple weeks ago buggered something up with the compatibility of the router, but I uninstalled all those updates, and restored the comp so I don't know what the deal is. I'm seriously considering buying a Mac.

[the86d]

Does it worked plugged into the router, or is it wireless?

If wireless, plug it in. If it is plugged in to ethernet (wire on the back of router) turn computer off. Unplug it from the wall. Hit the power button like 10 times real quick with it unplugged. Plug it back in, and power on, then change where it is plugged into the router. Then if it does not work then:

Remove the AV, disable the firewall.

Right-click, and repair the connection.

Ping router, ping google.com, if google.com ping fails, plug in a static DNS server (you can see the DNS on the

[kellanmeigh]

It might help if you tell us what brand router and what kind/name internet connection you're on.

I will suggest that as soon as you can, get fireFox browser. IE is one huge security hole.

The Old Warhorse

[Lone_Gunman]

It's an Asus desk top, NetGear DGN200 wireless router and modem. I have AT&T DSL. The desktop is plugged into the router with an Ethernet cable, everything else is running wirelessly. I was running Google Chrome before everything went haywire, I'll get rid of Internet Exploder just as soon as I can. I'll try the above suggestions.

[Lone_Gunman]

The thing that is messing with me is that I reloaded the OS from the recovery partition, and I'm still having the same issue. I've never had that happen before, I've always at least been able to start over fresh. Does that point to a hardware issue? Any idea how I can tell if my network card is going?

[SouperMan]

The thing that is messing with me is that I reloaded the OS from the recovery partition, and I'm still having the same issue. I've never had that happen before, I've always at least been able to start over fresh. Does that point to a hardware issue? Any idea how I can tell if my network card is going?

Try another Ethernet cable.

If you are having a hardware issue with the NIC, in many cases you would not even get a IP address; in the hardware manager it would not be listed.

[Lone_Gunman]

Ok. I'm headed off to the gym, but after I'm done I'll see if I can find the NIC in the hardware manager. If I can't I will know that it's a hardware issue. I will also see about picking up a new Ethernet cable. I guess I should have done that before reloading the OS. Just like my dad used to tell me about fixing cars, do the simple things first and see if that fixes it. Oh well, I had a lot of old useless docs and stuff that I had to delete before backing everything up so at least I got that cleaned up.

[driveljay]

Has your isp implemented a "walled garden"?