32-bit Internet Browsers not working

Ok, I've come across a pretty weird problem that I can't seem to solve. Seemingly overnight, all my alternate internet browsers (latest versions of Firefox, Chrome and Opera) stopped working - I consistently get the "Page cannot be displayed" or "not found" or whatever errors. On the other hand, Internet Explorer works; and I think it's because it's the 64-bit version.

The funny thing is, I do have internet - Rainmeter, utorrent, Pidgin, MSN, Windows Update, they all work. I've run several scans with MSE, MalwareBytes and Avira - unfortunately the same problem that plagued the internet browsers also plagues Avira and MBAM updating - and several trojans and other malware showed up, but all were fixed and deleted and stuff. Yet I still cannot browse the internet with the alternative browsers.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Running Vista 64bit.

 

Hm ...
Have you tried re-installing the alternative browsers?
Uninstall them, delete the leftover directories and clean up the system using Ccleaner, then install them.

It's possible the malware that infected the system damaged the browsers in question, or left traces of it.

Update your Avira and MBAM, then restart and run them in Safe-Mode (unless you already did that).
You can try downloading, install, update and use the free version of Superantispyware (which might be a bit more potent than MBAM).

 

Yeah, I tried re-installing the alternative browsers. The Chrome install doesn't even work (as the setup that is downloaded is not the actual install - I think it gives a "can't connect to server" error) and Firefox doesn't work.

Also, for seemingly the same reason that Chrome cannot re-install, I can't get Avira and MBAM to update - I get the same(ish) error messages.

 

And now, inexplicably, the alternate browsers are working. I hate technology.

 

There is no mechanical part (ok there is, you HDD, but that doesn't affect anything), and MANY error correction system put in place to assure high level of accuracy. Things don't fail like that on a computer. Something is wrong, and should be kept in though. Malware?!

 

I think it's malware too. But now that internet is working, I've updated MSE, Avira and MBAM to their latest definitions, and run full scans with each after cleaning with CCleaner. Nothing is being picked up.

In fact, nothing at the moment seems amiss. Firefox is excruciatingly slow (slower than FF on my netbook), so I started using Chrome which seems fine. General performance seems fine - encoding 720p episodes of Chuck with Handbrake averages to the same speeds.

So...I don't know, I can't explain anything.

 

Wait wait wait.. you have 2 anti-virus installed?!
Windows only supports 1 anti-virus at a time, if you install 2, then they both will be useless (I forgot where I read that on the Help documentation, Windows Blog, or Microsoft web site), anyway, you can't have 2 anti-virus solution at once on a computer.

 

Two are installed, but only MSE is turned on, with real-time protection and scanning. Avira for the most part is off, and I only run the computer scan occassionally just in case MSE missed anything.

In fact, the Avira real-time protection isn't even installed. With my set-up, I don't see how having both MSE and Avira can possibly be a problem.

 

Well... I don't know how it works.. but if 2 of them registers with Windows or something like that, even if it's not running, maybe it could cause problems... I don't know. I think it's fine, as you said.. but I won't say yes at 100%.

 

Well, they have been picking up malware, trojans and the like. Firefox is back up to speed after MSE caught a couple bugs...maybe it is just malware?

 

I think that what you should do is to update your MSE and MBAM, then run a full scan with both in Safe Mode.

I think that way you will be able to track down any residual malware or infections that remained in the system.

People usually never recommend having 2 av's at the same time, but I've seen computers running fine with more than 2 av's running active in the background, but I find such a combo needless for the most part.
MSE has the highest detection rates of the free software and is on par with Norton.

Anyway ... I suggest you run the FULL scans (not quick ones) of your system in Safe Mode.
That could reveal any lingering bugs.

 

It's Microsoft that says that Windows doesn't support more than 1 a/v at a time.