Wacky Vista Business Internet Connection Problem

So my friend has a T61 running Vista Business (32-bit). At some point in the recent past she got a BSOD and then it's been downhill since then.

The most bizarre thing relates to the internet connection:

IE and Firefox claim they can't connect, but for a split second the name on the tab becomes the correct name, but then IE and FF decide they can't load the page. Addresses, internal and external to the network can be pinged, WAP config pages can be accessed, AIM protocol can get through as well as various update software (Windows, Adobe reader). The bug is the same regardless of the way it's accessing the internet, whether through the WAP at her house or the wired and wireless campus internet in the dorms.

Virus scans are being run right now.

Any suggestions short of a full reinstall?

 

I have heard on these Boards that AIM (6.5?) is causing serious problems. If she has that installed, UNinstall it immediately and watch your problems go away

 

Oh, no. I made sure she uses Pidgin (formerly Gaim) for IMing. The computer's fairly clean with reputable software installed, which is what's bothering me. My roommate and I think it might be something screwy with Symantec Antivirus. He's booting it with Knoppix right now to double-check it's not some bizarre hardware issue.

 

Microsoft have issued various reliability and compatibility for Vista some of which include wireless connection issues. You'll have to work though the list here.

John

 

Yes, by all means check those hotfixes Mr. Ratsey linked. They can solve a multitude of problems. I really really want SP1!

 

I'm trying a restore point that hopefully is before the BSOD. The thing is, the laptop ran alright for the entire summer, so it's not something inherently wrong with Vista. It's just terribly frustrating how slow a new 'state of the art' laptop is while running vista. I think my P2 450MHz box is faster running Ubuntu with some of the spiffy graphical effects turned on.

Every time I need to deal with some Vista box, it makes me want to 'upgrade' my desktop to a Vista flavor less and less. XP x64, maybe, but not Vista.

 

Yes, I keep XP on my old desktop for speed purposes. Hardware is definitely a deciding factor in picking the OS. My current laptop, Vista runs like a raped ape

 

The restore seems to have addressed the issue. Still don't know the root cause.