Windows/virus/internet problem ...

So apparently, somewhere in my windows folder there's a virus. Ever since I got it, I've had trouble gettng onto my wireless internet. My computer still gets the wireless connection, but internet explorer just fails to work. The problem is DEFINITELY just my laptop, because the other computers that use the wireless internet connection work just fine.

Anyone got any tips or know about the problem?
Should I go to my Windows backup disc? Will I lose all the files on my laptop?

 

From your post, it sounds like your laptop has a connection to the wireless internet connection but you cannot surf the web using IE. If that's the case, it probably isn't a virus. But I'd recommend running an AV/anti-spyware program on it to be sure (you could temporarily connect with a wire, download, update and run).

Can you ping the router or the other computers on the network?

Can you ping the laptop that isn't able to surf from the other computers on the network?

If you mean the Windows system restore disk and doing a system restore, you would lose your files. You'll get back your factory laptop.

All that being said, here are some ideas that may fix the problem before trying a system restore:

1. Make sure there are only alphanumeric characters in the "Computer Description" box on the laptop (right-click My Computer | Properties | Computer Name). Anything else like apostrophes, asterisks, underscore characters can cause problems.

2. Are the security settings on the laptop the same as on the router? If you're using WEP, etc. The first time you set up, you should try unhidding SSID (if you have it hidden). After you establish the connection, you can rehide SSID and not go through the step again.

3. Turn off your firewall on the laptop. Check to see if you can surf. If so, re-enable the fire wall and it should pick up the new connection.

Hope this helps.

 

Well ... AVG did caught some "trojan horse" infections. And then it put them in a "virus vault" and I removed them(or so I thought) ... Still have the internet problem.

I can't get online with AOL, either. Nothing is actually connecting to the internet, even though the little wireless icon in the corner of my screen says I'm connected to my local wireless. Problem literally started after the trojan horse thing.

 

Some viruses can reek havic on the WinSock. This could be, and I stress, could be the problem with your connection. However, all hope is not lost. Go to the following link: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html and download the file.

Run the program and reboot when asked. This should fix your problem.

Good Luck!

 

Try this: Open up Internet Explorer, go to File menu at the top, and uncheck Work Offline.

 

That definitely wasn't it, Budd. <.<
*tries winsock*

 

Fantastic! I love you Irish-person!

 

And thank you all for your help!

 

Alright.

Apparently, a trojan got to my system restore files. Which is the reason why system restore was useless for me. Irish-person's winsock fixed my registry issue allowing me to return to the internet, and to permanently remove the trojan horse, I simply turned off system restore, then ran a virus scan. Laptop is now clean.

If you guys hear of anyone else having a similar problem, tell them they may have to switch off system restore for a while. This will, of course, destroy past restoration points ... but if the virus is in your system restore, it's the only way to get rid of it.