4 users, 3 cannot reach web

[Ladyrider]

I am new to forums, so please bear with me if I don't provide proper info.

I am running Windows Home, Ver. 5.1, SP1
Internet explorer 6 (just noticed, when I pull up "about", the version, strength, and ID are not listed)
Dell Dimension 4550, Pentium 4 @ 2.53GHz
256 MB DDR SDRAM @ 333MHz
Earthlink is my ISP, connected at 52.0 Kbps

There are 4 users on this computer. I am the administrator.

My problem began about 2 weeks ago when my firewall subscription ran out. There was a 1 week period before I purchased and installed new McAfee Security Center 6. During this time, my son was using the internet without my knowledge. When I installed the new Firewall, it did not install properly on the limited user accounts. Also, I had problems with Earthlink. I was instructed to uninstall and reinstall the TotalAccess 2004 software. It did not install properly, and the help center instructed me to make all users administrators and to reinstall again. Neither the McAfee nor the Earthlink software installed properly.

I assumed the computer had gotten a virus during the time my son was using the internet, because my home page, and all others were hijacked. I used many virus scans, trojan scans, and spyware and adware removal, installed ie-spyad and sent Hijack This logs to the forums. There were trojans found and hijackers. Afterwards, my homepage is back to normal and I can use the internet.

The problem is that the other users cannot. When I log onto their profiles, and dial up (56k modem), the icon at the bottom of the computer indicates that they are connected, however the program "Callwave" never logs on (as if it can't reach the connection), and no web pages can be reached. I have contacted Earthlink, who assure me that the connection is fine. I ran a repair install of ie last week, but no changes.

Thank you for any help you may be able to give me. Please advise if any additional information is required.

[sirace1]

Is there a reason why you are paying for a firewall subscription, when Windows XP comes with a built-in firewall. I have 3 users that uses this one internet connection on my pc and I have not bump into this issue.

You can do a quick google search on these texts for setting up
windows xp firewall on your computer

www.google.com

Windows XP Firewall or XP Firewall setup

How to setup Windows XP firewall on your pc
click Starts button
Click Settings
Click Control Panel
Click network connection
highlight and right click network connection
The system will display the Internet connection firewall screen
Place a check mark next to:

Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing accesss to this computer from the internet

click ok

Please read up on setting the windows xp firewall which is free and is an excellent built-in firewall.

Just a thought..

[sirace1]

Correction on previous posting

How to setup Windows XP firewall on your pc
click Starts button
Click Settings
Click Control Panel
Click network connection
highlight and right click on your isp broadband service
Click Properties from the menu option
Click Advanced tab
The system will display the Internet connection firewall screen
Place a check mark next to:

Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing accesss to this computer from the internet

click ok

Your done - if you check your network connection under control panel it will indicate if firewall is enable or not.

[Ladyrider]

Thanks sirace1. The only reason I have is that I bought a computer with McAfee already installed. Therefore I assumed, incorrectly I guess, that it was important to have in addition to the xp firewall. Thanks for the info.

Any ideas on the rest of my problem? Have a nice day.

[sirace1]

I am not familiar with the callwave program and thought to include a quick summary of what this program does to help other
better understand what can be causing your issue. Have you try re-installing the callwave program? I am still trying to understand
how both your earthlink connection and callwave interact with each other to allow you to connect to the internet. Have you consider re-installing the callwave program to make sure it did not get corrupted. Your ISP were able to check your phone and seems all is well but your callwave program may be the cause of all your problems here. Well I really don't enough to help you here.

CallWave offers a unique service that is much needed by the majority of Internet surfers. Since the majority of Internet users still connect through a dial-up account, and only have one phone to their home, one of the greatest concerns is what phone calls are missed while a person is online.


CallWave solves this problem by providing a free, easily downloadable (150k) software program that will allow users to monitor what calls are coming in while they are online, and actually hear the messages they leave through their PC speakers.

Sorry, but I don't have any more suggestions

[Ladyrider]

I'm pretty sure callwave isn't my problem. The only interaction between Earthlink (ISP) and Callwave is that Callwave needs to connect to the internet in order to work properly while online.

I am able to connect under my account, but the other users of this computer are not able to connect fully to the internet. That's my main concern, not Callwave. It will work when I can figure out what is blocking the other users.

I appreciate your help and comments.

[Psychtrip]

Windows XP firewall is not that good. It is just a very basic firewall in my opinion. I use the free zonealarm myself without problems. As far as the callwave program, never heard of it, but you may want to make sure that it is installed on everybody else's account. Try and disable your McAfee firewall and see if you are able to establish a connection again, if so, give zonealarm a try since it is free. Just trying to help.

[Psychtrip]

Unfortunately you said you had a lot of trojans and such, when was the last time you did a full format of your computer? That would be the best way to get things going again. I reformat every 6 months or so, just to clean up everything and have the system running like new again.

[Ladyrider]

Psychtrip - I have considered doing this, to start all over, but I'm afraid to ruin the whole thing. Can you walk me through this, or direct me to a website that could help?

[Psychtrip]

Here is a guide for you Ladyrider, it will explain it step by step. Just make sure you back up all your important data like pictures or your favorite weblinks (i have so many favorites, I would die if I lost them). I know this will help, so good luck.

http://www.resnet.uni.edu/docs/reformatxp.html

[Ladyrider]

ok, i'm gonna give it a try. If you don't hear back from me, consider me lost ( haha). Yeah, my favorites, I need. My daughter just got married and all her pictures are on here. Music I can find again.

Sure appreciate your help!!!!

See ya, (I hope!)