XP internet connection problem

[foxxyvixxen]

Hello, this is a rather lengthy and irritating problem. I will start by saying that I have had and used Windows XP on my HP computer for about a year now. I have successfully been connecting to the internet using AOL 9.0 the entire time.
About a month ago, I installed Netzero to my computer, and I was jumping back and forth between netzero and AOL sucessfully. The entire time I have connected to the internet I have had virus protection - first with Norton, then with McAfee. Recently, my subscription to McAfee ran out, and I decided to uninstall and try a free virus protection program downloaded from the web - BIG mistake. That was last Thursday, and ever since my computer has not been the same. Other than THAT incident, I have done NOTHING out of the ordinary, simply connected to chat with friends and play some games, as I have always done.
The following evening, my internet connection was behaving oddly, only allowing me to send and recieve e-mails. I could not view ANY web pages. I decided to restart the computer, only to find that when I tried to reconnect, I would get to step 5 of AOL and the connection would stop - with no error message. I tried logging on through Netzero; this dialed me up, went through the connection process, said I was logged in, but then started the dialing process over again, with no error message. With each ISP, I can hear the computer dial and connect.
I have checked the phone line, it works. On the Friday following the download of the supposed virus protection, I unninstalled it, thinking it was the source of my problems - most likely a trojan. So, I went to Best Buy and forked out $50 to get McAfee again, thinking it would surely resolve my issue - 120,000 files scanned, no infected files, or suspicious files or programs... STILL no internet connection.
I have run the modem detection, it says it is installed and running properly. I have gone through the motions of countless troubleshooting steps, through AOL, Netzero, and Windows XP. None have resolved my problem. I cannot for the life of me figure out what has happened or how to resolve it. No other part of my computer has been affected at all, everything else is running smoothly. While I was poking around, searching for a possible solution (in vain, of course - I am not very computer savvy), I came upon a page on my computer that listed all the technical stuff about my computer - model, maker, hardware installed, etc. Where it listed my IP address, it said: 0.0.0.0
I am DESPERATE because I have been using a friend's computer to check e-mail and spend the COUNTLESS hours searching the web for an explaination, and the most I have come up with is that it is most likely "a Windows XP problem." I will gladly try any suggestions. PLEASE help me!!!

[LooseChippings]

You have more than likely got a conflict between your AV apps and your Browsers.

Just for info - historically AOL and Microsoft do not work well together.

Make a note of your logon details then ...

Uninstall all your AV Apps, reboot then re-install McAfee and see how the system works.

Uninstall Netzero, reboot and see how the system works.

Uninstall AOL reboot re-install AOL and see how the system works.

[foxxyvixxen]

Well, at this time, the only AV program I have is McAfee, and I have already uninstalled and reinstalled both netzero and AOL, restarting the machine in between uninstalls/reinstalls. I tried the reinstallation of both ISP's after installing McAfee.. So, to be sure I understand you correctly, you think I should uninstall McAfee, then reinstall, then do the same for both of my ISP's? I have a hard time with the idea that this is related to McAfee, being that I installed it close to a week after all this happened. But, like I said, I am desperate, and I will try literally anything.
I have a bad feeling (this is, of course, coming from me, a computer moron..) about all the zero's listed where my IP address should have been... My head is stuck on the thought that the "free anti-virus program" I downloaded from the web is the direct cause of this, somehow.. Is it possible that I dowloaded something that allowed another person to access and alter my computer? This is just SO bizarre, and I want to fix this without taking it to the computer guy and getting charged hundreds of dollars. Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to my post, I cannot express to you how much I appreciate any new ideas regarding my odd situation.

Thanks again

[bbeard67]

What online AV did you try downloading?

Have you tried system restore? This will move your PC back to an earlier point as though you haven't used the PC since then.

try going back before the problems began.

[foxxyvixxen]

I don't remember the name of the AV I downloaded. It was from a site with many to choose from...

I have considered system restore, however I have a lot of information that I don't want to lose, like pictures and music. Would I need to transfer all that stuff to discs, then put it back on after system restoration?

[bbeard67]

From the microsoft site

'''''
System state information includes the following:
Current configuration
Registry information
Installed applications
Devices
Critical operating system files

System state information does not include user files such as documents, spreadsheets, and so on.
,,,,

Music and pictures would not e affected. Apllications installed after the restore point might have to be reinstalled.

[foxxyvixxen]

Ok, thank you for the information. I will go try, and report back here with the news.

[foxxyvixxen]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I did System Restore and it fixed everything!! Thanks again

[Kristina0688]

Originally Posted by foxxyvixxen

Thank you everyone for your responses. I did System Restore and it fixed everything!! Thanks again

i'm having the exact same problem except system restore didn't help me?
any ideas?

[Bunny56]

I was trawling through the Internet for a solution to my problem... which is loss of Internet connection though my network adapter is working perfectly, even allows me to tracert to an external IP address. The common factor was: my subscription to McAfee ran out, like vixen, and I uninstalled it. I did not get as far as installing another AV program. Now my network is running, I can get through my router to ping external IP addresses but I can't browse the internet. I am wondering whether the McAfee uninstall is trashing the Winsock settings in the registry or something equally obscure. Has anybody else had this problem?

[marle35]

Much like previous posters, my network adapter and modems were working perfectly, but I couldn't connect by either DSL or dial-up. I had the 0.0.0.0 ip address problem as well. Luckily, I found the answer on this forum in another thread. For me, I had to reset my tcp/ip stack. Here is the post that helped me (from http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com...ion-winxp.html):

Originally Posted by milomorai

first try repairing the tcp/ip stack: at the c:\ prompt, type in this "netsh int ip reset reset.txt". if that doesn't work try rebuilding the ip stack: go to the command prompt, get to the root (c:\), type in 'netsh'>enter. at the netsh prompt type in 'dump'. when the netsh prompt re-appears, type in exit. that will rip/reinstall the tcp/ip for winXP

[Gene K]

Originally Posted by Bunny56

I was trawling through the Internet for a solution to my problem... which is loss of Internet connection though my network adapter is working perfectly, even allows me to tracert to an external IP address. The common factor was: my subscription to McAfee ran out, like vixen, and I uninstalled it. I did not get as far as installing another AV program. Now my network is running, I can get through my router to ping external IP addresses but I can't browse the internet. I am wondering whether the McAfee uninstall is trashing the Winsock settings in the registry or something equally obscure. Has anybody else had this problem?

If you have Broadband, reset the Modem [turn it off for about one minute] and then power it up and try again. Also you need to set your ISP as a trusted site in your Firewall. Get the free version of the AVG anti-virus program from here: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5 then choosing "Custom Install" and electing not to install the E-Mail scanning part of the software which is not needed.
Gene