I have an internet connection but cannot browse the web

Hello SimonSaysSQL,

1. In your IE options menu, under connection tab, make sure proxy is NOT selected.

2. If you are using AVG antivirus program, go here
http://www.avg.com/faq.num-1561#faq_1561

2a. Check if firewall or anothe security program is blocking the websites. Temporarily disable the programs one at a time and test,

3. Run this script to fix your connection. The script reinstall winsock, TCP/IP stack, and HOSTS file.
http://downloads.subratam.org/WinsockFix.zip

Hope this helps!
war1

Ok I tried accessing sites using an IP address and it didn't work.  I also ran the winsockfix and it still isn't working.  I also tried disabling the firewall and avast but it still won't browse the web.  I am wondering if I shouldn't just reinstall xp.  I have the cds but am not exactly sure how to do it.

Are there any updated network drivers for your Gateway, download and install, if not,  Go to device manager and uninstall the network card, after it's gone,  reboot or have device manager look for new hardware.  Note: this may fix or screw up the system, but at this point it dosen't matter.

I unistalled and reinstalled but it didn't fix the issue.  How hard is it to reinstall XP?

Do a Repair Install
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm

You should not lose your programs nor data. But back up your data for assurance.

Here is my HijackThis log.

Safe to delete....

R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000} - (no file)
O23 - Service: Sansa Updater Service (SansaService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\SanDisk\Sansa Updater\SansaSvr.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: OfficeScanNT Listener (tmlisten) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\tmlisten.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: OfficeScanNT RealTime Scan (ntrtscan) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\ntrtscan.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: OfficeScanNT Personal Firewall (OfcPfwSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\OfficeScan Client\OfcPfwSvc.exe (file missing)

If not running on  Novell Network, then you can go to your Network Connection properties, and uninstall the Client for Netware networks, and MS NWLink (ipx/SPX compatible protocols.)
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nwprovau.dll

AVG remnants safe to remove as well...
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll (file missing)

Safe mode working is an indication that it still could be viral/spyware related.

Do the spyware scans and see where it takes you....

Well I ran all the scans and the only thing that came up was with the Super Anti Spyware. It said I had Adware Vundo Variant.  I quarantined and removed it but I still cannot access the internet with my browser.  I can now ping web addresses.  Any ideas?

Are the following services started, and set to automatic in Start>run>services.msc.....

Network Connections
DHCP
DNS
Netbios TCP Helper

Then....

Start>run>CMD.exe

netsh int ip reset reset.log
netsh firewall reset
netsh winsock reset

Reboot, and see if it is improved....

Failing that.....

Go to the Device Manager>Network Adapters, and remove ALL NIC's from the device manager..

In the Device Manager, select View>Show Hidden Devices

(If the Show Hidden devices is not present, do the following command from a command prompt..)

start>run>cmd
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

More information on that command here....
Device Manager does not display devices that are not connected to the Windows XP-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315539

Reboot, and reinstall with teh most recent versions of the Network card drivers from the web (use a flash drive to get them to this pc...)

I unistalled all the network adapters that it would let me and reinstalled the updated versions however it would not let uninstall any  of the WAN Miniports (IP, L2TP, PPPOE, or PPTP), Lynksys Wireless-B USB Network Adapter v2.8 - Packet Scheduler Miniport or Lynksys Wireless-B USB Network Adapter v2.8 #2 - Packet Scheduler Miniport, or direct parallel.  It said that uninstallation failed because they may be needed to boot the computer.  Not sure what any of them are.  It still is not hitting the internet.  I can still ping IP addresses and sometimes web addresses.  But I get nothing in any browser.  Thank you for your continued time and effort.

Sometimes this works a tad better than the Netsh Winsock Reset Commands....

|MG| WinSock XP Fix 1.2
http://majorgeeks.com/WinSock_XP_Fix_d4372.html

And those devices that couldnt uninstall, are fine.....

You can forcefully remove them from the registry, but I wouold prefer you didnt.....

Well I tried the winsock fix but it didn't work.  I am not sure if this shed any light but when I try to open google on ie at the bottom in says "website found. Waiting for reply..." Then is changes to "Waiting for res://ieframe.dll/dnserrordiagoff.htm..."  Then it just goes to the Page cannot be displayed.

IEFix Utility - Description
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm

Or reinstall IE on top of itself.....

Repair or Reinstall Internet Explorer6 and Outlook Express 6
http://www.theeldergeek.com/repair_reinstall_ie_and_oe_6.htm

Make sure when you run it with the following syntax....

start>run>ie6setup.exe /q

That skips the version check.....

That was for IE6....

If IE7
Try going into IE>Tools>Options>Advanced and select Reset IE, and click yes you are sure, and then reboot.

Also, there should be an icon in your start men to launch IE (no addons)....

If it works without  the addons loaded, then you can isolate which one could be the culprit, by disabling them one at a time, under IE>Tools>Addon Manager>

Well that didn't work either.  Should I reinstall windows?

Just for giggles......

Inside IE>File...

Is "Work Offline" Checked by any chance?

No it wasn't.  That would have been nice.  I just don't understand it.  One day it worked the next it didn't and nothing seems to fix it.

Maybe try:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357
Also, have you tried a system restore? Maybe an update or something messed up your internet.

I did try a system restore.  I went back a day before and then a week before with no such luck. One day I had to hook it up to the network at work and ever since then it hasn't worked.  I have been playing with it for a few months now when I have time.  It is an extra laptop; I recently bought a new one.  The day I hooked it up at worked it would work and then stop; so I would reboot and it would work again.  That was like that for a couple days and then it just stopped working totally.