Wireless Access Point - Internet Explorer Problem

[Steve Z]

Hi! I'm having some problems connecting to the wireless Web. I've connected to an access point that has an unsecure good signal. When I open Internet Explore 6.0, I get the ol' "Page Cannot Be Found" message. It's like IE is not seeing this wireless Internet connection.

A few days ago I was successfully connecting to this access point and IE would find the connection! I could go to any Web site I wanted! Previously, when I loaded all the Wifi software a few months ago, everything went well. Loaded the Orinoco drivers, Orinoco Client Manager and Netstumbler. After this, I just configured the access point in the client manager, and I was on the Net. I didn't have to configure anything in IE or Win98.

Yesterday, I downloaded some peer to peer software. Big mistake! This software program was too "big" for my old laptop, and it looked like there were other "hidden" software programs downloaded at the same time. I was still able to connect to the access point successfully. I removed the peer to peer software and took the laptop to another location. I found some other access points that I successfully connected to. But, sometimes NetStumbler would freeze up, and I would need to reboot.

Well, I came back home, and I still had the same good signal from the same access point. But, this time IE would not find this wireless Internet connect. Checked all the settings, and they looked good. What could have changed? Ah, I'll just uninstall/reinstall the Wifi card drivers, client manager and NetStumbler, and everything should be okay... Unfortunately, IE still could not find this wireless Internet connection. Also did a diagnostics test on the Wifi card and it tested good. The light on the card was still intermittently flashing, so looks like the card is okay.

So, I'm trying to figure out what changed. Did that peer to peer software do something to the Wifi connection, or to my OS? Am I missing something in the IE connection settings? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Toshiba 500CDT laptop
Win98SE
MS Internet Explorer 6.0
Orinoco Silver wireless card
Orinoco Client Manager
NetStumbler 0.4.0

[PrntRhd]

What Peer to Peer software did you load?
Can you get online at all? Wired?

I would suggest full security scans: Adaware, Spybot, and finally HJT. Post the HJT log.

[Steve Z]

The free version of Kazaa v2.6.3 ... Ugh!

http://www.kazaa.com/

[PrntRhd]

Better throw a trojan scan in too. Kazaa is the worst out there for dreck.

Do a search for Kazaa on PC Guide forums, amazing how many hits.

[Steve Z]

Oh no! I knew it... Yep, all the wireless applications are intermittently freezing up now! Sheeeeshs, when will I learn? I should stop taking the advice of friends when it comes to downloads... I'll try those virus scans. How about nuking the OS and reinstalling Win98SE?

[PrntRhd]

That is like swatting a mosquito with a 12 gauge shotgun, it works but why?
Try cleaning it up and lets see how it works.

[PrntRhd]

Try Adaware, update it immediately, close browser, then scan and remove anything it finds. Reboot.

Download Spybot, update it, close browser, then scan and remove everything in Red, reboot.

Adaware 6.0 (http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button)

Spybot S&D 1.3 (http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10122137.html?part=104443&subj=dlpage&tag=button)

[Steve Z]

Went ahead and downloaded Adaware and Spybot. Oh, there was a lot of "dreck" on my computer - Thank you, Kazaa! After everything was cleaned up, I tried to connect again. Ummm, and it was the same thing - "page could not be found." Once again IE could not find the Internet connection. I did notice something new... When trying to connect with IE it kept saying "detecting proxy settings" in the lower left corner of the IE window. I finally gave up for the day... The next day I fired up the laptop again, just to try one more time... and... Poof, it connected! IE found the Internet connection, and I was back on the Web!

So, what happened??? Why after running Adaware and Spybot couldn't I connect? Then I try 20 hours later and it connects... Weird. But, I'm sure all the dreck had something to do with it. Comments? Thanks to PrntRhd!!! :)

[PrntRhd]

Go into Internet Options and check that Proxy is not checked.
WinMX is safer if you really want to do P2P.

Glad it helped, now you should do what Budfred has been saying, download SpywareBlaster and IESpyads, keep AV updated and Firewall.
Download HJT, unzip to a permanent folder, and scan, then post results here for analysis, there may be items missed by the Adaware and Spybot but you have come a long way to clean.
:D

HJT (http://s89223352.onlinehome.us/mirror/hjt/)