Problems with internet connection
 

Hi

Well this is a strange one, and is doing my head in. I have brought a new hard drive, installed windows home on it. Now I can connect to the internet no problems, however when I try to register windows it says no connection. When other programmes like AVG try to connect I get messages like server down, network not connected. Any ideas ?

Try turning off the Windows Firewall in control panel. That's probably not it but it's worth a shot.

Can you tell us more about what works? What does "I can connect to the internet no problems" mean?

Was the connection working with a previous install of Windows?

make sure your network adapter has the proper drivers installed

and try disabling the other network adapters (ie modem, second NIC...)

Ok I have switched off windows firewall so it is not that.

I can connect to the internet through explorer and look at google and other web pages.

I have installed the proper drivers and disabled other network adapters.

When I try to register windows I get: Unable to establish a connection with the activation server, check network settings and try again.

AVG - The update server connection failed.

Sygate Firewall - The network is down.

Outlook - Connection to server failed, no socket error 10061

Looks like I'm going to have to take it to a PC shop sometime this week

remove Sygate , and try that.

remove Windows Home and use Windows Professional.

Sorry I just hate home because the network client is a pain in the ass to troubleshoot as the menus aren't the robust menus of Pro.

I'd go with that extra firewall being a problem as well, or at least a pathway to start. Remove that as suggested.


good luck!

Thirdsies on Sygate.

As a reach, any chance you're using a proxy for explorer and nothing else?

We still don't know what kind of connection this is. DSL/Cable/etc? Is your system stand-alone, or are you on a net going through a router to get out?

Sygate is not installed yet - I was trying to do that but will not let me connect.

I have cable and it is a stand alone system. To tell you the truth I have no idea how proxy works or how to check if that is happening.

That is a unusual for a new install. Just in case something you installed is having its way, try resetting the winsock catalog:

Start->Run...
The small Run window will appear.

Type:
netsh winsock reset

Click the ok button. Give it a moment - a window will appear and close. Restart windows. Once it's back up, try things again.

Better? Worse?

like the eye doctor....

A or B, A or B? Better? or Worse?

To Cyrnel

You are a bloody genius do you know that.

I have no idea what netsh winsock reset is or does, but what I do know is that it all works fine now.

So a big thank you, I really appreciate your help as this was driving me nuts. I can now see how long it takes for me to fill my new 500gb hard drive.

That's great. Congrats.

Really, I skipped chapters. That command blew away the list of providers in Windows' networking configuration. It would have broken everything besides Windows that has its own LSP, so on a well-used system it's better to examine the current setup and be more precise. But collateral damage is minimal on a new system, and you don't have my phone #. :)

Keep an eye on networking after installing each package. Especially things that work below the covers: google desktop, antivirus, firewall, etc.