XP user can't access Internet

Firstly I apologise as I have no exact details why they can't but this is
what happened.
A friend's kids were running XP on their laptop as admin and downloaded
about 6 virus/trojans, they were still running Norton Internet Security
2006 - never updated.
I uninstalled Norton using XP installer (should I have used Norton
uninstaller ?)
Then installed AVG, cleaned up and created 2 users for the kids without
admin privileges. The laptop is normally connected wirelessly to Tiscali
via their PC, it was not connected when I created the new users.
Today I was sent a message that "the kids can't get onto the internet"
Any suggestions ?

Ato_Zee wrote:
Thanks for the detailed reply, my FU's are in-line
>
>> > Any suggestions ?
>
> Not easy to sort without a visit,
got one planned
> should have been checked
> at the time,
couldn't - I was 15 miles away with the laptop otherwise it would have been
done.
> kids could in desparation have made it worse,
> heaven knows what they may have changed.
could they ?- they don't (shouldn't at least) have the admin password
> Can the laptop be taken to the router and CAT5 connected?
if necessary I'll try that.
> This will eliminate the PC as relay, as well as the wireless
> link (and why is the laptop connected via the PC and not
> wirelessly to the router; for file and printer sharing, or
> neither?).
Sorry, my bad, it is via the router
> Sounds a bit odd this via bit, is the PC
> CAT5 to the router and using a wireless USB dongle or
> a wireless access point to link to the laptop?
> Maybe you have mis-described the configuration, and
> the laptop is wireless to the router.
yes, see above
> It may be that the wireless security is the block, as
> a temporary experiment turn it off and run unsecured
> to see if it connects. If this works turn on and configure
> wireless security for the laptop.
I'll look at that when I'm there. I didn't set it up so I've no idea about
the settings and I doubt that they will have either, so little point in a
phone call to them
> If it doesn't then you need to learn how to use the
> MS$ tools, ipconfig and pathping (Google for
> them) the first to see how the laptops networking
> is configured (usually it's the gateway, it's path to
> the outside world that's screwed, or it's DNS
> server entry), pathping will show how far connect
> attempts are getting, you will probably just see
> the routers address if that's as far as it is getting.
> There is also the ping command to see if the laptop
> can see the router.
> These commands are often best run form a DOS box,
> or with a > redirect output to a file, otherwise they
> flash by and the output is gone.
I'll look into this if I need to, sounds similar to Linux which I use.

Thanks again

<reverse-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:vVH8l.4225$(E-Mail Removed)2...
> Firstly I apologise as I have no exact details why they can't but this is
> what happened.
> A friend's kids were running XP on their laptop as admin and downloaded
> about 6 virus/trojans, they were still running Norton Internet Security
> 2006 - never updated.
> I uninstalled Norton using XP installer (should I have used Norton
> uninstaller ?)
> Then installed AVG, cleaned up and created 2 users for the kids without
> admin privileges. The laptop is normally connected wirelessly to Tiscali
> via their PC, it was not connected when I created the new users.
> Today I was sent a message that "the kids can't get onto the internet"
> Any suggestions ?

No helpful suggestions, I'm afraid but I had a similar situation when
setting up a new computer for my daughter to replace her old one.
Everything worked OK apart from the connection to her ISP. After a long
while checking settings, passwords etc., and getting nowhere with her ISP's
helpdesk (who, to be fair, tried everything in the book), we narrowed it
down to an unasked-for, bundled version of Bullguard Security, whose trial
period had apparently expired but was still sitting on the computer,
blocking all internet traffic.
Bullguard was duly uninstalled and away it went.
Downloaded AVG and no problems since.

George

reverse-(E-Mail Removed)lid wrote:

> Firstly I apologise as I have no exact details why they can't but this is
> what happened.
> A friend's kids were running XP on their laptop as admin and downloaded
> about 6 virus/trojans, they were still running Norton Internet Security
> 2006 - never updated.

They should be culled. OK next.


> I uninstalled Norton using XP installer (should I have used Norton
> uninstaller ?)

Norton is a MESS. And SSLLLOOOOOWWWWWWW. There is a special Norton
uninstaller somewhere on Symantec's site. You'll NEED it to remove all traces
of this pestilent software.


> Then installed AVG, cleaned up and created 2 users for the kids without
> admin privileges. The laptop is normally connected wirelessly to Tiscali
> via their PC, it was not connected when I created the new users.
> Today I was sent a message that "the kids can't get onto the internet"
> Any suggestions ?

The router needs rebooting, the kids are idiots (unquestionably true), they
unplugged the USB or network lead, forgot to plug something into the mains
etc etc. And in 40 years these morons will be running the country (what's
left of it).

Graham

George Weston wrote:

> Downloaded AVG and no problems since.

Bless AVG. They're still putting out upgrades for V 7.5 !

Graham

Ato_Zee wrote:

> These commands are often best run form a DOS box,
> or with a > redirect output to a file, otherwise they
> flash by and the output is gone.

You may need to explain how that's done and what start - run - cmd does
!

Graham

Ato_Zee wrote:

>
>> You may need to explain how that's done and what start - run - cmd does
>
> More the case that he needs to get up to speed on using the
> built in tools. I can't write a whole network debugging course,
> it's a case of Googling for the commands I suggested, then
> trying them.

That's why I didn't ask for more. I appreciate the help you've given but I
don't expect you (or anyone else to do the work for me) - just point me in
the right direction, which you did. I am a (reasonably competent) Linux
user and as such have no need for Windows, in fact I only have XP installed
for when my niece visits. For that reason I have very little knowledge of
Windows matters and just wanted to know where to look and what for.

Eeyore wrote:

>
>> I uninstalled Norton using XP installer (should I have used Norton
>> uninstaller ?)
>
> Norton is a MESS. And SSLLLOOOOOWWWWWWW. There is a special Norton
> uninstaller somewhere on Symantec's site. You'll NEED it to remove all
> traces of this pestilent software.
>
>
>> Then installed AVG, cleaned up and created 2 users for the kids without
>> admin privileges. The laptop is normally connected wirelessly to Tiscali
>> via their PC, it was not connected when I created the new users.
>> Today I was sent a message that "the kids can't get onto the internet"
>> Any suggestions ?
>
> The router needs rebooting, the kids are idiots (unquestionably true),
> they
> unplugged the USB or network lead, forgot to plug something into the
> mains etc etc. And in 40 years these morons will be running the country
> (what's left of it).
>
> Graham

Hmmm, now there's a very likely scenario which could resolve the problem
with a phone call. I hadn't thought of something so simple.

On Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:27:47 +0000, Eeyore
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>
>reverse-(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>> Firstly I apologise as I have no exact details why they can't but this is
>> what happened.
>> A friend's kids were running XP on their laptop as admin and downloaded
>> about 6 virus/trojans, they were still running Norton Internet Security
>> 2006 - never updated.
>
>They should be culled. OK next.
>
>
>> I uninstalled Norton using XP installer (should I have used Norton
>> uninstaller ?)
>
>Norton is a MESS. And SSLLLOOOOOWWWWWWW. There is a special Norton
>uninstaller somewhere on Symantec's site. You'll NEED it to remove all traces
>of this pestilent software.
>
>
>> Then installed AVG, cleaned up and created 2 users for the kids without
>> admin privileges. The laptop is normally connected wirelessly to Tiscali
>> via their PC, it was not connected when I created the new users.
>> Today I was sent a message that "the kids can't get onto the internet"
>> Any suggestions ?
>
>The router needs rebooting, the kids are idiots (unquestionably true), they
>unplugged the USB or network lead, forgot to plug something into the mains
>etc etc. And in 40 years these morons will be running the country (what's
>left of it).
>
>Graham
>
arn't the running it now

> Today I was sent a message that "the kids can't get onto the internet"
> Any suggestions ?

Some malware will knacker the TCPIP stack, and failing anything else
obvious (i.e. if you plug it in directly and it still doesn't work)
it's worth trying something like "winsockxpfix" (google for it)