I have had this problem also on a couple computers - check the hosts file -
<div class="gmail_quote">The computers that were infected had their host file filled with common domains that (if I remember correctly) either looped back to the computer, or to an other ip that wasn't working - either way sites stopped loading.</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">It has been my experience that running anti-virus software, malware, spyware, etc doesn't clean out the host file (or at least flag it as suspicious) - so you can clean up any infections, but still have the browser issue</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">Though it is wierd that Firefox would only fail a month later, and Chrome still works - unless they bypass the host file?</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">Run the usual scans (as suggested) to clean any thing out, and verify that the host file is clean. That got the computers I worked on back up and running normally</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">I don't have ready access to a vista computer, but the host file is on my XP system is located in x:\windows\system32\drivers\etc (where x is the drive letter that windows is installed to).</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">Seth</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Nov 7, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Don Bosman <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dbosman@msu.edu">dbosman@msu.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br></div>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class="gmail_quote">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">It sounds like the machine is infested. I've seen the same behavior at work. <br>If it can be rolled back a couple of months, to a restore point before the issue, it might be salvaged. <br>
Barring that, or even if it works, scan with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware program.<br><a href="http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php" target="_blank">http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php</a><br>If those two things don't work, a re-install from scratch may be faster than repeated attempts at repair. <br>
<br>Also, if they have to keep Vista, have him download and install Microsoft's Security Essentials package and un-install his other anti-virus products. <br>Microsoft has a better idea of what can go wrong with their software than any other "free" product and many of the pay products. <br>
<br>Have him try Ubuntu Studio. <br><br>Good luck. <br><font color="#888888">Don Bosman</font>
<div class="im"><br>
<h2><br></h2><br><br>On 11/7/2010 8:51 AM, Frank Dolinar wrote:
<blockquote type="cite">Hi, everyone, <br> I was talking with a friend yesterday who presented me with a problem for which I have no answer. <br> Perhaps one of you can shed some light on the situation. <br> His computer is a recent Dell system with an Intel quad-core chip, running Vista (Vista Home, I believe), and he's had both IE and Firefox browsers stop working, each claiming that it can't access the particular site requested (pick a site, doesn't matter). IE failed about a month ago. Firefox failed last Tuesday. <br>
He also has Chrome on the system, and that appears to work without problem. <br> I verified this situation on his computer. Baffling. <br> I did a complete uninstall of Firefox and downloaded and reinstalled it. Same error. <br>
My suspicion is that there's some bit of malware that is causing this situation. I'm wondering whether the problem isn't caused by malware but by something in either the Chrome browser or some problem with his firewall. He also said that he has more than one anti-virus package installed on his system -- which I believe is not recommended. <br>
That's what I know at the moment. <br><br> If anyone can suggest an approach or a solution, I'd appreciate any help you can provide. <br><br>Thanks, <br>Frank <br><br></blockquote><br></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
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