Network Controller [Cannot connect to Internet]

Hi,
I have managed to be called upon to fix what appears to be another complicated problem...The computer in question is a Windows Xp Pro and I'm not sure if it has just a few problems or several...The owner deleted some unknown things with hopes that it will speed up the computer...The computer will not connect to the Internet, lower left corner says it's detecting a proxy server...The ISP is Comcast and to the best of my knowledge it should not be detecting a proxy server so I un-checked it and it continues to do so...The (external) modem is lit up properly but it's not listed, so I re-installed it with no problem but it still does not show that it's installed...The computer is showing a correct IP address, but I did a release and renew and still can not connect to the Internet...In Device Manager under Network Adapter, it shows the Network Controller with an exclamation mark...I tried updating it's drivers and it still shows the exclamation mark...I checked to see if other devices was showing which I do believe if the network controller was there I could but to no avail...When I checked the properties of the controller it says it's working but there's a problem...No matter what I do or attempt to do an error message comes up saying It has encountered a problem and needs to close, upon checking the details, it says InPageError. I did a repair of the Local Area Connection, still no Internet connection...I tried to do System File Checker (sfc /scannow), and it asks for the XP CD...When put in, it says the setup can not continue the version on the computer is newer than the version on the CD...Attempted a System Restore, and can not restore to that date...When a LSPFix was attempted the A:/ was unaccessible...My last ditch effort was a netsh resock reset and it went okay but none of the above changed as a result...Once again, your help will be appreciated...I also apologize for the lengthy details but before posting I try to exhaust all known avenues to me...Thanks

 

If you used the original CD when you sfc /scannow, that means this machine has been updated. The easist way to solve it is reinstall the system(using repaire install) by the original CD( no problem even if you have updated your XP). BEFORE you reinstall, please remember BACKUP the important document.

 

Hi,
I developed problems with my own computer trying to answer your post so I had to use another...Anyways, the computer came with XP and the CD is the original...For some unknown reason it says the computer is a newer version than what's on the CD, and how that can be puzzles me...So to make an attempt at your suggestion is kind of difficult at the moment...

Even though the Device Manager shows the Network Controller in conflict, the Modem lights are all on, the computer has the proper and correct IP address and the Home page tries to load but is stopped by the error message that it has encountered a problem and needs to close has me baffled. What's missing for all the above to connect normally if you know what I mean...Was a main file deleted ? or something as essential as that possibly missing ???

Thanks for your assistance...

 

Hi,
I am going to focus on the possibilty of a virus has entered the system some how because a few weeks ago when I had to remove the Zlob virus from another computer it also created the same error message "Windows has encountered an error and must close "...The problem I experienced this weekend was also the Zlob which luckily my virus protection grabbed and deleted but what ever was left behind locked me out of the Internet temporarily. But it too created the same error message...So since the computer in question that initially was the topic of this post is getting the same thing I will focus on that and post back...I would of done this ordinarily but the AVG virus protection the computer has will not run in normal mode and will not uninstall (the reason I tried to uninstall it is because of the error messages coming up refrencing it)...Thanks

 

Hi,
I spent several hours trying to get beyond the "Windows has encountered and Internet Explorer encountered error messages and must close" plus others, as well as the Network Controller issue and it appears this computer has seen better days...I thank everyone for their assistance once again...

 

This is what I would do in your situation.

1. Find an un-infected PC (a friend's for example) and a copy of Windows XP on CD.
2. On the clean PC down load and install Bart PE.
3. Use Bart PE to create a bootable CD with an image of XP.
4. Get hold of a command line Virus scanner. (I use MacAfee's scan.exe, but that doesn't look to be easy to get hold of. See AVG FAQ for information on an AVG tool). Put the scanner and the latest virus definitions on a USB memory stick.
5. Boot the infected PC with the Bart PE CD (you may need to edit your boot sequence in the PC BIOS). You should boot to Bart PE's XP environment.
6. Insert the USB drive into the PC.
7. Go to the command prompt and find the drive letter used by USB stick (enter D:, and type Dir. If that doesn't give you a listing of the USB stick, try E: and so on, until you find it).
8. Run the command line scanner with the switches required for it to scan your hard drive.

 

Hi,
Thank you for that info but once I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel, the owner purchased a new computer that quick...I however will still tinker with it so they can give it to their sibling for games only (no internet).