Can connect with Firefox, not with IE6 or IE8. Outlook is OK

I have WinXP Pro. My company permits IE6 and Firefox 3.0.8

Up till recently, I could connect to the internet using both IE and FF.

Now I can't connect using IE. I've raised a ticket with the help desk, but
it's low priority because FF works OK. I just want to understand this for my
own info.

I cannot ping, for example, www.google.com or 66.102.9.103

MS Outlook works OK.

My development team is permitted to use IE8 using an approved install
script. (I'm no techie, I'm just in the team to provide character and
beauty).

I cannot connect with IE 8 either. Here is the IE8 connectivity diagnostic
log:

---------------------------------------------------------
Last diagnostic run time: 05/26/10 12:55:10
Network Adapter Diagnostic
Network location detection
info Connecting through work or corporate network
info Redirecting user to support call

HTTP, HTTPS, FTP Diagnostic
HTTP, HTTPS, FTP connectivity
warn FTP (Passive): Error 12029 connecting to ftp.microsoft.com: A
connection with the server could not be established
warn HTTP: Error 12029 connecting to www.microsoft.com: A connection with
the server could not be established
warn FTP (Active): Error 12029 connecting to ftp.microsoft.com: A
connection with the server could not be established
warn HTTPS: Error 12029 connecting to www.passport.net: A connection with
the server could not be established
warn HTTPS: Error 12002 connecting to www.microsoft.com: The operation
timed out
error Could not make an HTTP connection.
error Could not make an HTTPS connection.
error Could not make an FTP connection.
-------------------------------------------------

Note that the install script needed to access the internet (presumably by
FTP) to download IE8

Are you running WinXP SP2 or SP3?

Is the computer fully-patched at Windows Update?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


OldGrantonian wrote:
> I have WinXP Pro. My company permits IE6 and Firefox 3.0.8
>
> Up till recently, I could connect to the internet using both IE and FF.
>
> Now I can't connect using IE. I've raised a ticket with the help desk, but
> it's low priority because FF works OK. I just want to understand this for
> my
> own info.
>
> I cannot ping, for example, www.google.com or 66.102.9.103
>
> MS Outlook works OK.
>
> My development team is permitted to use IE8 using an approved install
> script. (I'm no techie, I'm just in the team to provide character and
> beauty).
>
> I cannot connect with IE 8 either. Here is the IE8 connectivity diagnostic
> log:
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Last diagnostic run time: 05/26/10 12:55:10
> Network Adapter Diagnostic
> Network location detection
> info Connecting through work or corporate network
> info Redirecting user to support call
>
> HTTP, HTTPS, FTP Diagnostic
> HTTP, HTTPS, FTP connectivity
> warn FTP (Passive): Error 12029 connecting to ftp.microsoft.com: A
> connection with the server could not be established
> warn HTTP: Error 12029 connecting to www.microsoft.com: A connection with
> the server could not be established
> warn FTP (Active): Error 12029 connecting to ftp.microsoft.com: A
> connection with the server could not be established
> warn HTTPS: Error 12029 connecting to www.passport.net: A connection with
> the server could not be established
> warn HTTPS: Error 12002 connecting to www.microsoft.com: The operation
> timed out
> error Could not make an HTTP connection.
> error Could not make an HTTPS connection.
> error Could not make an FTP connection.
> -------------------------------------------------
>
> Note that the install script needed to access the internet (presumably by
> FTP) to download IE8

OldGrantonian <> wrote:
> I have WinXP Pro. My company permits IE6 and Firefox 3.0.8
>
> Up till recently, I could connect to the internet using both IE and FF.
>
> Now I can't connect using IE. I've raised a ticket with the help desk, but
> it's low priority because FF works OK. I just want to understand this for my
> own info.
>
> I cannot ping, for example, www.google.com or 66.102.9.103

It is always difficult to diagnose problems with corporate networks
from outside, because it is unknown how those networks are setup and
what policies are in effect.

For example, the LAN where I work is not routing to Internet at all
and all browsing is done through a proxy. In this setup, it is perfectly
normal that you cannot ping any webserver from a workstation.

You can check in the IE configuration (connections) if a proxy server
has been setup or autodetection of a proxy server is in effect. You
can compare the setting to that of Firefox and/or to another computer
in your office where IE still works OK.