Initial Check Returns Error

I have a machine running Windows XP with SP2 installed that will not connect
properly to the Windows Update site.

I have reset security defaults for Internet Explorer. I have even tried
temporarily turning off the Internet Connection Firewall to see if that would
allow the site to load properly.

I cannot even open a new Newsgroup question on that computer, as the attempt
brings up a "Page cannot be displayed" error after clicking on the option to
compose a New Question. As does attempting to use the "contact support"
option on the screen that comes up. this posting was created on another
computer on my same network.

The error following the red X icon and "Sorry" message, indicates that there
has been an error and the page cannot be reached.

Any insight as to why this might be would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any input,
--
BJM
ACE Assistant
Gary Allan High School

I was having simular problems and it seems that spyware was my problem. I
cleared all cookies and temp internet files then ran Webroot Spy Sweeper
removing all spyware. This solved all problems.
Hope this helps.

"B. Meincke" wrote:

> I have a machine running Windows XP with SP2 installed that will not connect
> properly to the Windows Update site.
>
> I have reset security defaults for Internet Explorer. I have even tried
> temporarily turning off the Internet Connection Firewall to see if that would
> allow the site to load properly.
>
> I cannot even open a new Newsgroup question on that computer, as the attempt
> brings up a "Page cannot be displayed" error after clicking on the option to
> compose a New Question. As does attempting to use the "contact support"
> option on the screen that comes up. this posting was created on another
> computer on my same network.
>
> The error following the red X icon and "Sorry" message, indicates that there
> has been an error and the page cannot be reached.
>
> Any insight as to why this might be would be appreciated.
>
> Thank you in advance for any input,
> --
> BJM
> ACE Assistant
> Gary Allan High School

Thanks for your reply, Lynn, however, after having cleard IE's cache and run
both Highjack This and Spybot, the same error remains.

"Lynn" wrote:

> I was having simular problems and it seems that spyware was my problem. I
> cleared all cookies and temp internet files then ran Webroot Spy Sweeper
> removing all spyware. This solved all problems.
> Hope this helps.
>
> "B. Meincke" wrote:
>
> > I have a machine running Windows XP with SP2 installed that will not connect
> > properly to the Windows Update site.
> >
> > I have reset security defaults for Internet Explorer. I have even tried
> > temporarily turning off the Internet Connection Firewall to see if that would
> > allow the site to load properly.
> >
> > I cannot even open a new Newsgroup question on that computer, as the attempt
> > brings up a "Page cannot be displayed" error after clicking on the option to
> > compose a New Question. As does attempting to use the "contact support"
> > option on the screen that comes up. this posting was created on another
> > computer on my same network.
> >
> > The error following the red X icon and "Sorry" message, indicates that there
> > has been an error and the page cannot be reached.
> >
> > Any insight as to why this might be would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thank you in advance for any input,
> > --
> > BJM
> > ACE Assistant
> > Gary Allan High School

"B. Meincke" <> wrote in message
news:AFC1B32D-7ED8-4BCD-B2C1-
....
> I cannot even open a new Newsgroup question on that computer, as the attempt
> brings up a "Page cannot be displayed" error after clicking on the option to
> compose a New Question. As does attempting to use the "contact support"
> option on the screen that comes up. this posting was created on another
> computer on my same network.
>
> The error following the red X icon and "Sorry" message, indicates that there
> has been an error and the page cannot be reached.
>
> Any insight as to why this might be would be appreciated.
>
> Thank you in advance for any input,


Your symptoms aren't very clear to me but the diagnosis required
to resolve them would be off-topic for this newsgroup.
It might be better asked in the ie6.browser newsgroup.
The usual problem with that feature is caused by popup blockers.
However, see also my reply to your second post;
I suppose one interpretation of what you've written
could be explained by meddling in the protocol stack.


See if you can't use NNTP to post to newsgroups instead.
You could still use the web interface to browse and search with.

If your default newsreader is Outlook Express the following link
can be used to create a news account for it. You should do some
personalizing of the account before posting with it.

news://msnews.microsoft.com/


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

"B. Meincke" <> wrote in message
news:C9FB92EF-D3F0-44EC-AC74-
....
>> > I have a machine running Windows XP with SP2 installed that will not connect
>> > properly to the Windows Update site.
....
> after having cleard IE's cache and run both Highjack This and Spybot,
> the same error remains.


Then if you still have the symptoms your problem will be making
your DNS work better. That could be a sign of residual corruption
(or continuing control by malware) of your protocol stack.

XPsp2 has a new command which helps refresh part of the registry
which is involved with that:

E.g. enter in a command window:

netsh winsock reset

BTW there is also a show catalog command;
so before doing a reset it might be interesting
to save the old catalog display and then compare
it with the new one, just to convince yourself that
this was worth doing. The complete set of commands
for doing that would be:

netsh winsock show catalog >oldcat.txt
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock show catalog >newcat.txt
fc oldcat.txt newcat.txt >diffcat.txt
notepad diffcat.txt

If diffcat.txt shows any differences I for one would
be interested in seeing such a report.


Here's an excerpt from a previous reply about the same issue
where I mentioned some other diagnostic and repair possibilities.
Please notice in particular my last caveat. This is slightly off-topic
for this newsgroup.

<excerpt>
FYI for XPsp2 there is a new repair command for the latter possibility:

netsh winsock reset

Otherwise there is

netsh interface ip reset

You might try checking for abnormalities beforehand by

netsh winsock show catalog type=LSP

ipseccmd show filters

(ipseccmd is on the XP Pro Support Tools)


BTW you may get better suggestions in a newsgroup
which specializes in networking for your OS.
</excerpt>


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---