Got a brain stumper on the desk here. XP won’t resolve a URL.
No firewall or proxy visible.
You can ping an IP but not any URL.
Of course it’s a friend’s machine I’ve been pissing with for 3 days, she admits she downloaded something and it stopped working. And never saved any of the installers or activation codes for all the shit she bought online… she won’t be burning any more movies for us for a while!
So what happens with nslookup from the command line?
Like if you do nslookup, then server 208.67.222.222 and then just type a hostname like cnn.com and what happens?
um just a suggestion but did you check the Host File.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\
There was a virus going around a month or so ago which caused symptoms which you describe.
nothing in the host file… just localhost
nslookup doesn’t resolve, put gives the IP of the proper DNS server
set manual DNS
nada
uninstalled NIC, reinstalled
nada
installed a USB NIC
nada
I don’t do Windows, but this seems to be a similar problem: tinyurl.com/ddjeq3
Hope you can find some links there that will help.
I had this same problem the past few days, game pings and downloads were great but surfing webpages would fail. I have Windows XP.
I changed the DNS numbers and messed around with router settings, no go. Finally I did a virus scan and it came up with:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmdow.exe “Potentially harmful program - HideExec.BD”
Everything is back to normal now, I’m sure you figured it out already but I’ll post this for anyone who might be having the same problem.
Checked for the ZonaAlarm/Windows update thing, neither was on it.
Booted and ran AvastPE disk wiped out a bunch of viruses but still no luck today.
Needs a re/re but she downloaded and bought AnyDVD (can’t get it no more) and doesn’t want to lose it.
I have a suggestion, it might be possible for you to find out the cd key (serial number) of that program.
After doing that you can just re-download the program after a fresh format?
Um Ya you can I’m just updated mine from their site
Might even be able to salvage it from the registry?
!!! went to their site a couple weeks ago and all I got was a legal disclaimer. Looks like it’s back up.
She should be able to retrieve a key from Slysoft.
Yeah that’s what I was hoping for, some of these applications also display your key right in the “About” program tab 
also, that is good news Herbie. Hopefully the format & reinstall goes smoothly
Someone should work on a SUPER Jellybean keyfinder…
The lady told me today she got some kind of email saying people who bought the program before Jan 11 could get updates but something else (what would you expect from someone who doesn’t know where her download went and never backs up license/registration info?)
Gotta admit to the occasional brainfart myself though. Unpacked TWO webcams and spent 40 mins cursing and brainstorming (registry error, bad install, bad shipment, wrong mobo USB drivers?) before I noticed that little thumb-dent on the front of the thing was a sliding lens-cover…DOHHH!
I’d used my USB stick full of tools to load some repair tools onto that computer. This morning I plugged it into my other computer to add a tool and my Avast popped up a virus warning.
There was a whole new folder on it full of trojan-infected files. I think I just met that conficker trojan for the first time, though Avast identified it as something else.
I have always had luck with SDFix.
downloads.andymanchesta.com/Remo … ReadMe.htm
Ugh, that sucks bro. I know for a fact that trojan messes things up 
Hopefully the malicious payload wasn’t delivered to your other computer.