Thank you for showing me the clean startup procedure. However even after hiding all Microsoft start up programs and disabling all the others I still have no web page loading in my browser. I have now reset my computer to normal start up and once again the internet is connected but I cannot reach the server.
Haggis23,
This may seem rather simplistic, but, have you tried resetting your router, or contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
While we are all pulling our hair, your ISP may have a solution to the problem..
I have tried resetting my router and also turning the power off, waiting for 10 minutes and switching it on again. I have not contacted my ISP because my laptop and my iPad both use the same wireless connection and they work perfectly. I recall when connecting the errant desktop, I had to make the initial connection using an ADSL? cable before connecting the USB wireless transmitter/receiver. I cannot see that that will make any difference now as I already have an internet connection and access indicated.
I am beginning to think the OS has become suspect especially as in the last test we did we retained all the MS startup items and disabled the rest and that did not help? Unfortunately this Dell desktop was not issued with a Windows 7 installation or repair disc. I also cannot see any partition where this might be stored on the hard disk.
I think this machine may be due for retirement but I thank you all so much for your efforts. I have enjoyed and appreciated following your comments, report generation and fixes. I am very much an advanced Silver Surfer and have been over awedo at the techniques you have used.
Thank you
Haggis23
Have you tried going to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center, and trying the Troubleshooter?
How about your Firewall? Does the exceptions tab list the browsers?
If nothing works, you may want to post the issue at the Network & Sharing - Windows 7 Help Forums
for some new ideas.
Please don't get mad at me but I have seen this on so many computers that have used IObit anything. That includes Advanced System Care.
Their is no fix because no one knows what these products have done to the system. I get the impression that ASC does different destructive thing on different computers so it is almost impossible to trouble shoot.
Every thread I have watched end up doing a Clean Install.
I have been watching this thread for a week just to see if their was a fix other than a Clean Install.
I am only grateful for any words of wisdom I can get and that they might stop me from making similar mistakes in the future!
I have tried the "Control Panel Network and Sharing Trouble Shooter" route without discovering anything and the Windows Firewall looks OK to me although there are a large number of the settings and permissions which are a mystery to me. Also I haven't got a Windows 7 installation disc for a clean install.
What I am trying as a "What have I got to lose" exercise is the "Dell Data Safe Recovery" facility I unexpectedly found on the hard disc. I am trying to save my documents and files but hope otherwise the procedure will return the computer to factory settings. This may unfortunately invalidate a lot of the good work done in this Forum but I feel it may now take desperate measures. The procedure is taking some time but I shall post a success or failure report in due course.
Thanks again!
I went for the "Dell Safe Recovery" solution and I now have a working but very lean computer. I can download web pages in IE and Chrome but will have to do a bit of rebuilding. I am using the MS firewall and Avast free antivirus with Malwarebytes of course. I have backups of my documents and pictures so I have not lost too much. I had no idea Dell had this facility. Thank you for all your efforts. It would of course have been ideal if recovery had been possible with all my files and programs intact but at least I have a working computer. Thank you again.
Hi,
Sorry to hear about the loss of files,
If you ever need an opinion about where to download a program and if the program is worth using please ask and I'm sure someone will be glad to help,
Cheers.
A clean install, as suggested by Layback Bear, or returning the computer to factory settings are both a good move. Those files with Unicode kept replicating, and I have no clue what was producing them.
Glad to hear you have a clean working computer.
Good luck, Haggis23!!
I'm not sure if the problem I had is exactly the same as yours (I could open web browsers but nothing would display). But I found the cause of this was some software installed called Search Protector. After uninstalling that I could see my web browsers again.
Hope this helps,
Rob
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