Programs won't connect to internet UNLESS they're in admin mode

[thomas435]

I am completely STUMPED on this issue. I spoke to the @MicrosoftHelps Twitter and they are sending me in circles.

Most of the programs on my PC won't connect to the internet unless I run them in Admin Mode. A few examples are: Google Chrome and Google Updater, Dropbox, OnLive, and Air Mouse. But the strange thing is, is that some programs DO connect. Skype, iTunes, and IE.

Basically this happened out of the blue. There were no programs installed just before it or anything. I did however do a system update and each time after I did a system restore the connection came back. I figured that was my solution so I undid the updates and hid them. The connection was fine for about 2-3 days, then randomly I couldn't connect again. Then I did a Firewall reset (Windows Firewall) and that got it working again for about a day or 2, then back to the start. And I added the specific programs to the trusted list but that didn't help and in fact some of them were already there. Also sometimes when I turn on my PC everything works but a simple restart can change that.

I'm SERIOUSLY confused and I have NO idea what's going on. BTW, I do not have any Anti-Virus or Firewall installed because I uninstalled them during troubleshooting but that didn't help either. ANY help I can get would be great, I REALLY want this issue to go away, I've been plagued with it for about a month and a half now.

 

[Roderunner]

Any downloaded programs are usually blocked, including ones from MS and should be unblocked the run as admin to install.

 

[thomas435]

The programs have already been unblocked. They were all working just fine and then randomly stopped.

 

[Roderunner]

OK, they could be in conflict with other programs which is harder to identify.