I have an interesting computer problem that I thought I would post here. I have asked a half dozen techs and no one know the answer. I is kind of a fun problem. The second computer on my network can not connect to any search engines. It will go everywhere else on the net except search engines. I have check for virus and its clean. I have also updated xp and even reinstalled it.

Any ideas? It is not causing any problems because the main computer is fine but I am bored and want to try and solve this.

bone

You've reinstalled windows XP and it still can't get to search engines???

Ok, in that case, this can't be the problem, but:

Look at the HOSTS files (there are usually two on win2k systems) to see if there are any bypass ip mappings for the search engine sites.

Only other thing I can think of is: your firewall/router has some sort of site-blocking feature that is configured to block some sites for the 2nd computer, but not the first.

-brendan

Because it's just search sites, I'd be looking for spyware designed to intercept these sites so that you someday find a site that works (the site the spyware intended for you to use).

You probably tripped on a "parked" site (domain reserved, but points back to the host's generic master page). Some of the sleazier "bargain" web hosting services will execute background scripts that do things like change your preferred home page, resize your default windows and, yes, install software that does things you don't expect.

I can't suggest anti-spyware software; you do have to be careful because some of the "free" alleged anti-spyware programs actually make it worse by adding their own nonsense. Personally, I prevent this problem by doing most of my surfing on a Mac. The one Windows box I have has ActiveX controls and Java turned off, and is otherwise set-up to not do much at all without my knowing it.

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.2 - http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10194058.html?tag=lst-0-1

-CRC

Thanx guys. I never thought of the router so I emailed d link. And I will run spybot.

My god Mike, is there anything you don't know? Spybot found the problem and now it is fix. This problem stumped every tech guy I know. Thanx a lot. :) :)

What was the problem??? Somehow I really doubt it was something that couldn't be fixed by reinstalling XP, then...

-brendan

I ran spybot and clean out about 6 programs. It didn't fix the problem so I updated spybot, should have done that first, It found no less the 30 problems all with different search engines in the address. The reason reinstalling xp didn't help was because the spyware was still on the hard drive. I can't believe this kind of program is legal. I have been working on this for 2 weeks.

Ok, that's not reinstalling XP, that's probably "repairing" XP. Microsoft terminology is lame. :(

-brendan

First...what kind of techs didn't suggest running anti-spyware software?!?!?!?!
the first thing i do when i sit down at a clients machine is make sure they're behind a firewall of some sort, have updated anti-virus...then I install Spy-bot and run it! And that's before I even ask them what's wrong!!

What you did is called by some tech support people a "dirty install", meaning that what XP is doing is searching for and replacing certain system files. this does not actually re-install all of Windows...just those certain files. Leaving things like spyware, your documents, etc...where they are.

All that said...glad your system is feeling better!

jesse

I am behind a firewall (on router) and use norton. I am surprised now that no one else suggested spybot, but then I never thought of it either. This is the computer the GF and kid use. The kid has been searching for an apartment so I checked the history. They only sites the computer had been to were "ligitimet sites" newspapers, real estate sites and hot mail.

[quote:223d206ea6=" "]I am behind a firewall (on router) and use norton. I am surprised now that no one else suggested spybot, but then I never thought of it either.[/quote:223d206ea6]

Note that most current anti-virus products DO NOT scan for spyware/adware/malware. Sad but true. x-cleaner, spybot, etc. are things you should definitely update (download) and run regularly on a multi-user pc.

-brendan

PS - I thought of spyware immediately, but then read the next sentence that you'd reinstalled XP, so figured it was impossible since a real reinstall resets the registry and overwrites any "infected" applications or DLLs. Perhaps you'd mentioned that to the other techies you talked to. I'll know better next time to question that statement. :)