*takes deep breath*

Okay... well, I run XP. And this is my problem...



Back when I first got my new Dell PC (a couple years ago), I used Bellsouth internet access and just decided to carry it over to the new computer. You know, for the sake of convenience. Anyhow, I tried to use the software disc they sent me and it wouldn't work. I called and was told that Bellsouth didn't have a disc that supported Windows XP installation and that I'd just hafta manually create a connection. No problem. I crank one up and it works just fine for the better part of two years.

Then, a few months back, I noticed when I turned on my machine that my connection was missing from the Network Connections screen. Odd, I thought. Tried to track it down with a search... No go. I chalked it up to accidental deletion on either my or someone else who uses the computer's part. No problem, I just start a new connection. Well, when it dials and connects, I notice there's no icon in my system tray to tell me what speed I'm connected at and allow me to disconnect. Even the shortcut on my desktop indicated that I wasn't connected. So, after a few minutes of searching and confusion, I just slipped 'er into Standby to disconnect it. Sure, it worked, but who wants to shut down their machine just to disconnect their internet?

So the problem continued, and eventually I learned that everytime I wanted to use the internet, I had to create a new connection, even though when I tried to name the new one after the old one, I was informed that there was already a file on my system with that name and that I couldn't use it. So for a while there, I had a string of Bellsouth1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.. I had to call my phone company today to check out some problems, so I figured I'd ask about this strange phenomenon while I had 'em on the line. They walked me through the Network Connections wizard and were baffled when I told them that as soon as I hit the 'Cancel' button to keep from dialing the connection that was made just 10 seconds before, the new connection disappeared from the Network screen. After about 45 minutes and at least 3 people tellin' me they'd never heard of such a problem, someone in the department suggested it was probably some kinda corruption in my SYSTRAY. I was thinkin' maybe the newly-released XP-compatible software disc might help, so I requested one even though they said it probably wouldn't help. This is me, utterly stumped.

Well, whattaya think, folks? I'm absolutely desparate and will be truly appreciative of any help whatsoever.

Hi Silky Jones, I have moved your thread to this "Internet Software" forum as I believe this is softare related and not hardware. And that you will get help quicker here.

Phew... thank you. I thought it'd been deleted.

Nope, just a "new" moderator's oops. lol

Since you now know it's not be deleted, I'm going to leave it alone and hope some one has an answer for you.

And since I'm here I'll give it a shot. Do you use any spyware removal tools?

Well, at one time, I downloaded Adaware, but I'm almost certain it's been completely uninstalled. And if not, it's doin' a damn good job of stayin' hidden.

Ok, try this one: hijackthis: download and install it, open and tell it to "Scan" then save log, and open in "Notepad" then copy and paste it in here.

http://www.merijn.org/downloads.html

Whoops... Just before I read this post, I d'loaded AdAware, SpyBot, and CWShredder. Will this interfere with any of those at all?

No hijackthis won't interfer with any of those programs. Did you run any of them? If so, what happened?

I ran 'em all, and I have noticed a little bit of pick-up in my loading speeds, but still no go on the connection issue. Would hijackthis make any difference?

Hijackthis would give us an idea of any problems in what's on your computer. Not software but odd programs that could cause your problem.

Well, I got hijackthis, ran the scan, saved and copied the log, but the site where I post it is down, apparently. Or at the least, closed to me.

Copy and paste the log in this thread.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 12:45:57 AM, on 1/7/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\logonui.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\dcfssvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~2\SPEEDD~1\nopdb.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\USRmlnkA.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_01\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\P2P NETWORKING\P2P NETWORKING.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\USRshutA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\USRmlnkA.exe
C:\Program Files\HP CD-DVD\Umbrella\hpcdtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dpi\dpi.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\bobby\LOCALS~1\Temp\bundle.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\BELLSO~1\PropelAC.exe
C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition\PSFree.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\PROGRA~1\FREEME~1\fmempro.exe
C:\Program Files\CallWave\IAM.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\devldr32.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\realplay.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\rnathchk.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\bobby\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 2 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://sidebar.smarter.com/index.php
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.smarter.com/index.php
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://sidebar.smarter.com/index.php
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.smarter.com/index.php
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.smarter.com/index.php
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.smarter.com/index.php
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/ymsgr/.../www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = http=localhost:8080
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [USRpdA] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\USRmlnkA.exe RunServices \Device\3cpipe-USRpdA
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_01\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [P2P NETWORKING] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\P2P NETWORKING\P2P NETWORKING.EXE /AUTOSTART
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP CD-DVD] C:\Program Files\HP CD-DVD\Umbrella\hpcdtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dpi] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dpi\dpi.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SAHBundle] C:\DOCUME~1\bobby\LOCALS~1\Temp\bundle.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Propel Accelerator] C:\PROGRA~1\BELLSO~1\PropelAC.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PopUpStopperFreeEdition] "C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition\PSFree.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [FreeMem Pro] "C:\PROGRA~1\FREEME~1\fmempro.exe" autostart
O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Instant Update Reminder.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Internet Answering Machine.lnk = C:\Program Files\CallWave\IAM.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Kodak EasyShare software.lnk.disabled
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Add animation to IncrediMail Style Box - C:\PROGRA~1\INCRED~1\bin\resources\WebMenuImg.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Refresh Pa&ge with Full Quality - C:\Program Files\BellSouth Accelerator Technology\pac-page.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Refresh Pi&cture with Full Quality - C:\Program Files\BellSouth Accelerator Technology\pac-image.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger (HKLM)
O12 - Plugin for .mov: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\npqtplugin.dll
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com Configuration Class) - http://www.accelerator.bellsouth.net...ad/tgctlcm.cab
O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...irector/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {1842B0EE-B597-11D4-8997-00104BD12D94} (iCC Class) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/internet/pcpConnCheck.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/yinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://207.188.7.150/1663421bdfa86fa...p/RdxIE601.cab
O16 - DPF: {89D75D39-5531-47BA-9E4F-B346BA9C362C} (CWDL_DownLoadControl Class) - http://www.callwave.com/include/cab/CWDL_DownLoad.CAB
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...662.7680324074
O16 - DPF: {A17E30C4-A9BA-11D4-8673-60DB54C10000} (YahooYMailTo Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho...yse/ymmapi.dll
O16 - DPF: {F58E1CEF-A068-4C15-BA5E-587CAF3EE8C6} (MSN Chat Control 4.5) - http://fdl.msn.com/public/chat/msnchat45.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{51101814-0541-4A55-A429-A38AE12003B2}: NameServer = 205.152.133.254 205.152.132.235



There you is.

I didn't see anything unusual on the list but then after a while of reading a "Hijack This" response list I start getting this glazed over look. ;)

Seriously try this:
Click Start --> Run type SFC SCANNOW then click OK and have your Operating System CD handy because your computer will ask for it. This command will scan for corrupted or missing system files and extract them from the CD.
See if this has corrected the problem and let us know the results.

If the system is still misbehaving update your virus scan and run it.

i see you have NAV have you ran that? if so try running HOUSECALL and see if it finds anything if not post back and im sure somebody will figure this out.

Silky, I didn't see but one thing that needs fixing. Go to

R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing check this in hijackthis and tell it to fix it.

I would try reinstalling the modem's drivers.

See, the thing is, Calpitor... I, uh, misplaced my OS disc a while back. Damned if I know where it scampered off to, but I know it ain't here.

NAV, JaK? What's that?

I tried that, photolady. Didn't seem like it changed anything. What is it exactly?

Would I reinstall the drivers from the disc that came with the modem, usil? Or could I do it from a site?

Silky, I understood from your post that the disc they gave you was not meant for xp. Or did I misunderstand? You should download the latest driver (from their site) that is compatible with XP.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Silky Jones
NAV, JaK? What's that?

---

Norton Anti Virus. You may want to contact Dell Silky and see about ordering a replacement Operating System CD. You may or may not need it now but you will need it sometime in the future.

No one has suggested a system restore, you might want to restore back to a time before these problems began. BJ

Welp, as an update:

My internet's been down for a few days, but in the downtime, I've tried every possible option in Systemworks and Norton Anti-Virus, downloaded and ran every program that was suggested to me... and still no change. How exactly do I do a restore point and will I lose anything by doin' it, John?

I'm not Big John, but here's how to do system restore in xp:

start>programs>accessories>system tools>then click on system restore it will walk you thru.

The only thing you might lose is anything you have installed today.

Nope, no go there either. Says my earliest restore point is today.

But I was thinkin'... It seems like Windows98 had an option that allowed you to disconnect from the internet by closing all browser windows. Is there anything like this for XP? Or maybe just any other suggestions for disconnecting without my tray icon?

Also, since I don't think I've said it yet, I just wanna thank everybody that's tried to help so far. And that, at this point, I'll try pretty much anything to get this straightened out, so feel free to take a wild stab.

Since you have tried everthing any of us has suggested, I think it's time for you to "find" that O/S cd and do a reinstall.