[RESOLVED] Proxy Server Problems

XP Professional
CPU Intel Core 2 2.4 GHz
3 GB RAM

My desktop computer is hooked up with an ethernet cable from my router to the computer. I have a modem that goes through a router for my network. So when I click on Firefox I get these messages
"The proxy server is refusing connections. Firefox is configured to use a proxy server that is refusing connections. Check the proxy settings to make sure they are correct. Contact your network administrator to make sure the proxy server is working."
I did a search and a suggestion was to run a program called "mini tool box". There were several choices and one of them was to "reset FF proxy settings". I assume it meant fire fox. And another choice was to "Reset IE proxy settings". I assume it meant Internet explorer. I tried both of those choices and I got the same message as before. I am not sure what "proxy settings" are or how to access them or what they would be. The router is a Netgear and the modem is an Arris. I don't have a problem with wireless connections as I can connect a laptop to the web. Any help would be appreciated. If you need more info let me know.

Thanks

Do you have an actual proxy server or not? If not, then proxy should be set to none.

Sounds like you might have a corrupt TCPIP stack. Try WinsockXPFix. Download it on a working computer, and then copy it to a flash drive to take to the "bad" computer.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/deta...ck_xp_fix.html

I don't know if I am using a proxy server or not. I went to "control panel>internet options>the connect tab>LAN settings" When I got to the LAN settings and clicked on it I get a grayed screen with "automatic configuration" with no check marks and "proxy Server" with "Use a proxy server for your LAN" checked and "bypass proxy server for local addresses" unchecked. Nothing can be changed here. On the "Internet Properties" screen at the bottom in yellow it says "Some settings are managed by your system administrator" if that helps. I downloaded the file from the link to a flash drive and loaded it on the "bad" computer then ran it. I got this message. "Download manager has encountered a problem and needs to close. Send a error report to microsoft."

Is this for home or work? It is very rare to have a proxy server at home.

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"Use a proxy server for your LAN" checked

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That should be unchecked if you don't have a proxy server.

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I downloaded the file from the link to a flash drive and loaded it on the "bad" computer then ran it.

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Did you have IE open at the time? You should have all browsers closed. Then you'd have to reboot the system.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Download #253 proxyenableundo.reg and then run it on the bad system. See if that unlocks the proxy checkbox.

This is just a home network. I don't ever remember setting up a Proxy server. If I am doing it right I go to start>control panel>Internet options>the "connections" tab>and in the lower right hand of the screen "LAN settings". If I click on "LAN settings" I get a grayed out screen saying automatic configuration with two choices "automatically detect settings" and "use automatic configuration script" both unchecked. Below that is "Proxy server" that says "Use a proxy server for your LAN". And this is checked. I downloaded #253 which was listed as "LAN Settings proxy server disabled". I didn't find proxyenableundo.reg. I ran the file and checked to see if the proxy checkbox was unlocked. It wasn't and the screen was still grayed out. No browsers are open

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I downloaded #253 which was listed as "LAN Settings proxy server disabled". I didn't find proxyenableundo.reg

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proxyenableundo.reg is the name of the downloaded file. What file did you download then? If you didn't show file extensions, you wouldn't see the .reg part. Open My Computer. Go to Tools - Folder Options. On the View tab, uncheck Hide extensions for known file types.

Automatically detect settings and Use automatic configuration script should be unchecked. So those are OK.

Proxy server should also be unchecked. I just tested the proxyenableundo.reg file and it clears the proxy check box.

proxyenableundo.reg is there. I tried it again and the proxy server is still checked. I restarted the computer and tried it again. The proxy server is still checked and the screen is still grayed out. Just asking, but is there suppose to be something in the box just below where it says "Dial up and virtual private network settings? It is empty now.

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The proxy server is still checked and the screen is still grayed out.

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The entire LAN Settings screen is grayed out? And you can't check or uncheck anything?

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Just asking, but is there suppose to be something in the box just below where it says "Dial up and virtual private network settings? It is empty now.

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No. It should be empty.

What version of IE are you running? What version of Firefox? Did you try disabling the proxy in Firefox also?

Did you scan for malware?

Go into safe mode and see if the options are still greyed out. There are some programs such as ad blockers that use IEX proxy settings to route data through local host in order to filter the data and lock those settings until they are turned off or uninstalled. Have you recently installed any new software programs? Not just ad blocking but VPN's or anything at all? You mention an error regarding "download manager"... is that something you installed or ran?

I have I\E 7
Fire Fox 24.0 (x86en us)
I don't know how to disable Proxy in fire fox
The last time I ran Malwarebytes was Nov. 1st and there were no issues
I ran it today and it stopped, saying malwarebytes has encountered a problem and needs to close
At the time there were two objects detected. I have no idea how to tell what they are.
It stopped on C:\windows\fonts\sserifer.fon if that means anything.
Originally I did a search in Virtual Dr about proxy and it said to download a program called "mini tool box".
This program had several options and two of them were to reset I/E and Fire Fox proxy settings. No error was reported but it didn't work.
I ran the "bad" computer in "Safe" mode and the grayed out page was still there with Proxy server checked.

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I don't know how to disable Proxy in fire fox

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Tools - Options - Advanced tab - Network tab - Settings - No proxy - OK

It sounds like you got infected with something that is messing up your proxy settings. Close other programs and try running Malwarebytes again. You might want create a new thread and to submit the logs to the ICU section.
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d-4-28-2013%29

After following your instructions to disable proxy in fire fox I am able to connect to the internet!!!!
However, I am not able to connect with either I/E 7 or Opera. I tried to find if there was a way to disable proxy like fire fox but didn't have any luck.
I also ran malwarebytes 5 times, once with full scan, and it worked every time.

Did you try running proxyenableundo.reg after you ran Malwarebytes?

I don't run Opera, but I suspect it is inheriting the proxy settings from IE.

I ran malwarebytes again then ran proxyenableundo.reg. The LAN screen is still grayed out.

As I mentioned before, you might want to get your system thoroughly checked out at the VDR ICU. Maybe Malwarebytes missed something.

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The proxy server is still checked and the screen is still grayed out.

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I know you said "grayed out", but do you mean the entire LAN Settings screen is grayed out? And you can't check or uncheck anything? I asked earlier, but I didn't see your answer. It's very strange if the entire screen is grayed out.

You can try running proxycfg from a command prompt.
Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
Type proxycfg
You should see Direct access (no proxy server)
If not, type proxycfg -d

Are you comfortable with using regedit? You can check the following key. This is what it should look like when proxy is disabled.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"ProxyEnable"=dword:00000000

When i click on internet properties and then the "connection" tab is selected at the bottom right of the screen there is a box says "LAN settings". If I click on that I get a screen that says "Local Area Network (LAN) settings. If I click on that I get a screen and at the top of that screen in blue it says "Automatic configuration" with two choices. "Automatic detect settings" and "Use automatic configuration script". Neither one of those is checked. Below that in blue it says "Proxy server". There is a check mark in the box that says "Use a proxy server for your LAN. (these settings will not apply to dial up or VPN connections". Below that is a box for Address, Port: and advanced. Nothing is in these. Below that is an unchecked box that says "Bypass proxy server for local addresses. Then an "OK' and "cancel" box. Nothing can be clicked on except "OK" and "cancel". The screen does appear gray.
In the "command" prompt it says "direct access(no proxy server).
In the registry when I get to "Internet settings" there is no "{proxy enabled" =dword:00000000"

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it says "Automatic configuration" with two choices. "Automatic detect settings" and "Use automatic configuration script". Neither one of those is checked.

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Right. And are those grayed out so that you can't enable or disable them?

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There is a check mark in the box that says "Use a proxy server for your LAN. (these settings will not apply to dial up or VPN connections".

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That should be unchecked, which is what the proxyenableundo.reg does. Your other settings confirm this, so it's weird that it won't clear. And this setting is locked when you try to uncheck it, right?

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Below that is a box for Address, Port: and advanced. Nothing is in these. Below that is an unchecked box that says "Bypass proxy server for local addresses.

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That should only be filled out if you have an actual proxy server. Yours should be blank.

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The screen does appear gray.

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When I think of "grayed out", that means all controls are locked.

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In the "command" prompt it says "direct access(no proxy server).
In the registry when I get to "Internet settings" there is no "{proxy enabled" =dword:00000000"

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Those are both correct. They both indicate that there should be no check in the Proxy server box.

Maybe you can try uninstalling IE7 and see if that helps.

Hmm. If you're running XP Pro, it's possible that the local group policy was set.

Go to Start-Run and type gpedit.msc (group policy editor will open)
Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer
Scroll down to "Disable changing proxy settings"
If it says Enabled, double-click "Disable changing proxy settings", change it to Not Configured (or Disabled) and click OK

Do the same thing for "Disable Changing Connection Settings"
Close Group Policy

You should now be able to uncheck the proxy box in Internet Properties.

You are reading everything correctly. I will uninstall I/E and let you know.

Ok. But also check the Group Policy settings like I mentioned.

I uninstalled I/E 7 and the check mark is gone!!!!
I am using fire fox right now. I will check Opera next.
I will also check Group Policy settings.

Wow!!!

With XP, skip IE 7. To much weirdness in it for me and got tired of uninstalling to get rid of the weirdness.
I.E. 8 and Firefox worked spiffy.

It seems like an IE7 issue at this point. You might as well go up to IE8 now.

I checked Opera and it works.
I also checked group policy settings and got to the step windows components and Internet Explorer wasn't there as a choice. Awhile ago I posted about upgrading to I/E 8 and despite Virtual Dr.s efforts (probably you) the problem could not be resolved. I don't use I/E so it isn't a problem.

Thank you for all of the help!

From 7 to 8 caused a lot of folks fits.
6 to 8 always seemed to work though.

And if need be, you could roll back to 6.

But 6 to 7 , then 8 locked 7 in so you could not uninstall it. Which in turn caused quite a few folks to end up doing a clean install. A little vdr history there.

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User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer

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Are you sure you followed the correct path? Well, it sounds like the policy wasn't set anyway.

I followed the path given. I even wrote it down to get it correct (getting old you know).
Is Train telling me I can download I/E 6 and then upgrade to I/E 8? It sounds like it could, from what he is telling me, create problems. Can I still get Windows updates without I/E?

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Is Train telling me I can download I/E 6 and then upgrade to I/E 8? It sounds like it could, from what he is telling me, create problems. Can I still get Windows updates without I/E?

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No. You still have IE6 when you uninstalled IE7. Just install IE8.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...displayLang=en

I double checked gpedit and the settings are there. It's the section in red.
Attachment 11833

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) is the default browser shipped with Windows XP.
In other words, it is the default [native] version of IE in XP. So when you uninstalled IE 7, you went back to IE 6.

When I get to "windows components" and click on it I only get "search", "windows media player" and "windows update". None of those your picture shows in red.

Well, main thing is that it is working now.

Again, thank you very much!