Internet works with FF but nothing else

kyle350 · 01-04-2007, 08:30 PM

When ever I try to connect to the internet with a program other than Firefox or AIM, it never works. Programs such as iTunes, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player say they cannot connect when I try using my connection with them. I don't use any other programs that use the internet often besides FF and AIM so I'm not really sure how long this has been going on. The first time I remeber noticing the problem was when we changed the security on our DSL signal from WEP to WPA-PSK. Not sure if this has anything to do with it though. I can live with the issue but it's becoming a hassle. A lot of programs that I've downloaded require you to register it online to use it but say they were unable to detect my connection.

Hopefully that made sense to someone. I'm open for any ideas cause I'm lost on this one. Also, in case it matters or not, the router for our DSL is downstairs by my dads computer so I have a Wireless LAN up here so I can access it.

**Kalim** · 01-05-2007, 01:22 AM

First thoughts are:

You may have a firewall thats blocking them - check.
Other browsers are most likely not allowed access by your firewall, or setup wrongly as in the way the browser connects to the net.

What firewall do you have?

kyle350 · 01-05-2007, 03:18 PM

All I have for firewalls is just the default one that comes with Windows. I tried turning it off for a while but it didn't change anything.

**johnwill** · 01-05-2007, 03:25 PM

Well, since it's the Microsoft suite that doesn't work, I'd be looking in the security settings for IE, which will affect the other programs mentioned as well.

kyle350 · 01-05-2007, 04:13 PM

Nothing. No matter how I change the settings it doesn't want to work. It just comes up with a page saying it cannot detect my connection. I think I downloaded something that screwed up a lot of my programs cause I noticed I can no longer use Microsoft Paint which is really sad.

**johnwill** · 01-05-2007, 06:28 PM

It sounds like you have a broader corruption issue. Have you considered doing a repair installation?

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

kyle350 · 01-05-2007, 08:09 PM

It seems like I'm at a last resort here so I might consider giving it a try. I will likely be getting a new computer within about 6 months anyway so if it doesn't work then no big deal. Thank you for the help!

**Kalim** · 01-05-2007, 08:13 PM

You can try a system restore to a date before all this happened and Start>Run>type: sfc /scannow > enter, (with XP CD inside) to see how much is repaired that way before a repair.

**johnwill** · 01-06-2007, 09:10 AM

Actually, there's not much difference in the effort to do the repair install, and it's a more complete repair. SFC still requires you to install the service packs and patches since the CD was created.

01-04-2007, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
kyle350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP	Internet works with FF but nothing else When ever I try to connect to the internet with a program other than Firefox or AIM, it never works. Programs such as iTunes, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player say they cannot connect when I try using my connection with them. I don't use any other programs that use the internet often besides FF and AIM so I'm not really sure how long this has been going on. The first time I remeber noticing the problem was when we changed the security on our DSL signal from WEP to WPA-PSK. Not sure if this has anything to do with it though. I can live with the issue but it's becoming a hassle. A lot of programs that I've downloaded require you to register it online to use it but say they were unable to detect my connection. Hopefully that made sense to someone. I'm open for any ideas cause I'm lost on this one. Also, in case it matters or not, the router for our DSL is downstairs by my dads computer so I have a Wireless LAN up here so I can access it.

01-05-2007, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,748 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Well, since it's the Microsoft suite that doesn't work, I'd be looking in the security settings for IE, which will affect the other programs mentioned as well. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-05-2007, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,748 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	It sounds like you have a broader corruption issue. Have you considered doing a repair installation? How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-06-2007, 09:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,748 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Actually, there's not much difference in the effort to do the repair install, and it's a more complete repair. SFC still requires you to install the service packs and patches since the CD was created. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

01-05-2007, 01:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	First thoughts are: You may have a firewall thats blocking them - check. Other browsers are most likely not allowed access by your firewall, or setup wrongly as in the way the browser connects to the net. What firewall do you have?

01-05-2007, 03:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
kyle350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP	All I have for firewalls is just the default one that comes with Windows. I tried turning it off for a while but it didn't change anything.

01-05-2007, 04:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
kyle350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP	Nothing. No matter how I change the settings it doesn't want to work. It just comes up with a page saying it cannot detect my connection. I think I downloaded something that screwed up a lot of my programs cause I noticed I can no longer use Microsoft Paint which is really sad.

01-05-2007, 08:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
kyle350 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 4 OS: WinXP	It seems like I'm at a last resort here so I might consider giving it a try. I will likely be getting a new computer within about 6 months anyway so if it doesn't work then no big deal. Thank you for the help!

01-05-2007, 08:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	You can try a system restore to a date before all this happened and Start>Run>type: sfc /scannow > enter, (with XP CD inside) to see how much is repaired that way before a repair.