[SOLVED] Some non-browser programs in my PC cannot connect to the internet

[okpani]

Hello All,

I recently joined this network. I am presently having problem with my computer. The problem is that some programs in my computer cannot connect to the internet. I can connect to the internet with my web browsers (Internet Explorer and Mozilla), but some programs in my computer that need to connect to the internet to do stuffs like updates etc cannot connect. For example, I am not able to do live update with my Norton Antivirus. Every time I attempt to do live update with my Norton Antivirus, I would get an error meassage "LiveUpdate failed. Could not connect to the LiveUpdate server". I thought the problem was with my Norton Antivirus, but I recently wanted to install another software in my PC. This software is called CMG (used in Petroleum Reservoir Simulation) and they require my software license to be validated. I could not validate my software licenese because the program would always give me an error message "Could not connect to the license server. Check your network connection". I also discovered that I could not get online help in Microsoft Office products (such as Excel, Word etc). Any time I click on the help icon in Excel (or any other Microsoft office product), I would get an error message "Not connected". So I have concluded that something is preventing the non-browser programs in my PC from connecting to the internet. Please help me out.

My system is an HP notebook running on Windows XP. I Use a Linksys wireless router and login wireless.

[Blue_Gene]

May I ask since you have Norton installed, do you just have Norton Antivirus or Norton Internet Security?

Do you have any firewalls enabled on your computer? windows firewall enabled?

[okpani]

I have Norton 360, which I believe is for the total security package. In the course of troubleshooting this problem, I temporarily disabled the Windows Firewall & the Norton Firewall, but the problem still persisted.

[johnwill]

I'd totally uninstall Norton, then use the Norton Removal Tool, finally reboot and test again.

[Michael York]

Originally Posted by okpani

Hello All,

I recently joined this network. I am presently having problem with my computer. The problem is that some programs in my computer cannot connect to the internet. I can connect to the internet with my web browsers (Internet Explorer and Mozilla), but some programs in my computer that need to connect to the internet to do stuffs like updates etc cannot connect. For example, I am not able to do live update with my Norton Antivirus. Every time I attempt to do live update with my Norton Antivirus, I would get an error meassage "LiveUpdate failed. Could not connect to the LiveUpdate server". I thought the problem was with my Norton Antivirus, but I recently wanted to install another software in my PC. This software is called CMG (used in Petroleum Reservoir Simulation) and they require my software license to be validated. I could not validate my software licenese because the program would always give me an error message "Could not connect to the license server. Check your network connection". I also discovered that I could not get online help in Microsoft Office products (such as Excel, Word etc). Any time I click on the help icon in Excel (or any other Microsoft office product), I would get an error message "Not connected". So I have concluded that something is preventing the non-browser programs in my PC from connecting to the internet. Please help me out.

My system is an HP notebook running on Windows XP. I Use a Linksys wireless router and login wireless.

Hi okpani,

This is Mike from the Norton Authorized Support Team, and I can assist you with Norton 360.

First, you should disable the Windows Firewall and enable the Norton Firewall, which is a comprehensive inbound and outbound Firewall. You will then want to click on the "Firewall Program Rules" tab in the Norton Firewall and locate the applications that need internet access and then click on the pull-down menu next to each of them and choose "Allow." After you have finished granting access, click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the window and then the "Close" button.

Next, open Norton 360 and run LiveUpdate. If you still receive an error message about LiveUpdate not being able to connect, please let me know the specific error that it returns so that I can assist you further.

Thank you,
Mike

[okpani]

Hello all,

Thanks for your advices. I have been able to resolve this issue. My computer is running good now and all programs are able to connect to the internet and do updates etc.

This is what I did to correct the issue
(1) Uninstall Norton 360
(2)Install AVG (free edition)
(3)Did a scan with AVG and AVG caught and removed some trojan/virus
(4)After the AVG scan I rebooted my system. After I rebooted my system, my system could no longer connect to the internet even with IE or Mozzilla Firefox
(5) I called my ISP (Time Warner Cable) and they said that my modem is good.
(6) I searched in the internet and got a WinsockFix.exe program. It is like the program cleans computer registers or something like that.
(7) I ran the WinsockFix.exe; and lo and behold, my computer started working well with all the programs connecting to the Internet
(8) I bought and downloaded AVG Internet Security (paid version).
(9) My system is working perfectly now.

I give kudos to AVG Internet Security. I think it is way above Norton in user friendliness and functionality.

Thats is all.

[johnwill]

Norton has become too bloated nowadays. They've tried to be all things to all people, and it's resulted in a product that doesn't do any job well.