# Strange problem with internet connection **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737 "2005-05-20T14:25:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/1 "2005-05-20T14:25:38Z")
I have a strange problem here at work with a computer. The internet connection (both dial-up and through the LAN) fails after about 5 minutes. When it fails, whenever I type a URL in the browser, the browser says Done in the status bar and all I see is a blank page. No 404 or DNS error. The strange thing is that I can ping web sites from the command line using the PING command, but cannot connect anywhere using Telnet. The computer is a HP Omnibook xe4500 laptop. It was ridden with spyware, but I think it is clean now. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/2 "2005-05-20T15:53:59Z")
Have you tried different browsers? IE, netscape, firefox, opera? Trying it out on different browsers will at least confirm the cause of the problem, or narrow it down a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/3 "2005-05-20T16:34:37Z")
Quite a few types of spyware can break Internet Explorer when removed - I don’t have time right now, but there are ways to re-install winsock2 which sometimes resolves the issue. I agree with **mittu** - give Firefox a try. It will help with troubleshooting, and you may find it’s better for your uses. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/4 "2005-05-20T17:39:31Z")
I’ve tried Firefox too. Same problem. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/5 "2005-05-20T17:41:34Z")
I’ve sometimes noticed spyware messing up networking protocols, too. You could reinstall tcp/ip, etc and see if that makes any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/6 "2005-05-20T19:26:44Z")
WinXP Service Pack 2 has some new features to reset the TCP/IP stack - while I used them extensively when I worked support, I totally forget them now… Check out [this place](http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#Networking_problems_after_installing_Service_Pack_2), which has some commands you might wanna try. (Though no fair saying it broke your AOL or anything) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-problem-with-internet-connection/304737/7 "2005-05-20T21:07:20Z")
[Download and run WinSockFix](http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Network-Tweak/WinSockFix.shtml) > [@](#): > > WinSockFix offers a last resort if your Internet connectivity has been corrupted due to invalid or removed registry entries. > > It can often cure the problem of lost connections after the removal of Adware components or improper uninstall of firewall applications or other tools that modify the XP network and Winsock settings. > > If you encounter connection problems after removing network related software, Adware or after registry clean-up; and all other ways fail, then give WinSock XP Fix a try. > > It can create a registry backup of your current settings, so it is fairly safe to use.