I have a problem with my computer. I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium Edition on an HP Pavilion laptop that's approximately 3 months old. For some reason, a number of programs are unable to connect to the Internet; specifically, all of the various antivirus and antimalware software I've installed, as well as Mozilla Firefox and the Google Chrome installer. I've already posted this topic to the Malware Removal forum (link), but the staff member who responded was unable to solve my problem; even after manually updating all my various security programs, none of them are able to find anything wrong with my machine.

I'm at my wit's end. Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing my computer?

Hello,
Lets talk firewall and security level.
You realy do not need any security level higher than medium. When security levels are set higher than medium they block internet access that you want.
The firewall may also be blocking these programs. if you have a two way firewall look for the security settings and set them to medium.

Currently the only firewall I have running is the Windows Firewall (unless something got installed somewhere that I'm not aware of), and the only active antivirus software I have is McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i. Would it be possible to get step-by-step instructions for ensuring that these programs are not blocking anything they shouldn't be? I've poked around in there a few times and followed the available Windows support files for ensuring my firewall settings are correct, but it doesn't seem to have helped.

Try disabling mcafee and see if your other programs can connect.

They cannot. McAfee is also one of the programs that can't connect, whether it's on or off. Turning off Windows Firewall also does not help.

Then I believe that you have malware that is stopping the anti-malware programs from accessing the Internet.
Please go back to the malware forums for another check.

I will do that. Thank you for the help.

It is definitely not a malware problem hfcg, 100% about that. I have sent him back here to you guys.

In the future may be a good idea to give the malware staff who helped a PM if you are planning on sending somebody back there

Open up the control panel

• Select Internet options.
• Select Advanced.
• Select Reset

This will reset all of you Internet options to default.

Done. However, this does not appear to have helped Firefox or McAfee connect to the Internet.

Then this has to be some kind of firewall error.
Are you connecting through a router?

At the moment, yes. However, I have also attempted to connect directly to the Internet through a landline, and have had no greater luck.

The only way that a specific program would be blocked from the Internet, while you have internet connection is a corrupt program, or a firewall blocking the connection.
You have more than one program blocked, so it is a firewall issue.
Look in the exceptions for your firewall and see if these programs are blocked.
Read this please.

I have gone into the Windows Firewall and made certain the affected programs are listed as exceptions, but they still aren't able to connect.

Install then reinstall the programs.
Save mcafee for last, and test each program as you reinstall them.
Save chrome for next to last.
This is weird!

You are not running your machine in safe mode with networking are you?

I own an HP DV6000 laptop on which I've had the same problem you are experiencing... Out of the blue AVG, IE and Chrome stopped being able to connect. I'm an experienced computer user, with working knowledge of network, browser and firewall settings, but I was unable to fix this specific problem. No other symptons aside from the blocked connections. Only way around it was to back everything up on the laptop and reinstall Windows. Drastic, I know, but it works.

Uninstall then reinstall, you mean? I will try this as soon as I am able, but I'm pretty sure I've already done it least once; I know I've tried it with Firefox, and I believe with Malwarebytes as well.

UPDATE: I took my computer to the Geek Squad at Best Buy, and they were able to solve my problem. I had Norton Antivirus on my computer before all this happened, and it seems that Windows can't uninstall Norton by itself - one has to run the Norton Software Removal Tool, available for download from Norton's website, before the program will actually go away. After I purged my computer's system of Norton Antivirus, it was able to connect as normal again. I still seem to be having some problems with a potential bad patch, but I think that's an issue for another day.

Thank you for your help! I appreciate it.