I left for a couple months and came back to a computer that was running slow an had some spyware programs on it. I useually just run adaware and keep everything clean myself. I always delete cookies, temp files, and history. I keep startup programs at a minimum, just starting what I need. I also recently went into the services section in administratinve tools and kind of tweaked it so the computer starts and shuts down much quicker. It use to take about 1-2 minutes after clicking shut down to turn off, now it useually takes under 10 seconds. The internet problem existed before I changed the services though.
I don't remember the problems I was originally having, but adaware wasen't fixing it, so I useed smitfraudfix. Thats fixed whatever the problem was, but I think thats when this problem started with programs not being able to access the internet. Also after using smitfraudfix, everytime I went online it would bring me to either microsoft.com or msn email as the home page. I tried changing the home page through internet options and adware, but nothing worked. Then I changed it in the registry and that fixed it. Not sure if that was related to a virus or not.
Ok, back to my current problem. I cant access anything that requires the internet such as AIM. I also cannot connect in AdAware to update the definitions file. I always get some type of error saying it cant connect to the server and to check my firewall settings.
I have tried shutting off the windows firewall and the firewall through my modem and neither helped. And all the programs that cannot connect are in the exceptions section in the windows firewall. Thay are checked allowing them to connect to the internet.
Also, there are expired versions of Norton Internet Security and Symantec on my computer if that makes a difference. I don't have them set to come on at all, there just there b/c I never deleted them.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks.