IE 5.5, OE5.5 and ISP server won't talk.

[diogenes39]

I am posting this from my old PC, which still works. I have a "new" (6-month-old) PC with the following system configuration, which has a serious problem:

AMD Athlon 1.33Ghz Thunderbird CPU with 256Mb PC2100 DDR SDRAM.
ASUS A7A266 Motherboard, Socket A, with 266Mhz FSB,
Windows Me (OEM installed),
3Com USR v.90 56K internal PCI modem with fax.
Internet Explorer 5.5 SR1 (haven't downloaded SR2 yet)
Outlook Express 5.5
17" PnP Monitor (generic clone),
Zip250 internal ATAPI IDE drive,
Mitsumi 1.44 3.5" floppy drive,
Maxtor ATA-100 40GB 7200RPM hard drive,
nVidia Geforce2 MX AGP video card with 32MB SDRAM,
Creative Labs SB Live! value soundcard,
Acer 12x/8x/32x/ CD-Rewriteable drive.
Generic 50x CD-ROM drive.

I have had terrible problems with Norton Antivirus 2001, especially Rescue Disk updates using "Live Update", which I think really "did a number" on my PC, and I have since removed it. I also removed Norton Utilities 2001, ZoneAlarm ver. 2.6.357 and Netscape Communicator 4.76 from my PC. I was hoping to eliminate them as a source or cause for my problems, but it didn't help.

I cannot get Internet Explorer 5.5 or Outlook Express to connect to my ISP. My modem will dial up and connect with my ISP - it accepts my password and makes a good connection. When I start Internet Explorer and enter any URL, I get "Page Not Found" every time. A reinstall did not help.

Outlook Express cannot retrieve or send email - it says it "cannot find my POP3 server after 60 seconds". I went to the "Add/Remove Programs" icon in Control Panel and ran a "repair" of Outlook Express, but it didn't help.

I would like to be able to get this fixed so I can use the internet again on my new PC. I think something may be corrupted in the registry, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer or some combination of these, but I do not know how to find a resolution.

I have dropped the modem in the "My Computer" device assignments, allowed Windows PnP to find the device again and set it up. There are no errors shown when I check the properties for the modem after letting WinME reinstall it. There are no yellow triangles or question marks, and it tells me all devices are working properly.

I also rebuilt the dialup connection using the Dialup Wizard in Windows Me. I have double-checked the ISP's URLs and even had the ISP send someone to my house to check my whole setup - he told me that he could not find a problem, and did not know why I can't connect to the ISP's servers any more. We have checked the settings between my old PC (which I'm now using) and the settings in my new PC - can't find any differences.

I am retired, 62 years old, and more than willing to try and fix what's wrong, but I don't know enough to tell me how to check this problem out. How can I tell if one or more of the *.EXE or *.DLL files is corrupted or missing, or find out if the entries in the registry are correct?

I don't know the applicable registry keys that affect this, or the values needed to add or change them.

Lack of knowledge is my problem, and I need to get my PC working again. Don't suggest my PC vendor (OEM)! That's hopeless. I can't get them to help - they keep referring me to the maintenance contract provider and the maintenance contract tech reps say they won't do anything about software problems, that I should call my OEM.

Can you help????

[glc]

Try running a System Restore - and pick a restore point from a date when things still worked right. You will lose any programs (but not data files) that you have installed since that date.

[diogenes39]

Thanks, GLC! However, I have already tried that. My restore attempts stop about halfway thru on the bar graph in Windows ME (when System Restore is running), the screen goes black, and the machine reboots.

After the reboot, Windows Restore starts up again, and I get a message that the restore was unsuccessful, and to choose an earlier restore point. I can't do that, because I have exhausted all of the available restore points back to Nov 12th, and none will work.

To me, this means that my registry is probably a mess, or there are programs and DLL's missing or corrupted! I'm trying to avoid a complete reload of my entire system if possible. I just want to get the system fixed so I can use it, if that is still feasible.

[acid-dude]

The best thing to do may actually be a complete restore, try getting a 30-day trial CD of Norton Utilities and running it, (i dont know the Symantec Number) or you can try running System File Checker (goto Start > Run and type SFC).

If that fails, here's what you need to do if you want to reinstall:

1. Make sure you've got a valid Windows Startup Disk.
2. Start your CD writer software and copy all of the folders with your files in them! Make sure you get them all. You may also want to write down / print your ISP settings. Burn the CD.
3. Take a screenshot of your Windows Start Menu and print it, so you can restore all your programs easily.
4. Insert your disk and reboot. Put in your Win ME Cd. Ensure you can access your CD ROM drive by typing at the A: prompt (where D is ur CD ROM)

a:\>d:

d:\>dir

You should get a list of the files on the ME CD.
5. FDisk the partitions - theres info about this on this forum. Delete your current partition and install a new one, or two new ones.
6. Format the new partitions (format c.
7. Insert your ME cd and type Setup. Follow the setup instructions.
8. When setup is complete install all of your drivers - see your hardware documentation - ensure you do the modem otherwise it won't work!.
9. Restore your files from the CD and set up your desktop like before.
10. Resotre all the programs on the start menu. You do have the CD's right?
11. Open IE and click connect.

If it dosen't work still, you might try fitting a new modem...I had some problems like this, I reinstalled 98 (overlay), then reformatted and isntalled XP, still didn't work, restored to 98 with two partitions and still didn't work, so i pulled out the modem and demanded nother one from comp manafacturer!

http://www.geocities.com/plasticlemming/