Can't Download Any Programs!

[Fox 3]

Hi all, here is the latest problem with my new XP system. I have been trying to download things like AVG and Zonealarm among others, and every time i try it gives me this message:

" Internet explorer was unable to open this internet site, the requested site is either unavailable or cannot be found. please try again later"

for the love of computers, what the heck is going on?? Any ideas?

Thanks.

[yellohut]

can you browse to the sites? or does this only happen when you are trying to download something?
how are you connecting to the internet?
it sounds like you don't have an internet connection.
if that's the case then check that all network cables are plugged into the comp and the propoer ports.. and make sure the drivers for any NIC's or modems are installed.
the open IE click tools > internet options... then select the connections tab. click setup and follow the prompts.. that should get you started.

[GaryRouth]

Hi Fox3

I'm going to basically reply to all your threads in this one. You've been having adventures with those two hard drives... If you haven't thoroughly tested and scanned BOTH of them for spyware/viruses, it will be difficult for you to get on to the next steps of setting things up.

If you have a friend with up-to-date antivirus/antispyware tools who is a helpful, technically adept sort, see if he/she can slave your drives in the Helper PC for a thorough cleaning. I'd recommend scanning with both an installed local scanner (such as Norton, McAffee, TrendMicro, AVG, etc) and then a double-check scan from an online scanner (HouseCall, Panda, etc). And for spyware, scan with both AdAware and Spybot. Test both drives with the diagnostics from the manufacturer (DataLifeGuard for the WD, Powermax for the Maxtor). Test the memory with MemTest86+.

Once you're sure the hardware is sound and pest-free, things should go much more smoothly.

It's highly likely that you have local media that's infected. Don't put anything into the new system without scanning it for pests first. It really sounds like the sasser worm was/is on a local drive somewhere [like glc mentioned]. If you haven't specifically eradicated it from it's source, it's going to keep coming back. If you are on a network, don't connect to it again until your system scans clean, and you have a firewall/antivirus/antispyware installed and active, and you've been to Windows Update & installed the latest Security Updates [I highly recommend the Microsoft Windows Security Update CD as an option for installing the older updates up to late 2003 -- it's very fast, it's free, and it's possible you may have a friend who already has the CD who can lend it to you (which is OK to do - it's just an update tool). To order your own copy, you can call MS or go to their link http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu.../cd/order.mspx ].

Any writable diskettes that you've used during your system work may now be infected: you'll want to scan those. Any backups you have will need to be scanned.

A recent PC Magazine article on Security mentions that it used be that in as little as 30 minutes an unprotected system on the Internet could get infected, but that with the latest exploits an unprotected system can get infected in as few as 15 seconds! [perhaps they were exaggerrating a bit, but you get the idea]
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Once you're sure things are sound and clean: yellohut's steps should get your Internet connection going.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[Fox 3]

ok cool...here's what i've done so far ( i always seem to leave something out)

done the diagnostic scan on both, ran the stinger scanner from McAfee which found about 14 virus's and deleted them, formated both drives completely and re-installed, and i have installed the latest security updates.

Having said all that, i am now going to go through your steps one by one and do those. Thank you for your help guys, really appreciate it....i will let you know how it went.