Network connection died

I have XP pro running a pc connected to the net through broadband
which worked ok until recently. Two weeks ago I got infected with a
viruses and spyware which took me a week to clear down. Then all of a
sudden the network connection died on this pc.

I cannot surf to the web, send/receive email or ping anything. In
Network connections the connection is showing as live and 'connected
at 10mbs' etc but shows a few packets sent but nothing received. The
light on the router shows a connection although there is no polling.
The router app shows no connection coing from the pc. I know that the
cable is ok and the router is ok as well as I have tested them with a
different pc.

I am suspicious that either the network card has died or a virus has
somehow shutdown network connections. I am all confused. Any
suggestions please on how I can isolate the problem.

If you're convinced it's a "software issue," then you might re-install the
operating system in a separate folder. With any luck, you might
successfully access the internet and thereby verify that your hardware is
intact.
If your hardware has been damaged, then re-installing the o/s won't cure it.
But, obviously, nothing is proven if, after re-installing your o/s, nothing
works.

I am not suggesting you repair or replace you o/s. I am suggesting you
install it in a separate folder (WINNT2 perhaps) on your computer. I have
done this many times with W2K Pro, but, admittedly, not with WinXP. Perhaps
someone else might comment on the feasibility of that. There are various
"flavors" of WinXP, so that might matter.

Perhaps you might elaborate on your flavor. For starters, is it XP Home,
Pro, Media Center, etc.? How OLD is your computer and its o/s?

I am operating on the assumption that your removal of malware was complete,
and will not resurface to damage your new installation.

I "lost" my main computer to spyware in 2003. Though I might have
re-installed the o/s, I didn't bother. I just bought a new computer,
because the old one wasn't worth saving.

"Nick" <area5pr@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fe8e29b7-1c6a-438f-89ee-b93fb62681cd@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> I have XP pro running a pc connected to the net through broadband
> which worked ok until recently. Two weeks ago I got infected with a
> viruses and spyware which took me a week to clear down. Then all of a
> sudden the network connection died on this pc.
>
> I cannot surf to the web, send/receive email or ping anything. In
> Network connections the connection is showing as live and 'connected
> at 10mbs' etc but shows a few packets sent but nothing received. The
> light on the router shows a connection although there is no polling.
> The router app shows no connection coing from the pc. I know that the
> cable is ok and the router is ok as well as I have tested them with a
> different pc.
>
> I am suspicious that either the network card has died or a virus has
> somehow shutdown network connections. I am all confused. Any
> suggestions please on how I can isolate the problem.

Its XP pro running on a 2 year-old pc. I think I cleared all the
malware but you can never be sure.

I 'repaired' the os today without any luck. Still does not prove
anything. I also installed an old network card but there is no
difference. The reason I dont want to start all over again is because
I have too many applications installed; dont want to have to install
again.

I think I am going to get a small HD and install XP afresh (whilst
other old HD is diconnected) and see if that brings back the
connection.

In accordance with the battlefield strategy of "divide and conquer," that
would help isolate the problem...by vindicating the raw hardware, anyway.

Are you sure that "old" NIC is any good?

I applaud your "tactical" approach, as opposed to my "strategic" suggestion.
Hopefully someone else has more tactical suggestions before you "do anything
major." But I cannot suggest any.

"Nick" <area5pr@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1f0b9f28-cb25-4a62-9829-0e2b73736adc@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Its XP pro running on a 2 year-old pc. I think I cleared all the
> malware but you can never be sure.
>
> I 'repaired' the os today without any luck. Still does not prove
> anything. I also installed an old network card but there is no
> difference. The reason I dont want to start all over again is because
> I have too many applications installed; dont want to have to install
> again.
>
> I think I am going to get a small HD and install XP afresh (whilst
> other old HD is diconnected) and see if that brings back the
> connection.

Actually I am not sure about the old network card. When you plug the
cable in, a green light comes on. However there is no flashing light
which you normally see on working cards. But then it is an old card.

Pull known-good NIC from some other computer. Install drivers and look for
indications of proper operation under "Device Manager," within the
troublesome computer. Repeat test.

BEFORE you pull the card from that other computer, inspect "Device Manager"
in that computer, regarding said NIC.

"Eliminate variables!"


"Nick" <area5pr@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cceffabf-0ca4-4848-a327-d8fd39ec9ddc@q39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Actually I am not sure about the old network card. When you plug the
> cable in, a green light comes on. However there is no flashing light
> which you normally see on working cards. But then it is an old card.

Problem with computers is that the NICs are embeded on the motheboard.
Can't remove them.

Nick wrote:
> Problem with computers is that the NICs are embeded on the motheboard.
> Can't remove them.

Install a NIC in a PCI slot, disable the onboard NIC in the BIOS, and
give it a try.

Exactly.
Put that untested NIC in known-good computer, to verify functionality.
Passing that test, repeat usage test in the "bad" computer ("UUT" unit
under test).

"mcp6453" <mcp6453@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uIYIoz4VIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Nick wrote:
> > Problem with computers is that the NICs are embeded on the motheboard.
> > Can't remove them.
>
> Install a NIC in a PCI slot, disable the onboard NIC in the BIOS, and
> give it a try.

I just found a wireless dongle lying around. I installed the software
and attached it to the usb port. It picks up the wireless network and
connects to it successfully with the wep key. The connections shows
100% signal strength and send packets out but is not receiving any
back. Still no internet and still cant ping anything.

If I look on the router (through another pc) it reports no wireless
connections.