So, for the past month or so, my comp has been slowly dying on me, and loss of speakers wasn't anything major for me, but unexpectedly, I can't properly connect to the internet with certain programs. None of my browsers work, iTunes isn't connecting, Impulse seemed to crap out for some reason. I can still technically connect to the internet, since I'm still logging on to Lusty. I can still connect through Steam, Dropbox, and other small programs like my weather desktop apps. But lack of true internet connection is annoying. For the past few weeks I've been accessing the forums and other sites on my iPod, but the small screen, and the constantly having to switch to the non-mobile version of sites is a pain. If anyone thinks they could help me fix my problem, please do.

Is your sound and internet card onboard or not?

Are you running antivirus and a spyware scanner?

Yes to both questions. And it seems the speakers aren't working right, not my sound entirely.

Hmm, I once had a pc where the onboard ethernet was faulty, which spread to the onboard sound, and by plugging in an external ethernet card the issue got solved. Got anyone you might be able to loan an ethernet card from to test?

Do an additional check on the software side as well, does it also happen in safe mode? Could still be spyware related, if it fooled the software you do run. I am going to assume you run windows, so if you do not have it already go with windows security essentials. No, I am not crazy, it's been winning awards two years in a row for best AV and anti-spyware solution. If you do run that, then try AVG.

Oh wow, works in safe mode. Just no clue how to best fix it to work on regular boot. Thanks for your help so far though! I wouldn't have known to try safe mode on my own.

Edit:
I can't seem to get AVG to install in safe mode nor on a regular boot. And I've run Windows security essentials multiple times and catch nothing.

Ergh, that is starting to sound like you might have a virus. Try Avast, that's another free solution. Panda Cloud is another option.

If neither works, open your task manager in regular mode, and google each process. You might find an obvious one that is a virus there, helping you determine which virus it is, and maybe even find a special removal tool for it. If you do not find an obvious one, then note down which ones you see in regular mode, and see if any happen to not be there in safe mode. That might lead you to the culprit as well.

And if that still does not work, run hijack this. It comes with a support forum, which through community help (or post a log here too) might help you find what is causing all this.

Installing anti-virus/anti-spyware tools on an already infected OS is not likely to find and fix the problem(s). Your best bet is to reformat, re-install, and go from there. This is also why it's a very good idea to make regular backups of all your data to a safe, preferably external, location, as once the infection hits your PC, you can never really be sure of what's infected and what's not.

"Just to be sure, we'll take off and nuke the site from orbit."

^ Those are pretty much the exact words my father, who's been working with computers since they came into the public domain, would say.

Honestly, with the exception of one fried wireless chip that I've never gotten working again, all my issues have been solved by reinstalling. Hence why I frequently back things up, though honestly my most important files are my scripts. Music, anything that can be downloaded again, I don't bother saving. Or... you could go with a better OS like Linux. I literally run no Firewall/Antivirus and have absolutely no issues.

If you want to see if you can rez your computer, first of all grab the files you need and back them up, then I'd try using Spybot S&D. Fort Knox makes for a good free firewall as well, and I used Avast since AVG was a processor hog and the latest version doesn't seem to work well at all. If you can't get those up and running, then likely the best solution is to reinstall. If it doesn't work upon reinstall, you know you have an issue.

Alternatively, what I would do, is boot a version of Linux in live mode, running from CD, and seeing if you can access stuff from there. I believe you can also just make a Linux/Windows live mode USB/CD yourself, if you don't have Linux live.

The Linux vs. Windows argument is purely subjective, and the argument that either one is more secure than the other is a fallacy. You can find studies that claim Windows has more critical issues, and you can find studies that say Windows has fewer exploits than Linux/OSX. In the end, it's a matter of personal preference for a particular OS mixed with a dose of luck that you don't get hit with any of the bad stuff.

Do people really argue that? I've always just seen it as "Linux doesn't need to be secure, because of it's market share." Which I can't vouch for the truth of since I've done no research, but I hear it more often when pressed on why Linux is supposedly more secure.

Linux is used less on the desktop machines, but it's used plenty on servers, and that's where security matters the most.

The only valid argument these days is userfriendlyness VS security. Windows, *nix and BSD based operating systems all have settings that range from very easy to use for both user and malicious cracker to omfg why do I have to enter 10 passwords to send an email.

I also approve of the nuke it mentality. Though with modern bios systems it is also adviceable to run a viral check on your bios (with an AV boot dvd) before reinstalling.

As a side note it pays to regularly reinstall your OS. Not sure what the current advice is for windows 7, but widows XP was every 3 months for heavy usage and every year for home usage. (also do not forget harware maintenance like removing dust from your fans and heatsinks!)

And lastly free AV software tends to have bad test results. One should do some research in to them and sometimes it is better to just pay for a good one than having a false sense of security with products like AVG.

And yet others say not to bother reinstalling. O_O But removing dust is very very good. Too bad laptops are lame and HP sucks at designing one with decent airflow. /derailment.

HP makes notebooks, not laptops .

Laptops have an airflow design that allows them to stand on soft surfaces, notebooks need to pull or push air from below and thus need to be on a hard surface. A lot of people forget that about notebooks (or don't read the user manual) ruining their notebook by placing it on beds and the like.

As for reinstalling experienced people do not need to do it as they can perform the needed maintenance, however average users end up with a lot of stray files, broken registry keys, spyware (willingly installed I might add), and so on and so fort and while there are cleaning tools for that, I mostly hear bad things about them. Reinstalling is the easiest and cheapest method of fixing it, and is in fact what most technical support services do when you arrive with a computer that is slowing down.

Yes, if we want to be anal about it. (actually, I'm taking a cisco course right now on computer repair, and just learned the names of the different types of portable computers. >_> The things I didn't know I didn't know.)

I have mine set up with this: http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.pro...oduct_Id=472610 on my desk. Laptop never goes on a bed or a soft place. If I were to, though, I have tv trays. (Used one for my old notebook before the power supply in it went)

I suppose, I have to agree with the fact that reinstalling can be a good thing.