AOL browser missing!

[sharder8]

Okay, I'll keep it short, and I think I know what I have to do . . . but let's see if anyone else has any ideas.

Windows 98, HP, 128MB SDRAM, (I upgraded it to 256MB )

Customer has AOL, it quits working, AOL says modem bad, boss has modem changed by Tech (not me), modem connects, by AOL has problem with connection, Boss turns computer over to me and says "fix it"!

I cleaned off the Gator, Bonzai Buddy, webshots, and other spyware.
I noticed there was an attempt made to hijack the browser.
Uninstalled and reinstalled AOL (after profuse protests by me).
AOL connects fine, everything works fine, but no browser.

I suspect there is either a problem in the registry with IE, as IE doesn't connect either, or that IE is corrupted. I'm going to reinstall/upgrade IE tomorrow and see if that corrects the problem, unless anyone else has some ideas or suggestions.

Harder

[squeech]

Is there any firewall software installed on the system?

Most firewalls see communication with AOL as a port scan attack and will generally block it, causing AOL browsing (and sometimes the internal service itself) to fail...depends on the firewall. Happens quite often. If it exists, disable it and try the connection again.

If not, maybe try a different version of AOL? Just a thought

[sharder8]

Nope, no firewalls installed!

Harder

[imac9556]

This might sound weird, but did you try to reinstall AOL? I thought the AOL installer could repair your old AOL and fix all registery errors and program errors? someone correct me if i'm wrong!

[rockpile]

CAN YOU PING SITES BY URL OR IP ADDRESS? And is your cu getting a valid ip?

[sharder8]

Originally posted by rockpile
CAN YOU PING SITES BY URL OR IP ADDRESS? And is your cu getting a valid ip?

YUP!

I can check e-mail, go to favorites, go to music, etc.

What I can't do is go to any webpage from AOL. The browser window doesn't even come up.

I tried IE, but it doesn't appear to all be there either, and wouldn't connect. It should a connection error.

Hm-m-m-m, I wonder what would happen if I replaced the winsock32.dll??? I know AOL won't like that one, but I can always re-install AOL again.

Harder

[highrock]

you can tell your boss to get a better isp other aol. everything is better than it actually. When all else fails; reinstall ie, aol, os or reformat(last hope usually).

[sharder8]

Boss is anti-AOL as well! I'm known as VERY Anti-AOL around here!

Customer has/wants AOL!

Harder

[nodnerb2]

Hi,

When ya uninstalled AOL did you save any of the old files off the existing installation.

I ask this because I have encountered a number of times when I could go anywhere within AOL but nowhere on the web.

There are 2 files called Main which is in the IDB Folder and and Global.org which resides in the main AOL Folder( both of these can be found by using explorer) Overwriting these two files with the two copies kept in the backup folder within AOL has worked for me nearly everytime.

The other thing that has caused me grief with AOL but no web access is the Dial up adaptors. If you remove these and reboot, it does a bit of an install/restore and will ask you to restart a couple of times and then it will work just fine ( as fine as AOL does work)

The first problem I described here used to happen to me fairly regularly and the second one only 2 or 3 times in 5 yrs. Bear in mind that I don't use this PC year round and am often away working for months at a time so it's not 5 continuous years of use!!

I hope this has been of some help.

Oh, BTW What Vers of AOL r u usin? and When online w ith AOL can you access the www with any other Browser?

Cheers

Nodnerb2

[rockpile]

I cleaned off the Gator, Bonzai Buddy, webshots, and other spyware.
I noticed there was an attempt made to hijack the browser.
Uninstalled and reinstalled AOL (after profuse protests by me).
AOL connects fine, everything works fine, but no browser


Did you do this with spybot or adaware or just remove it from the add/remove programs? Also try replacing the NIC c ard if you have another lieing around,.