I have this Microsoft AntiSpyware beta version loaded on my computer and had been working fine until yesterday when I performed a full scan which is the program asked for. It crashed all my network settings. I can't access any network resource, can't access the Internet. Well, it did get response when I try to ping but combined a beep together with the following messages.
C:\>ping 131.94.57.182
Pinging ? with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 131.94.57.182: bytes=32 time=73ms TTL=236
Reply from 131.94.57.182: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=236
Reply from 131.94.57.182: bytes=32 time=73ms TTL=236
Reply from 131.94.57.182: bytes=32 time=73ms TTL=236
Ping statistics for Où?:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 73ms, Maximum = 74ms, Average = 73ms
I am pretty sure that the full spyware scan caused this problem. Don't know what exactly happened inside but it did corrupt all TCP/IP or WinSock component, which stops all network related services like “Net Logon”, “Personal Firewall”, etc. Then, I looked up the Microsoft knowledge base to see if there is a way to uninstall and reinstall the TCP/IP component as Windows XP does not allow it by default. Microsoft knowledge base #325356 describes how to do it in Windows 2003 server, however, it works on Windows XP as well. Here are the steps:
| 1. |
Restart the domain controller. |
| 2. |
When the BIOS information appears, press F8. |
| 3. |
Select Directory Services Restore Mode, and then press ENTER. |
| 4. |
Use the Directory Services Restore Mode password to log on. |
| 5. |
Click Start, and then click Run. |
| 6. |
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK. |
| 7. |
Locate the following registry subkeys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2 |
| 8. |
Right-click each key, and then click Delete. |
| 9. |
Click Yes to confirm the deletion of each key. |
| 10. |
Close Regedit. |
| 11. |
Locate the Nettcpip.inf file in %winroot%\inf, and then open the file in Notepad. |
| 12. |
Locate the [MS-TCPIP.PrimaryInstall] section. |
| 13. |
Edit the Characteristics = 0xa0 entry and replace 0xa0 with 0x80. |
| 14. |
Save the file, and then exit Notepad. |
| 15. |
In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties. |
| 16. |
On the General tab, click Install, select Protocol, and then click Add. |
| 17. |
In the Select Network Protocols window, click Have Disk. |
| 18. |
In the Copy manufacturer's files from: text box, type c:\windows\inf, and then click OK. |
| 19. |
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.
Note This step will return you to the Local Area Connection Properties screen, but now the Uninstall button is available. |
| 20. |
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click Uninstall, and then click Yes. |
| 21. |
Restart your computer, and then select Directory Services Restore Mode as mentioned in steps 2 - 4. |
| 22. |
In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties. |
| 23. |
On the General tab, click Install, select Protocol, and then click Add. |
| 24. |
In the Select Network Protocols window, click Have Disk. |
| 25. |
In the Copy Manufacturer's files from text box, type c:\windows\inf, and then click OK. |
| 26. |
Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK. |
| 27. |
Restart your computer. |
Yeah...after I followed all these steps, my computer finally got back to work.
I am not blaming on this software here as I have seen this before on other anti-spyware as well. I am still having it running on my computer to prevent the spyware but will be careful to do the full scan and any operations afterwards. If the same thing happened on your computer, do the fix above would fix your problem.