hey if I hade a problem with winsock that was causing my internet connection (I have a cable connection) to not work (as anything that connects to the net has a internal error)how would I repair this?

See Winsock fix on page 2

Following is a suggestion to resolve browsing issues refresheing/reinstalling communications and networking components. The procedure does require the use of the W98 first edition or second edition CD, or cab files installed on the hard drive. Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>Windows Setup Tab, select: Communications>Details. >>>Make note of all items installedNetwork icon>Configuration tab. >>>Make note of the components installedRun, key in: regedit Click OK. All warnings about backing it up apply!!!! Delete, or rename the following keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Remote Access HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\Winsock HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\Winsock2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services|VxD\MSTCP After all keys are deleted or renamed, RESTART. Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>Windows Setup Tab. Check Communications. Re-check the entries that were previously installed, or at a minimum, check Dial Up Networking (DUN) and Hyperterminal. Check: Apply. Do not Restart. OK out of Add/Remove Programs. Control Panel>Network. Add any components previously installed, or at a minimum: CFMSN, DUA and TCP/IP. Restart. To this point, just about all the Windows communications and networking components were removed, so that Windows had to install new registry keys. Also, Windows had to install original Operating System version files and components. If any file version conflicts develop in the process, allow Windows to replace possible corrupt files with fresh ones. Replace winsock.dll, wsock32.dll, or rasapi32.dll, which may also be corrupted. Check out the version of each of these dll files to either download them from: http://www.drd.dyndns.org/index2.html or obtain them from the OS CD. Use System File Checker utility to extract/replace these files. Post back with update.