My computer is able to ping any sites in command prompt, but I receive no internet on my computer. I can't log onto aim nor browse any websites. The page will load partially, get stuck and then display the not found message. I even tried just browsing through ip addresses to make sure it's not a dns problem and that still doesn't work. Virus/ Spyware is not a problem since I even reformatted my computer and the problem still exists. My internet is shared and is working. Can I say this is a hardware problem?

You have a dns problem I might guess. Use the IP number on the browser address line and see if it will connect. If so then either fix the dns issues or make a hosts file with the 50 or so sites you visit.

http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_winsockxpfix.html Click on this file; Download....install...restart....see if you can log on. (It is Winsock XP fix.) Corrupt winsock files can render your pc able to log onto the DNS server. OR if you are more advanced...you can manually do the same thing as the program: 1. Perform a winsock Fix including reinstalling TCP/IP Reinstall of the TCP/IP protocol to restore Winsock functionality Step 1: Delete registry keys A) Open Regedit from the Run line B) Go to both of the following keys, export each of them, and then delete them: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2 C) Restart the computer NOTE: It is important to restart the computer after deleting the Winsock keys. Doing so causes the XP operating system to recreate shell entries for those two keys. If this is not done, the next step does not work correctly. Step 2: Install TCP/IP on top of itself A) Open the properties window of the network connection B) Click Install C) Click Protocol, then Add D) Click Have Disk E) Type the path to the nettcpip.inf file, for example: c:\windows\inf, and click OK (if you try to click Browse, then browse to the \inf folder, it may not show up in the list). F) You should now see "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" in the list of available protocols. Select it and click OK. G) Restart the computer When the computer reboots you will have functional Winsock keys. NOTE: If the network connection properties contained more than the following three items: Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and TCP/IP, then the additional items may need to be removed in order to restore browsing. If those items are needed they can be reinstalled. The reason for removing them is due to those items placing entries into the Winsock keys and those entries will no longer be there. Side effects and possible problems: This method will restore basic functionality to the Winsock keys, but is not a complete rebuild. On a default install of Windows XP the registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2\ParametersProt ocol_Cat alog9\Catalog_Entries - will have 11 sub-keys. When applying this method, the Catalog_Entries will only have three sub-keys. However, it works and there does not appear to be any side effects. The missing entries relate back to the: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interf aces key. Also, third-party proxy software or firewalls may need to be reinstalled. Raymond Mackie Technical Support Mgr. rmackie@microtailors.com www.microtailors.com "Custom computers and prices tailored to fit you"

Like i have said in my post, I have tried browsing directly from ip addresses and that didn't work. I have tried winsock before I reformatted. The problem exists even after reformatting.

Your winsock is likely damaged. WinXP SP2 has a self-healing ability to fix winsock now by clearing the catalog (note, if you run a personal firewall you will need to uninstall and reinstall after running this command. If you don't it will not function correctly but never tell you there is a problem. Its because it keeps class paths in the winsock catalog. running this command clears them). Start-Run- type "cmd" (w/o quotes) at command prompt type: netsh winsock reset catalog reboot uninstall and reinstall any personal firewall software if you are using any. -Jeff C