Have you uninstalled Spybot and Malwarebytes yet?

Go to a command line and type the following. Press enter after each line:

netsh
int
ip
reset
exit
netsh
winsock
reset
exit

Stupid Windows XP...

Try doing it again, but this time write out the full command at once and add logging to it.

Command:
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

What is the URL of an example site where a capcha won't load?

Syd, do you hook into the net with a router?

I would try resetting the router. See if that does it.

Also power cycle your modem.

Tried:
* IP Stack reset
* Winsock Stack Reset
* Hosts File checked
* No Ad-Block installed
* Antivirus installed

Not Tried:
* Browsers tested in safe mode
* Make sure IE's proxy settings are not configured... should not have anything filled in
* Remove Malware protection software

Syd Lexia wrote:

Tried Firefox in Safe Mode with no luck. I didn't tick any one of the additional boxes though. Should I? I did remove Malwarebytes and Spybot, no help. No proxy is being used.

The safe mode should work fine without configuring it.

On the proxy screen you went to

Internet Options -> Connections -> Lan Settings -> Unchecked and cleared all options

Tell it not to automatically detect.

I doubt it will fix this, but it should actually help speed up your initial connection.

If it fucks shit up, just check it again.

Are you ready to buy a new computer yet?

Syd Lexia wrote:

Something's wrong with your computer! You should buy a new one! That's the sort of advice I'd expect from my grandmother, dude.

Actually that isn't where I was going with my comment. My mind kinda jumped forwards without explaining.

You had previously mentioned that you were gearing up to buy a new computer, in a separate thread. If you are planning on getting a new computer, spending hours of troubleshooting might night be necessary because you could simply use a new machine and reimage/reinstall the OS on your current one.

I am not suggesting you buy a new computer because of this issue. I am suggesting if you already plan to buy a computer, don't waste too much time.

We are starting to get closer to running a System File Checker run and that is about the point where things are slightly more complicated and time consuming.

If you do plan on buying a new computer, my advice is that you do so and stop wasting your time putzing around with this one. If you are going to hold off, it is time to dig deeper, just realize things start to become more complicated now.

The following is a potential solution... it is also a potential disaster if it fails. Don't even read it until you backup all of your shit. Don't blame me or Microsoft if it fucks up. You have been warned.

[SPOILER:147399c828]
Syd, make sure you have an OS disk handy. Then open a command prompt.

Type and then press enter after:

chkdsk c: /r

Wait until it is done. This could take hours. When it is finished type and then press enter after:

sfc /scannow

Let it do its thing. It may demand your OS disk. If not, let it continue and hopefully that does the trick.

MS Documentation: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/system_file_checker.mspx?mfr=true
[/SPOILER:147399c828]

Hacker wrote:

Why does no one believe in restore points anymore...

Because the theory behind them is lazy non-methodical illogical bullshit.

Oh, my system used to work, let me try to ignore everything I've done and just go backwards... except I'll keep some of the stuff and not other stuff... maybe you'll get it right and hit the exact moment where something went wrong, or maybe you will end up early and break programs that you have recently installed.

It isn't an incremental backup, it is a system adjustment. Fuck randomness.