Windows 7: “No Internet Access” with Yellow Warning Icon

A number of users have reported an issue in which Windows 7 displays a message indicating that there is “no Internet Access,” accompanied by a yellow exclamation point warning sign, despite the fact that Internet access works properly in all applications.
Fixes
Disable link scanning in antivirus/malware software The number one cause of this issue is [...]

Windows Vista SP2 Breaks Several Antivirus Programs

Users have reported problems with a number of programs after the update to Windows Vista SP2.
Microsoft provides a list of applications that will lose functionality (either partially or completely) after the update. Among them are a number of antivirus/anti-spyware tools, including:

Avira AntiVir
Spyware Doctor
Trend Micro Internet Security & Virus Buster
Spy Sweeper

Developers will be releasing updated [...]

Why Is Microsoft Witholding Windows Vista SP2 from the Public?

Almost two weeks ago, Microsoft posted the final release of Windows Vista SP2 to its private servers. The only users able to download the service pack are Microsoft Connect subscribers (members of the closed beta program) and Technet and MSDN subscribers (paid account holders–accounts start in the $2500-range). The company has not released word on [...]

Windows 7 RC1 Breaks Some Antivirus Software

Windows 7 RC1 breaks compatibility with some antivirus/anti-malware programs that were compatible with previous pre-release builds of the operating system. Users are reporting problems with:

avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free
Symantec AV Corporate Edition

Some developers are already working on Windows 7 RC1-compatible updates to their antivirus programs. A post in the AVG forums, for instance, states “This [...]

Latest Windows 7 Updates Cause BSOD: Fix

Beta testers of Windows 7 report that recently released security updates pushed through the Windows Update mechanism cause blue screens of death (BSOD) at startup, with a failure on kl1.sys.
Fix
It appears that, in some cases, this problem may be caused by a conflict with the Kaspersky Antivirus package. Follow these steps to disable the software:

Startup [...]

Web Browsers Cannot Connect to Internet: Fixes

Several users have reported an issue in which various Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome) cannot connect to websites despite the presence of an otherwise valid, working Internet connection.
Many users find that, when this problem occurs, they can ping the network, access email and perform other network functions, but browsers are dead in [...]

Windows Update Error 80244019: Fix

Several users have reported receiving the error number 80244019 when attempting to use Windows Vista’s automatic update tool. This error can be the result of malware modification of DNS entries. It can be resolved by obtaining DNS entries automatically.
Follow these steps:

Open the control panel
Open the “Network and Sharing Center”
Click “Manage Network Connection”
Right-click on your [...]

Antivirus Software Conflicts Can Cause Internet Problems

As we have noted, the presence of two overlapping antivirus or antimalware/spyware/firewall tools can cause various conflicts. Users should install one (and only one) strong anti-virus package and make sure it’s up-to-date.
One problem that can result from the presence of conflicting protection tools is an inability to connect to the Internet. This issue is [...]

Conficker Paranoia? Instantly Check Whether Or Not You Are Infected

Chances are, you don’t have Conficker. Following a report on 60 Minutes and dire headlines across a broad swath of other media, fear set in, and some users started to blame any system issue on or after April 1 on the worm. According to IBM Internet Security Services, however, the total infection rate is somewhere [...]