Try doing a windows update. It may or may not work depending on the connectivity you have. Every other update is something to do with internet access.

Also update any security product you have.

Another useful test is to bring up a command prompt window, and type 'telnet bbc.co.uk 80'. If it connects then you have http access to the internet. Type 'quit' followed by enter to get out.

XP repair/In place install should be a last resort. Do you have backups?

RIght here is where I'm at. Nothin is working, there is no system re store points or Anythin. Gona. Try and remote chrome but its not in my add remove section? There is a load of other stuff in there though, could any of that be gettin in the way of somethin? By the way web ferret I greatly appriciate your help

Don't try to add or remove anything just now - Any corruption will be made worse.

With the internet cable connected boot into safemode (as described above) and try to access the ie and then do a command prompt and a ping to see if that still works. I wouldn't bother with chrome just now. Lets get IE working and take it from there.

As said could be several things causing this and there are someother things we can try before resorting to an XP disk repair.

Surely if it is wireless and the OP has done a system restore then perhaps he has wiped the WEP key for the wireless router settings?

Just a thought?

It's not just the internet that won't come on mate its the whole browser won't open, I click on it and nothin happens.

Can you still ping via a command prompt?

Are you using a shortcut to access ie?

Use start>programs> etc to nativate to ie.

Or

C drive

Program files> internet explorer > iexplore

If you can ping but your browser is corrupt you will need to re-intall the browser - not easy without a working computer!

Do you have access to another machine as you could download ie to a USB stick. Actually I prefer firefox over all other browsers but thats my preference.

Yeah the ping is working fine. I could use my dads lap top, what is it I need to down load and from where? Both the short cut and the other way don't work. Tried disabling the fire wall, all with no joy. Think the re instalation is the only way

Looking like some corruption as all the usual fixes aren't working.

Firefox is my browser of choice and personally I don't recommend anything else.

This will open a "save as" so use a usb stick on another machine if you can Ignore any enter your email address prompt or enter [email protected] or something.

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

The copy the file from the USB to your desk top, double click an install.

Back up any documents, photos, etc onto whatever you can. Burn a DVD or use and external drive.

Unfortunately a disk repair isn't that straightforward and still may not work so a full re-install may be required here.

Do you know anyone locally who could have a look at it.

It is possible for a geek like me to fix but I guess you don't want to post your lappy to some ferret you met on the internet.

Don't know if you have tried this :-

Reboot and keep pressing F8 until you see a menu

use the arrow keys to choose "Last known good configuration where everything worked"

Press enter and see if system reloads and connects to net.

I know it's too late for you now but I always keep an updated copy of the system registry

available which when reloaded will 99% of the time restore settings to enable a reboot and connect..

There are number of good free registry backup programs but I always use "ERUNT"

http://erunt.en.softonic.com/

Someone asked this before but I didn't see an answer - do you open your browsers from icons on the desktop or taskbar? If so have you tried via Start then programs & then opening the browser from there? Could be your shortcuts are broken. If that works delete the shortcuts & then right click on the browser icons in the program list & chose 'send to desktop as shortcut'

If that doesn't work do you have working email on the PC? If so you could get someone to email you chrome or firefox zipped up for a fresh browser install.

Right this is where its at now. Managed to get explorer to open, god knows how. It comes up with the dell start up page but I can't get any other page on. It has got better though and it trys to open another page but then nothin happens.

In my internet options under the general tab, I clicked on settings, then view objects, there is 6 files in there and the top 2 say conflict.1 and conflict.2 what are these? Could these be causing problems?

Try updating Java to solve what I presume are Java object conflicts.

When I click on the conflict it comes up Adobe flash player. How do I update on java? Not the best with comps, lol gettin there slowly though

Java update is sayin I have the latest version

I can get onto Google from the dell start up page and flick between images, web, and maps all on Google but that's about it. Can't type Anythin into Google though

What about Windows updates?

After doing a system restore, you sometimes have to delete the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution folder for it to work correctly.

Ah right, how do I do that? Windows has just asked me to re start which Im doin. Thanks a lot for ya help by the way

It's not letting me do a windows update

One crazy mixed up machine here.

For windows update

Start>All programs>windows update

Install whatever it wants

For flash

Start> controlpanel> Flash Player > Advanced tab > Check now button

Web ferret your back! Lol your right its doin some strange things this lap top! Lol

I click on check now for flash and its just openings a white screen? Think it might be time for a new lap top maybe? Lol

Nah. don't waste your money. A compete re-install perhaps.

My laptops are 6 and 4 years old and both run fine.

Unless you want to play the latest games or edit HD video you don't need a new one. You wouldn't buy a new car if it coughed a bit. Or maybe you would.

Your right. It will be fixed, will just take time lol. MY next step is to down load a add wear program onto a usb stick and try that. Got that info off Google, that right?

Malwarebytes is the best of the free ones and get a decent antivirus system like AVG 2012 not the free one - download the full version from AVG then pm me for a cheap license code.

I have the full avg mate with the tune up tool on it. Where gettin somewhere.... I just started it in safe mode, started it in last known config that worked, then it flashed up, updates available, downloaded the up dates now I can get web pages to load up! Facebook, hot mail everything, just can't fill in any boxes to actually use them? Lol this lap top has a mind of its own! LOl