original title: I can only access web pages by going through a proxy server
System: Windows XP with SP3 and all current updates. I access the internet through a cable modem and wireless router. There is another computer using the same wireless network without any difficulty.
History: I have been using a proxy server that allows me to access video from another country. The proxy server requires a username and password, so it did not work well with automatic software updates. I had been going into the Internet Options> Connections Tab> LAN settings and checking the proxy server box when I wanted to use the proxy server. When finished I would uncheck the proxy server box. This was working fine until 3 days ago. I made no other changes in the settings.
Now I can only access web pages when the proxy server is enabled. This is true for both Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox.
What I have tried:
1) Clearing all temporary internet files and cookies.
2) Network Diagnostics for Windows XP returns this log:
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HTTP, HTTPS, FTP connectivity |
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warn |
HTTP: Error 12029 connecting to www.microsoft.com: A connection with the server could not be established |
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warn |
HTTPS: Error 12029 connecting to www.microsoft.com: A connection with the server could not be established |
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warn |
HTTP: Error 12029 connecting to www.hotmail.com: A connection with the server could not be established |
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warn |
FTP (Passive): Error 12007 connecting to ftp.microsoft.com: The server name or address could not be resolved |
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warn |
HTTPS: Error 12029 connecting to www.passport.net: A connection with the server could not be established |
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error |
Could not make an HTTP connection. |
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error |
Could not make an HTTPS connection. |
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error |
Could not make an FTP connection. |
3) Disabling the Windows and McAfee firewalls did not help.
4) The wireless network was being managed by the Dynex Wireless Networking Utility. I disabled this utility and am now using the XP utility. The result is the same, I connect to web pages through the proxy server, but not otherwise.
5) Ping tests work perfectly with or without the proxy server being enabled.
6) I compared the ipconfig settings of the two computers, they are virtually identical except for the brand name of the adapter, the physical address, and the IP address.