Browsing ONLY (not mail) stops working about half hour after reboot

This is about a laptop running Windows 10 that my wife uses only on trips. So this morning, I turned it on and Windows installed the 1703 update. Then I got some weird message about Norton firewall "expired" and so Windows Defender firewall was turned on.

I updated Norton Internet Security (from Comcast) and verified that Norton is controlling the firewall, not Windows Defender.
However .... my wife is now saying that browsing doesn't work, not on Firefox, not on Edge. Everything else works, pings, email, etc. If the system is rebooted, then browsing works fine, until it doesn't. Email test messages go through just fine.

I've gone over the Norton Firewall settings, looking at all the traffic rules, and it all looks fine. I haven't changed/deleted/added any rules. So at this point, I don't know what to do next. Makes me look bad in front of my wife.

x509

Have you tried as a test, uninstalling Norton completely and testing? Check their web site for a total removal tool. Reboot after removal and test.

I'm a Norton users but over the years I've seen some strange things.

Ken

pyramid10 said:

What does that mean? The browser doesn't start up? No access to the internet? Bookmarks don't bring up webpages?

Similarly, "stops working" is too vague. Is it a crash? A freeze?

Finally, is the problem replicable? Or was it a one-time occurrence?

• First, this problem is entirely replicable.
• Second, the issue at hand is that the browser (Firefox or Edge) can no long access websites. This access loss seems to occur between 10 and 30 minutes after the first browser access to websites, in my limited testing. Firefox even throws up a message about firewall issues.
• Third, even after both browsers lose internet access, email flows properly in both directions from the affected system.
• Fourth, the browsers themselves do not freeze up or crash.

x509

Did you try completely removing Norton using their tool?

Ken

If you don't want to completely remove Norton, you also could try disabling Norton for 15 mins. Right click on Norton's icon and it gives you a choice. Also could try reinstalling Firefox.

So I did uninstall Norton completely, now running Windows Defender, and my wife has been doing more testing.

Browsing to a web page from either Firefox or Edge doesn't work after an initial period of time.

But, but, but. If she clicks on a link in an email, then the browser does display that page.

After that, she tried to access Google and Apple from FireFox. First time, each access failed. Second time, each access did work.

So who am i going to call? Norton? Microsoft?

Weird thing is, I also have a Lenovo laptop with the identical Windows 10, Norton, Firefox, etc., configuration. And I'm having none of these issues.

Well if you used the Norton removal tool I think they are cleared in the who dun it.

If your wife does not have a lot of special communication software, which in reading your posts, she does not have, I would run the Network Reset .

Start => Settings => Network & internet => Scroll to bottom of right hand side =>Network Reset

This will cause your system to “Forget” your wireless passwords and you may have to reset any VPN or customized communication software if you use.

Did not work. In fact, the browser failed immediately to connect to a website.

I'm calling up Microsoft as soon as I finish this post.

Sorry, so after resetting and rebooting your browser couldn't connect at all? Did your mail connect?