Get network connectivity back - Sockets missing?

flycaster · 23 Jan 2017

History:
All of a sudden, of course, it happened. Went to open Firefox (don't recall the version, but not more than 2-3 months old,) on my portable, it opened but all the favs I tried responded with "No server found." I then tried iExplorer and got the same response. However, both browsers opened and worked well on my desktop. Both computers use the same wireless modem/router (Comcast supplied.) I then went to check the internet connection (via Control Panel>Network and Internet) found that the portable was not connected even though the blue connection light on the portable (HP Envy) was on. The results of trouble shooting were : "Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing one or more." So, I then did a system restore, but still no connectivity (same diagnostic error report

and furthermore, I then got the XPCOM error when I tried to open Firefox.

I'm good at following directions, but when it comes to fixing or understanding network problems, I'm a real dud. So, I'd
very much appreciate some help in getting my network connectivity back.

Caledon Ken · 23 Jan 2017

I would look in Window Update history and see if you have any failing updates, Settings, Updates and Security, Update History. If any are failing I would first recommend you run the Windows Update Trouble shooter. (note if you received any new drivers recently, looking for root cause of this issue.)

Type troubleshooting in the Cortana search bar, troubleshooting appears at top.
Click it, window opens, lower right side "Fix problems with Windows Update", click.
Window opens, click on “advance”, click on Run as administrator, click “Next”.
Should run clean. If not run again. If it fails a second time you likely need to get network working again.

There is a Network reset built into 10. Settings, Network and Internet, scroll to bottom of right window and you should find "Reset". You need to reenter wireless passwords.

If that doesn't resolve then try flushing your dns and then execute these two resets. Everything gets entered command prompt(admin)

ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Power device down and power on.

I would also power down the Comcast device, count to 15 and power up.

Assuming communications are re-established you can move on to XPCOM error. You likely already read that Mozilla says do a clean install of Firefox. Maybe you get lucky and it runs okay once network established.