Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

[dolinn]

Phil,

After clicking the Network Map, a message pops up which says:

"Cannot probe your network.  This may be caused by tunneling protocols (for example, VPN), or you computer is not online.  Do you want to try again?"

If I click retry, the message just reappears.

[Phil_D Norton Fighter]

Good Morning dolinn,

I watched the flash video about "Access Connections" on the link you provided. I am not familiar with this program , but I noted that various settings can be adjusted in the profiles; one of them being settings for your Firewall.

Could you explore the firewall settings inside "Access Connections" to see if something there could be conflicting with the Norton Firewall?

Please let us know how you are progressing.

[dolinn]

I apologize for the tremendous delay.  I have been extremely busy with school and I have been able to manage with just my internet connection on my desktop.  However, I had some free time to sit down and work on my laptop. 

To answer Phil_D's suggestion, I checked out the firewall settings in Access Connections and the only menu I could find was one that allows you to turn Windows firewall on or off for each individual connection profile.  So if, for example, I wanted Windows firewall on while using my ethernet port, but off for the wireless connection, I could use the menu to have it apply the settign when I change connection.  To be honest it is a rather pointless feature, but be that as it may it wouldn't effect my wirelss connection because it is set to "off" by default, so the earlier tests I ran with the firewall off would not have been impacted by the setting.

I also tried to uninstall AC, and that did not help restore my connection.  After uninstalling AC, I went to the Network Connections menu and no connections (neither the ethernet or the wireless) were shown. 

[mijcar]

Sorry I am getting here so late.

I have Access Connections on two of my three home computers.  One of them is active: that means that the software controls access to the computer's wireless broadcaster/receiver.  One of them is inactive: that means the software is installed and ready for use any time I tell it to, but at the moment is leaving access control to the operating system.

All three computers have no problems with wireless connections, either to the home network or to the wireless printers that is installed nor to the wired printer accessible through the router.

There is good reason for Lenovo and IBM's Access Control.  There are times when I don't want the computer to have access to the internet (for example, when I am engaged in defragmenting or a long install; and I want to speed up the process by turning off the antivirus program and sometimes the firewall).  When Windows controls access to the wireless card, it is easy to forget to disable it (and sometimes a pain to re-enable it) after removing the LAN cable.  But I have Access Control set up to block wireless unless I specific tell it to allow it - takes two clicks - so it is much easier to use.  It also provides an extra layer of security when travelling.

Anyway, I have found that all my past problems with wireless were always due to the security password in the network and all those settings (WEP, etc).  My modem, wireless point, and router are Linksys products; and reluctant though I am to give lavish praise, I have to say that they were the most professional and helpful customer service people I have ever worked with.  Every problem was solved; the support was gentle but concise; and it was all free!  So I would begin by calling for support from whatever manufacturer is responsible for your products.

Good luck,

Message Edited by mijcar on 09-19-2008 05:37 PM

[dolinn]

mij,

Sicne you have AC, I will try to re-explain my problem.  I had profiles on my laptop for an ethernet connection with my router and wireless connection to my router and to my school's wireless access point.  After upgrading NIS, all of the profiles ceased to work and using the Fn+F5 didn't turn on my wireless card (it was stuck on "off").  After updating all of my drivers, I could turn the wireless card back on, but none of my profiles worked and when I did a search in AC to find nearby networks, none would show up.  The problem doesn't have to do with a WEP password or my router (or my school's), it has to do with AC not being able to find access points at all and I know the access points are functional.  The problem started after I upgraded NIS (everything worked fine before I upgraded) and i am just trying to isolate the problem.

Message Edited by dolinn on 09-19-2008 11:57 PM

[mijcar]

Dolinn,

Ouch!

I like what AC can do, but I have had trouble with their settings with and without NIS 2008.  At the moment, however, on both my wife's and my own computers, AC is working fine -- it is picking up all reachable local wireless sites (which I can confirm with my son's Window's system).  But I am using NIS2009 and it seems more reasonable.

Since the upgrade is free, why don't you download NIS2009 and see if it works better with AC?  I don't see how it could make the situation worse and it just might make it better.

Other suggestions.  Have you tried totally removing AC from your computer and reinstalling it using Thinkvantage System Update?  That worked once for me when I got totally tangled in my wife's settings and could not get AC to work at all.

I don't get that much help from Lenovo -- they don't like to do software issues unless you have a software warranty.  But since you don't at this point know whether or not it is a software or hardware problem for absolutely certain, you could call Lenovo and discuss this as a hardware issue.  The only way for them to prove otherwise would be to explore the appropriate software fixes ...

[dolinn]

mij,

I have been in contact with lenovo on their forums and they have been relatively responsive.  Also, I have tried manually removing AC, but I went to "Network Connections" and nothing was there and I am not sure why that is, so I just reinstalled AC.  I am not sure how I would run the ThinkVantage System update without a internet connection.  Is there a .exe I can download from lenovo on my desktop and tranfer to my laptop?

As far as upgrading to NIS2009, that is an decent idea but I want to make sure I try everything else and try other software fixes, before I dig the hole deeper.  If all else fails, at least I can run a factory restore and start over, but I would like to avoid that if at all possible.

[mijcar]

dolinn, Windows has its own network connections wizard and the removal of AC should totally enable the wizard to do its job.  In fact, if you are hardwired to the internet at home, you should be able to be on the internet without any help at all.  If this is not the case, then the problem you are having would appear to be a Microsoft issue rather than either Lenovo or NIS.

[dolinn]

mji,

I uninstalled AC again and plugged in the ethernet cord that was hooked up to my desktop (so I know that works).  The lights on the network card go on when I plug it in, the device is "working properly" according to the Device Manager, but I go into Network Connections an no network adapters are shown.  I clicked "Create a new connection" and went through the steps for a broadband connection, clicked Finish and nothing shows up.  Now I am totally baffled.

Message Edited by dolinn on 09-20-2008 01:11 AM

[mijcar]

dolinn,

When you talk about plugging in to your network card, do you mean an onboard card or a card (such as a PCMIA card) that you put into a port on your computer?  If it's the latter case, then there are also issues to think about related to those drivers (for example, drivers that allow the PCMIA port to work and other drivers related to the card plugged into the port).  I hope it's not this latter case, because I used to have all sorts of problems with those cards.

Assuming that you have the standard onboard card and that it is functioning, it should be easy to access the internet.  Since you suggested that this was a problem with the security software, have you tried uninstalling the security software then briefly connecting to the ethernet cord and trying to make an internet connection?  If you can't get a connection that way, then we at least know what isn't the problem.