Can't get Yahoo Mail

[ale52]

Got a new client with XP Pro, no SP's, no AV or AS that can't get to her Yahoo mail (she can get on the web and surf, just no email).  I've installed AVG AV, Adaware, Spywareblaster & CCleaner.  Ran AVG, Adaware & CCleaner.  AVG caught 3 Trojans, Adaware caught about 60 cookies & CCleaner cleaned up 4.5+ gig of junk files.  Still can't get to her email account.

Will come back tomorrow and put SP2 on.

BTW - Spywareblaster won't update (says there is no internet connection) and Windows Update won't update either (errors out).

Alan <>< 

[unlovedwarrior]

avg antispyware, spybot installs those too

what browser they using??

if IE reset everything to default

or try firefox

[ale52]

avg antispyware, spybot installs those too  I've got those downloaded but didn't have a chance to run them.  Will do that tomorrow.

what browser they using??  FF & IE6

if IE reset everything to default

or try firefox

Thanks unlovedwarrior
Alan <>< 

[unlovedwarrior]

try updating spywareblaster in safe mode and turn on automatic updates and let it dl the updates....

also did you run the scans in safe mode

does this seem like the same thing your getting

[ale52]

try updating spywareblaster in safe mode and turn on automatic updates and let it dl the updates....Tried that already.  SWB still give the same "not connected to the Internet" error message.  Will try M$ updates in SM tomorrow.

also did you run the scans in safe mode  Yes.  For AVG, M$ updates. 

does this seem like the same thing your getting

Yes. Very similar but no firewall involved as they have NO service packs installed.  They do have an outdated Norton that I will uninstall tomorrow as well.

Thank again./color]

Alan <>< 

[soybean]

Alan, if she goes to www.yahoo.com and clicks on the button for My Yahoo! at the upper left corner of the page, can she sign in to Yahoo, not to mail, just sign into Yahoo?  Is she using a basic Yahoo  mail account or a fee-based one?  Exactly what happens when she tries to logon to Yahoo Mail?

Did you get any info from her indicating whether she might have changed something before this problem started? 

[patio]

Also find out if her ISP service is yahoo based...i.e. sbc dsl is this way...if so their software is a bit funky.

Let us know there is a workaround.

[ale52]

Alan, if she goes to www.yahoo.com and clicks on the button for My Yahoo! at the upper left corner of the page, can she sign in to Yahoo, not to mail, just sign into Yahoo?  Is she using a basic Yahoo  mail account or a fee-based one?  Exactly what happens when she tries to logon to Yahoo Mail?
I don't recall if she goes to yahoo.com or my.yahoo.com.  I'll check that out tomorrow.
Exactly what happens when she tries to logon to Yahoo Mail?"  You get the "page  not found" come up.  I tried in both IE6 & FF with the same results.

Did you get any info from her indicating whether she might have changed something before this problem started? 

Thanks soybean.  I'll post back sometime tomorrow with the results.

Alan <>< 
Unfortunately, she is 11 years old and wasn't there at the time.  She won't be there tomorrow as she'll be in school.

[ale52]

Also find out if her ISP service is yahoo based...i.e. sbc dsl is this way...if so their software is a bit funky.

Let us know there is a workaround.

Up here where I live it seems there is AT&T and Comcast cable.  I'll need to talk to her dad tomorrow and find out which it is.

Thanks Patio

Alan <>< 

[patio]

Here Ya Go

Works with both SBC and AT&T....as i've seen there software is evasive and cumbersome...

[ale52]

Thanks Patio.  I've saved the page    I do have the link to set up SBC/ATT&T
manually but this seems a lot easier. 

Problem solved! 

Turns out that after I removed NIS I could connect OK.  Her dad was busy with his business so I couldn't get hold of him to see what kind of account they have.  I was able to log on multiple times after many reboots (just to be sure ).

I went to address their SP2 issue, or rather lack thereof, and in the process the WGA was downloaded and I found out it was not a legit install.  I had to scramble but found an uninstaller to get rid of that pesky message that would popup on booting.

Anyway, the world is good again.  Now he's asked me to get rid of all the porn on his desktop they use for work.  Oh well, another day in computer repair-land 

Thanks everyone for all your input 

Alan <>< 

[unlovedwarrior]

i wonder y thers porn on a work computer?? gets bored of working

[patio]

Run the suggestion by him to get legit...explain how it will get harder to fix his system as time goes on.

If there's a Student in the household there are some substantial discounts on XP. Have him check the local University Bookstore...

Glad you got him fixed up at any rate...

[ale52]

"Run the suggestion by him to get legit...explain how it will get harder to fix his system as time goes on." I did just that.  Explained that his daughters box had an illegitimate install on and that SP2 wouldn't go.  He's up for getting a legit CD.  Told him to use it till it blows up. 

"If there's a Student in the household there are some substantial discounts on XP. Have him check the local University Bookstore..."  Good idea.  I'll pass that along when I deliver him a porn-free work PC.  He told me the cost of cleaning it up would come out of the pockets of the dudes that he caught looking at that junk.

"Glad you got him fixed up at any rate..." Me too.  Nice to have the good guys win one once in a while 

Thanks again for everyones help.  Great ideas from a great group of people 

Alan <><