[font=Segoe Ui]Your HOSTS file is still modified. Try fixing this entries on HJT after you uninstall Norton. To fix an entry, launch HJT > click Do a system scan only > Put a check beside these items:
L arc, Thanks again. HJT sends back "For some unknown reason your system denied write access to the hosts files. HTJ suggests to run Notepad: C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts Then delete hosts and save hosts with quotes (note sure where on delete and quotes) . HTJ also suggest to delete all 01 hosts files. Your advice again, please.
I see that you now have more than 20 posts which will permit you to update your profile to include signature information if you like.
Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then Signature: and put information about your system if you like just like my sigature.
In order to modify the HOSTS file in Vista/Windows 7 you need Administrator rights.
Yokenny, will address Signature. I have Windows XP home. How do I get administrator rights on my home computer? Is there any way for me to delete those hosts files that I suspect are blocking my access to google? Thanks
Success. Finally, my blocking or redirect of Google problem was solved, unfortunately I am not completely sure how. Here is a summary of the action I took at the suggestions of many kind and helpful experts. I write so others that might have the problem can hopefully fix.
I ran Cleanmgr at run.
At L’arc suggestion, I forced an Avast scan and detected no infected files.
At L’arc suggestion, I downloaded and ran Malwarebytes (MBAM). Results, no infected files.
At L’arc suggestion, I ran Hijack This (HJT). HJT found (and as identified by L’arc) that there were a number of blocking hosts related to Google. Those hosts were in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. HJT could not fix those faulty hosts because I think they were write protected?. Anyway, I tried to manually delete the bad hosts but couldn’t.
At Tech suggestion, I downloaded Hostman at http://www.abelhadigital.com/. I was unsure that this program helped me even though I could see the bad hosts but was unsure how to delete them. The appeared to detect the bad hosts but they came back. (RAN OUT OF ROOM MORE ON NEXT POST)
Success! 2 Deleted bad hosts blocking Google website 2
At L’arc suggestion, I hit Start-Run Located username and found nothing beside it. I do have administer capability.
At NMB suggestion. I ran Microsoft’s fix it tool. http://go.microsoft.com/? linkid=9668866. This was the last action I took and after a require reboot the problem and the offending hosts were gone. I am not 100% sure this was the corrective action
I am not sure how I got into this situation. I do run Avast continuously. I am careful with contacts and don’t run untrusted .exe programs. Hopefully, after these actions, my computer is healthier and more robust.
Finally, I have to give out a shout out to DavidR, Yokenny, L’arc, Tech, NMB, others. I really appreciate your help. Hopefully, I can pass it forward. Thanks Again, Dave Lane
You can install a good HOSTS file with HostsMan and I choose to use hpHosts plus MVPS HOSTS files.
Use HostsServer as a browser proxy to speed up browser sessions and it can be set to auto start with Windows then Start Server then set Enable log and Log referrer in Preferences to see HOSTS file’s effectiveness.