Computer and Software Support


Delete Winsock

If your getting page cannot be displayed when your trying to access the internet, try deleting Winsock and reinstalling TCP/IP. To delete the Winsock follow these steps

For a picture of the location in the registry, click the link

  1. Access REGEDIT (The page will open in a separate window)
  2. Click on the plus next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  3. Click on the plus next to SYSTEM
  4. Click on the plus next to CurrentControlSet (with no numbers)
  5. Click on the plus next to Services
  6. Highlight Winsock
  7. Press the Delete key on the keyboard.
  8. Say Yes to delete the file
  9. Highlight Winsock2
  10. Press the Delete key.
  11. Say Yes to delete the file.
  12. Reboot the computer

Note: When the computer comes back up, you will probably receive error messages. This is normal.

To install Winsock

  1. Access Run or Search window
  2. Type in NCPA.CPL
  3. Click on OK  
       
  4. Right click on the Network Connection
   
  1. Select Properties
   
  1. Click on Install
   
  1. Click on Protocol
   
  1. Click on Add
   
  1. Click on Have Disk
   
  1. Type C:\windows\inf for the path to the nettcpip.inf file (it should be in that directory, unless windows was installed in a different directory)
   
  1. Click on OK
       
  2. Select Internet Protocol (TCP\IP)
  3. Click on OK.
       
  4. Restart the computer
  5. if there is any proxy software or firewalls installed, they will probably need to be reinstalled.

If this doesn't work you can also download the WinsockXPFix.exe. The file does basically the same thing as this page has you do but does a few other fixes as well.