Using Spybot to help fix winsock problems?

I was going through Spybot and i noticed "Winsock LSPs" under the tools menu and was wondering if this could be used to determine if you need to use a free utility like like LSPFix or WinsockxpFix?

That is, if someone was having trouble connecting to the internet, could you simply install Spybot, go to the Winsock LSPs list in Spybot, and if anything was amiss, would you then know if you needed to run one of the free programs like LSPFix to get them back on the internet?

If there was a problem with the Winsock would it show up here in Spybot? How could I tell? Would there be a red check or perhaps an X mark next to anything that wasn't working correctly?

Right now I have all green checkmarks next to everything in the list but if there was a problem with the Winsock would it show up here? And would I then know that a utility like LSPFix needed to be run so a connection to the internet could be reestablished?

TIA for any help given.

 

This is what it will do and how it does it..which should answer all your questions.

Also if you go to the MVP link i have posted you will see other ways to handle winsock and what you should look for..and that also adaware can do it.
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Run Spybot -
Install and run Spybot. Install spybot from the file you downloaded earlier. After installation run the program. When a legal notice comes up check the box and push ok. When the Intro box comes up just click Next a whole bunch. Once inside the program check for updates. (If you internet isn't working skip this step and come back when it is) After downloading updates click on "Immunization" on the menu on the left . If you don't get a message saying "All Known Bad Products Blocked" then click on "Immunize". Then click on "Mode" on the menu on the top of the screen. Select "Advanced". A new list of menus will appear on the bottom left of the screen. Select "Tools". You should now see a list of tools in the middle of the screen with a check box next to each tool. Check the box next to the following tools: "ActiveX", "BHOs", "Browser Pages", "Hosts File", "Process list", "System Internals", "System Startup", "Uninstall Info", "Winsock LSPs". Uncheck all the others tools. Then select the tool "Hosts File" from the menu on the left. Now click on "Add Spybot-S&D hosts file". Then click on "Spybot-S&D" near the top left of the screen. Finally, click on the big button that says "Check for Problems". When the scan is done push the button that says "Fix Selected Problems". Be sure to check any problems that are not checked. When it is done fixing the problems click on "Tools" again near the bottom left of the screen. The select "System Startup". Uncheck entries that are unneeded or look dangerous. Basically uncheck everything you don't what it is. You can always recheck them later.









View Installed Network Drivers
SUMMARY: Help determine if rogue network drivers have been installed on your machine by using Spybot Search and Destroy.

It is possible that some spyware and adware can install modified network drivers that force you to access their desired websites. To help you look for these threats, Spybot Search and Destroy has an option that lists all installed network drivers, descriptions and protocols. To view this information:

1. Click "Mode", selecting "Advanced Mode".
2. Click "Tools" in the left pane.
3. Click "Winsock LSPs" in the right pane.

A list of drivers, protocols, descriptions, IDs, and filenames (if known) is shown. If you have any questions you need to refer to a network professional, click the "Export" button to save the list of drivers to a text file. Note that Spybot Search and Destroy does not have a mechanism here for removing network drivers.



see this link

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/winsock.htm



Also please note at that link ..

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - New Winsock NETSH commands

Two new Netsh commands are available in Windows XP Service Pack 2.

netsh winsock reset catalog

This command resets the Winsock catalog to the default configuration. This can be useful if a malformed LSP is installed that results in loss of network connectivity. While use of this command can restore network connectivity, it should be used with care because any previously-installed LSPs will need to be re-installed.

netsh winsock show catalog

This command displays the list of Winsock LSPs that are installed on the computer.

To output the results to a file type this in Command Prompt (CMD.EXE)

netsh winsock show catalog >C:\lsp.txt

Click to view the sample file now - lsp.txt

Happy hunting