A friend's computer Windows 8.1 Dell computer recently developed a strange behavior.  He can connect to the internet via any of the metro apps he has on the machine, but anything that runs from the desktop doesn't connect.  I've looked through all the answers I can find, but nothing is quite like this one.  I ran the uninstall on the Norton Internet Suite and ran the cleaner from their website to make sure it removed all traces, I reenabled and disabled the Windows firewall and checked the various network settings on both his wireless adapter and his wired adapter.  None of it has changed the behavior.  Does anyone have a suggestion before I run a desktop app destructive refresh?

You say anything desktop fails.  Besides browsers what else fails?  It may simply be the remnants of Symantec keeping ports closed.

Might also want to run a system file check to find the state of the OS

Please run a system file check (SFC) & DISM (if necessary) if you are on win 8 or higher
All instructions are in our Wiki article below...
Should you have any questions please ask us.

System file check (SFC) Scan and Repair System Files

Thanks for the quick reply!

iTunes, the other antivirus he installed (which didn't have a firewall component) and two other of the his programs also fail.  When I opened a command prompt, it was able to ping.  I couldn't ascertain if it was specific programs, specific APIs or something else that was causing it.

I tried to remove everything Norton, but I'll admit that it is a pretty pernicious "virus".  I went to their website and downloaded their removal tool, but if that doesn't get rid of it, I don't know what to do.

I couldn't remember SFC.  Thanks for that.  I'll do those this afternoon when I go visit.

Itunes, the other antivirus?  Sorry?  Itunes & the other AV?  What is the other AV?My opinion of Symantec and your similar.

I suspect we can suss this out w/o a wipe

Thanks for the quick reply!

iTunes, the other antivirus he installed (which didn't have a firewall component) and two other of the his programs also fail.  When I opened a command prompt, it was able to ping.  I couldn't ascertain if it was specific programs, specific APIs or something else that was causing it.

I tried to remove everything Norton, but I'll admit that it is a pretty pernicious "virus".  I went to their website and downloaded their removal tool, but if that doesn't get rid of it, I don't know what to do.

I couldn't remember SFC.  Thanks for that.  I'll do those this afternoon when I go visit.

Sorry for the trouble. May I know what happened when you tried our removal tool? Let me know, I can help.

Thanks!

Raj

Norton Support

do the following in group policy:

Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options:

• User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode (set to Elevate without prompting)
• User Account Control: Detect application installations and prompt for elevation (set to Disabled)
• User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode (set to Disabled)

Hi,

We hope your issue has been resolved.

In addition to what has been suggested. I searched on line and database, almost all similar cases states in converse way, the metro app cannot access Internet and desktop program could. The only one same to yours is related to NVIDIA Forceware Network Access Manager, is there any luck your machine has this program or similar program installed? if that is the case, please uninstall it and give it a restart.

Regards,