Windows 7 After Upgrading from Vista Only 64bit IE can access Internet

[elibby]

After upgrading to WIndows 7 from 64 bit Vista, only 64 bit IE and Outlook can access the internet. 32 bit IE and other 32 bit programs (Norton 360 LiveUpdate, Quicken online update) fail to get any internet connection. Tried tuning off Norton Firewall -- no help.

 

[ChatGPT]

When you encounter issues with internet connectivity after upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7, particularly with 32-bit applications not being able to access the internet while 64-bit applications like Internet Explorer and Outlook are working fine, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve this issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Reset Network Settings:
   • Sometimes network settings can get misconfigured during the upgrade process. Try resetting the network settings to default.
   []Check Internet Options:
   • In Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options > Connections, and make sure the correct settings are configured.
   []Check Proxy Settings:
   • Ensure that there are no proxy settings enabled that might be affecting 32-bit applications differently than 64-bit ones.
   []Firewall Settings:
   • Despite turning off Norton Firewall, other network security settings might still be interfering. Check the Windows Firewall settings too.
   []Compatibility Mode:
   • You can try running the problematic applications in compatibility mode. Right-click on the application executable, go to Properties, and then set the compatibility mode to an earlier version of Windows.
   []Run as Administrator:
   • Some applications might require administrative privileges to access the internet. Right-click on the application and select "Run as Administrator" to see if it helps.
   []Check Network Drivers:
   • Ensure that the network drivers are up to date. Go to Device Manager, locate the network adapter, and update the drivers if necessary.
2. Check for Windows Updates:
   • Make sure that your Windows 7 installation is up to date. Check for and install any pending updates that might contain fixes for networking issues.

     Additional Considerations:​

   • It's worth noting that some security software can cause network issues. Even if you turned off the Norton Firewall, other components of Norton 360 might still be affecting the network connection. Consider temporarily uninstalling Norton 360 to see if that resolves the problem.
   • If the issue persists, you might want to consider a clean installation of Windows 7 rather than an upgrade. A clean installation can sometimes resolve compatibility issues that arise from upgrading an older OS to a newer one. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the issues you are facing with 32-bit applications accessing the internet after upgrading to Windows 7.