Winsock is the interface between your Windows applications and the TCP/IP protocol (which is what communicates with the Internet). Sometimes the Winsock layer becomes corrupted, and may need to be reinitialized, or even reinstalled. This article will show you how to do both.
Reinitialize the WinSock Layer
In Windows XP, do the following:
Reinstall the WinSock Layer
Sometimes reinitializing the WinSock layer will not fix the issues you may be experiencing. The following instructions will show you how to reinstall the WinSock layer. As a warning, these instruction will require you to work in your registry editor. If you do not know what you are doing, you can cause irreparable damage to your computer. You may follow these instructions at your own risk.
In Windows, do the following:
You have now removed WinSock. Now you must reinstall TCP/IP to reinstall WinSock.
Windows Vista:
- Click on "Start"
- Click on "Control Panel"
- Click on "Network and Sharing Center"
- Click click on "Network Connections"
- Right click on your network adapter (usually it's named something like Local Area Connection), and select "Properties"
- Click on "Install"
- Select "Protocol" and click on "Add"
- Click on "Have Disk"
- Enter the following and click on "Ok"
C:/windows/inf
- Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click on "Ok"
- Click on "Close" or "Ok" (not cancel!)
- Reboot your computer
Windows XP:
- Click on "Start"
- Click on "Control Panel"
- Double click on "Network Connections"
- Right click on your network adapter (usually it's named something like Local Area Connection), and select "Properties"
- Click on "Install"
- Select "Protocol" and click on "Add"
- Click on "Have Disk"
- Enter the following and click on "Ok"
C:/windows/inf
- Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click on "Ok"
- Click on "Close" or "Ok" (not cancel!)
- Reboot your computer
Windows 2000:
- Click on "Start"
- Select "Settings"
- Select"Control Panel"
- Select "Network and Dialup Connections"
- Right click on your network adapter (usually it's named something like Local Area Connection), and select "Properties"
- Click on "Install"
- Select "Protocol" and click on "Add"
- Click on "Have Disk"
- Enter the following and click on "Ok"
C:/winnt/inf
- Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click on "Ok"
- Click on "Close" or "Ok" (not cancel!)
- Reboot your computer
Windows 95/98/ME:
- Click on "Start"
- Select "Settings"
- Click on "Control Panel"
- Double click on "Network"
- Remove all References to "TCP/IP"
- Click on "Add"
- Select "Protocol" and click on "Add"
- Click on "Have Disk"
- Enter the following and click on "Ok"
C:/windows/options/cabs
- Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click on "Ok"
- Click on "Close" or "Ok" (not cancel!)
- Reboot your computer
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