Internet connection problem

Forwarded to WinME General via crosspost.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Alan wrote:
I'm running WinMe and had a hardware crash that wiped out most of the
files for Zone Alarm (free ed) and AVG Anti-virus. I re-installed AVG
OK but ZA won't re-install, and I got various error messages about
VSUTIL.DLL not found. However that file was still in C:\Windows\System
with its original date-stamp and I tried replacing it without success.
I eventually fixed ongoing error messages at startup by finding and
deleting residual files and registry entries for ZA, but it still
won't re-install. I also got an error message in Total Recorder at
close-down saying it couldn't reinstate missing registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\ InternetAlert
\.Current so I added that key manually (with no content) without
making any difference. I've also tried re-installing Total Recorder
and re-installing Windows.

Apart from having no firewall I also have a major problem with
Internet connection speed (I am on dial-up), which is normal (about
36K) when I re-boot and first connect with Firefox, then slows down to
about 0.05K after a few minutes on-line and everything times out
including Outlook Express. Not sure whether it's idle time, number of
packets sent or switching sites that triggers the problem. Closing the
browser doesn't fix it but a re-boot does. Ping Plotter gives normal
response times but a few unreacheable destinations. Local URL's are OK
so that might be irrelevant. The Dr TCP settings I can see are also
OK.

I have run out of things to try. Can anyone help me with other
suggestions or registry settings relating to ports, firewalls,
browsers and Internet connection that might have been corrupted
please? And where can I find the correct settings?

It took several re-boots to post this message.