Hi Broni,
Thanks for sorting through the chaff.
I didn't know about Norton, and I expect my friend doesn't either. I will follow the link and delete Norton. The computer is about 2 years old so it will have probably have expired anyhow.
As for Internet connection problems ... where to start?
The computer is about as far from the phone connection as it is possible to be, so a wireless connection was the only option. I advised her to get a wireless PCI card, she came back with a USB dongle. There are two Internet connections shown (in the status bar), and one (the wired one from when the modem had to be connected to the PC to change a password) shows with a cross indicating cable unplugged. I am tempted to delete this but would like a second opinion.
As for the wireless connection, it works. It sometimes indicates low connectivity yet downloads data quickly, so on the one hand yes she does have issues, and on the other she doesn't! How is that for a non answer? Would uninstalling and reinstalling the software help?
Please let me know what you think about deleting the (wired) Internet connection that always shows the error, then I will delete Norton, and the (wired) Internet connection (if you think that is a good idea - it seems redundant to me).
I am able to install a wireless PCI card, how she was talked into the dongle is something of a mystery, seeing it went against the advice I was given and passed on (we share an ISP, and it was their opinion that a PCI card would be better, a dongle being about the only option for a lap top but not preferred for a PC).
Thanks for the pointers, your help is appreciated.