why are some bing search results suddenly redirecting me to other pages?

The hacking was a previous system. I don't have any real evidence of that here. Just that probably one browser has some issues. If I see the search redirect again, I might have some clarity. i think it said "mynewsearch," which i have not been able to find in the search engines. Driver that gets disabled is an 802.11 pci adapter. i have read that these types of adapters might have problems sometimes. i did not try uninstalling it, but the fact is i did not update it prior to after this incident. I have also never used safe mode on this laptop until after i made the intial post here. i have no idea if this laptop changed any safe mode settings. i do know the old laptop had a similar problem after updating windows 10.

For this reason, i could not use a restore point.

There is a BIOS/firmware update, yet HP Assistant recently had it, but it then said I didn't need it. It might not be a network reset, as i can connect in windows outside of safe mode. i have done network resets already prior to the recent driver update after this happened.

The BIOS update was from March. I am assuming that there must have been some windows update after that was available, so HP Assistant said that was not necessary.

Since I used the USB adapter that I have before in the other model, and I think it sometimes worked, but it also seemed to interfere with the current adapter on that model, i am wondering if that might be problematic. What happened with that one is that it installed software, then it caused some interference as it at one point needed to connection to be reinstalled. Then it couldn't recognize the connection anymore.

I am wondering about this:

Enable or Disable IPv6 in Windows | Tutorials (tenforums.com)

I do think it shouldn't be necessary to override the current adapter with a usb adapter that is outdated in windows 10. I think my friend gave me that for windows vista/7, but i used it since i couldn't use the windows 10 adapter in safe mode.

I think if "mynewsearch" could somehow be found, i can uninstall if from MS Edge, but i still need to figure out why windows does not seem compatible with my adapter. It does not make sense that it doesn't show an error, but it still disables the connection. I saw the WAN service was running in msconfig.

Windows MVP Shawn Brink is the most respected tutorial writer in the tech industry. I've never heard of anyone having problems with one of his scripts or any method he's given in the twelve years I've been in forums.

He is also almost always the best expert for issues he writes about, and is accessible through the Comments sections in his tutorials.

So you have the best method to do this, complete with personal support from the author if you want to proceed.

As to your casual mention that you get hacked, there are things you can do now to prevent this. The best articles that will fully educate you to know exactly what to do are here so read them to be prepared:

https://preyproject.com/blog/en/have-i-been-hac...

https://www.windowscentral.com/signs-pc-hacked

https://www.csoonline.com/article/2457873/signs...

What driver says it's disabled in Safe Mode with Networking, Wifi? Did you try reinstalling it while in Safe Mode with Networking, by choosing Uninstall on driver, then restarting PC back to where you were?

I would also troubleshoot Wifi while in Safe Mode with Networking with these fixes that work most:

1. See if you can System Restore to a point before the problem started:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-system-r...

System Restore is your first line of defense and can take you back to a point before a problem began like a time machine. If it doesn't help then you can undo it. Read about it first in the tutorial above and then try restoring to just before this started. If System Restore is not enabled on C drive do that now so it's available in the future.

If the problem repeats or System Restore doesn't work then check which Windows Updates were installed at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates > Update History, uninstall them there or System Restore again, then immediately check for and block the Updates with the Hide Updates tool explained here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8280-hide-s...

2. Update your drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware from PC or motherboard maker's Support Downloads web page, using the full model number, Serial Number or Dell Service Tag on sticker. Compare the latest drivers available for download with the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start button. Make sure you have the latest BIOS or UEFI firmware, Chipset, Display (Video), Sound, USB3, Bluetooth, Network and all other drivers, or else download and install the latest now.

Updating drivers from the Device Manager or Windows Update is rarely enough. The most basic thing we need to learn to maintain a PC is keep the latest manufacturer's drivers installed from their Support Downloads web page.

If you have the latest network driver then try on it's Driver tab also to Roll Back, or Uninstall and then restart PC to reinstall the driver. Try also all older drivers from Update Driver > Browse > Let Me Pick list working backwards.

3. Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters, select Wifi adapter, then Power Management tab, clear the check box to "Allow the computer to turn off the device to save energy." Then on the Advanced tab disable any energy-saving options.
4. If this was caused by Version update then you can roll it back in Settings>Update & Security>Recovery and then hide it until it matures using the Hide Updates Tool.
5. Enable IPv6 in the network adapter settings:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/90033-enabl...

6. Run the fixit from https://support.microsoft.com/help/929852 (Re-enable IPv6 on all nontunnel interfaces) and reboot.
7. Right click the network icon in System Tray at bottom right end of task bar to Troubleshoot Problems.

Try all of these steps: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-reset-network-...

8. Fix network connection issues in Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix...
9. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > WIfi > Manage Known Networks, highlight and remove the network having problems, restart PC to see if it shows up again.
10. Try plugging in by ethernet cable to the router to compare, then plug the ethernet cable into the modem (if separate) to see if this might be an issue with the router.
11. Try powering off modem, router and PC and then restarting in that order with 1 minute in between each. You may need to reset your router or even optimize it following these steps:

https://www.lifewire.com/resetting-a-home-netwo...

https://www.pcmag.com/article/258865/how-to-set...

Your router manual is always available from the manufacturer's website for your exact model.

12. You also are entitled to Support from your internet provider to get online on all devices. This is always included in the monthly bill. If your router is less than a year old they will also Support getting it connected and optimized.
13. Another option is you could replace the wireless adapter with an inexpensive USB nano adapter like one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/OURLiNK-600Mbps-Wireless...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P5PRK7J

14. If nothing else works then do a Repair Install, by installing Media Creation Tool, open tool and choose to Upgrade Now. This reinstalls Windows while keeping files, programs and most settings in place, and is also the most stable method to advance to the latest version: https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/fix-windows...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

i tried most of what you shared (except for the script). I am weary of adding a script, as I don't know if it will cause some problems. I think it said it was a registry script. Everything else doesn't seem to work so far. Indeed, the one that is in the boot configuration just adds a globe icon, but I cannot connect. The spiceworks article didn't do anything either. The very first article is what i went by to update my driver. I was using the malwarebytes premium trial recently since it no longer lets users download the free version. Users must use the trial, then revert to the free version. Personally, I often will use trial antivirus software if they come with the system, then I will use something like free avast and zonealarm based on experience. I like to monitor incoming traffic, and see if somebody is trying to hack me. Windows Defender will block things, but it doesn't seem as specific as various other programs. Yet my previous system seemed to get hacked in a way that I never saw before. What is on this system could be embedded in the browser or its cache from the behavior. Maybe some sort of hidden plugin. It is not affecting anything outside of the browser.

At the same time, I know that the safe mode issue happened with the previous system, and it could be related to updates. Some articles say it might be a bad driver. I saw my driver does not have an exclamation mark or whatever, yet it says disabled. if i try to use the "enable " option, it won't enable. There might be a compatiblity issue, but it does not show the driver is incompatible. But it still turns off the network. so something causes it to turn off.

If you buy a 3rd party antivirus you are paying to bloat Windows and will inevitably have issues. If you buy McAfee, Norton, Avast, or AVG then this is almost guaranteed, which is why no expert anywhere recommends any of them except to uninstall them. If you buy Kaspersky the EU and US advise this is Russian spyware.

Unless you regularly visit unsafe sites or torrent, Defender is more than adequate and provided by Microsoft who know how to protect their infrastructure best with a global security defense system that rivals that of nations, and to which no 3rd party comes close. If you get infected regularly then you only need to add Malwarebytes Real Time protection to Defender and you will not get infected again.

Windows software is tested by millions of consumers in the Insider program which you can read about here:

https://www.techadvisor.com/how-to/windows/wind...

I gave you fixes for Safe Mode with Networking to try. I'm not sure it's a bug, I've not seen other cases reported about it yet. But If you want to report this to Microsoft you may be able to help improve this product/experience by using the Feedback Hub in Start Menu. While they will probably not see this here in the forums, Microsoft developers DO read feedback from customers that comes in via the Feedback Hub, so that is a great way to share your thoughts on how to better serve you as a customer.

I hope it helps.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

no security software is actually installed on this machine besides malwarebytes and mcafee livesafe. Windows preinstalled software automatically is disabled when something else starts running in its stead. some link recommended tdskiller (which must be kapersky). Various sites will say kapersky is the best way (or they will say other top-rated programs.

mcafee commonly comes with HP machines as a one year trial. As far as I know, it often comes preinstalled on Windows machines. They might even sometimes come with both Norton and mcafee. Yet since this one came with it, and mostly, it has blocked intrusions better than zonealarm and avast, I would rather keep it than uninstall it. However, there is that weird thing on MS Edge that I mentioned.

I don't have my own ethernet cable, and doing that is tedious in my town since i am living with someone else and this is a small town. Wifi works in windows already, but i tried the safe mode with networking separately. i updated the driver from HP's website, and went through various settings within safe mode.

I think since windows is supposed to have safe mode with networking, it should be an option and some bug in the OS should not just be ignored. There tends to be various flaws sometimes when people code different programs. I am not sure if all hardware gets tested with test Operating Systems, or if it is only about that. I will check those things that you posted, thanks.