Service pack 2 for Windows XP includes some additions to the Netsh suite. These are discussed here and include a new tool for repairing the Windows network socket or "winsock". Uninstalling spyware or poorly written applications can corrupt the winsock settings and result in loss of network connectivity.
There are two commands for managing the settings. To display a list of various installed services (LSP, BSP, NSP) use
netsh winsock show catalog This list may not be too meaningful for the average PC user but it can be helpful for more experienced users. To reset the winsock to the default configuration use
netsh winsock reset catalog Note that any installed software that uses Internet connections may be partially disabled by this action and have to be reinstalled. This would include most software that updates itself and anti-virus programs that use proxy servers. Therefore, this command should only be used for cases where the degree of corruption makes it necessary. See this reference for some alternative methods.
Ref: commandwindows.com
