Okay, so here's the deal.
I've been using avast free antivirus for around two or so years now. Last night, avast updated and offered the 20-day free trial of Internet Security. Thinking nothing of it, I allowed it. However, after it upgraded, I lost wireless internet; troubleshooting didn't fix the problem and indicated that Leaf Network Adapter/Local Area Network Adapter 1/Local Area Network Adapter 2/Wireless Network Adapter had all encountered problems, and administrator repairs could not resolve any of these problems.
I uninstalled AIS, and lo and beold, the adapters began working again (I noted that it happens as "registry" comes up on the uninstall window, so perhaps it has something to do with the registry or whatever is removed just before that.) HOWEVER, when Avast requested I reboot to finalize the uninstall, after doing so, my adapters were broken again, only this time avast was gone.
I system restored and tried using the uninstall utility, but it didn't make a difference. On reboot, still no internet access.
I contacted the number on the avast support page and got a third party that tried to sell me their maintenance package, which obviously i turned down. (I couldn't afford it anyway.)
I'm currently on my second restore and am working in the period between uninstalling and rebooting, but it's harrowing knowing if i ever shut my laptop down I'll lose my internet access.
I know there are problems with Internet Security stopping internet access, as well as problems for doing so after being uninstalled, but no information for both at once, and neither of the individual problems' fixes have helped.
I'm running Windows 7, and the only other AV program I have installed is MalwareBytes free, which has never interfered with avast free av in the past. I can still see wireless networks, and can connect to them, but only with "Limited Access" and I have nothing avaliable that I wouldn't without connecting.
The details of the troubleshooting indicates for all four adapters that "Windows couldn't automatically bind the IP protocol stack to the network adapter."
Is there ANYTHING I can do? I have a very fixed income, and I can't afford to have this laptop professionally repaired, much less replace it; on top of that, it's absolutely essential for college, and I have a lot of important paperwork and information stored that I can't really afford to lose.