That is great that you eventually found a fix. The fix you metioned is described as follows:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
So looks like it was some altered or removed files on your PC which were causing the connection problem.WinSock XP Fix offers a last resort if your Internet connectivity has been corrupted due to invalid or removed registry entries. It can often cure the problem of lost connections after the removal of Adware components or improper uninstall of firewall applications or other tools that modify the XP network and Winsock settings. If you encounter connection problems after removing network related software, Adware or after registry clean-up; and all other ways fail, then give WinSock XP Fix a try. It can create a registry backup of your current settings, so it is fairly safe to use.
Best wishes
Lesley