Windows Winsock Catalog Error

[Peppercorns]

Hey guys,

I've recently starting having this error on my pc, but it only occurs if I leave my pc on for long periods of time (3 days or so)

Well anyway, I get this error and I'm not able to browse the internet using Internet Explorer or Firefox, I just get a 'Page cannot be displayed' screen.
I run network diagnostics and am told that its a 'Winsock provider catalog' error, but to fix it requires a reboot.

I have noticed that p2p programs such as utorrent still work fine during this error, but internet browsers or email programs do not work at all.

I have searched the net, but every possible fix always results in the final step involving me to reboot my pc.

This may sound a bit stupid and don't ask why......but I need to resolve this problem without rebooting the PC.

I have tried flushing my DNS, renewing my IP addresses and I've used CMD to reset the winsock catalog but non of these methods have worked without me rebooting the machine.

Is there any possible way to fix this error without rebooting?
I am currently running Windows XP with SP3

Any advice welcome

Thanks in advance

 

[Peppercorns]

Managed to fix it

If anyone else has a similar situation, just end explorer.exe before manually resetting Winsock catalog through cmd