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Author Topic: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL  (Read 9098 times)

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pleh4help

    Topic Starter


    Greenhorn

    Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
    « on: October 01, 2008, 03:30:09 AM »
    Hello,
    one of my friend has had this tough little problem for close to a week now, the title sums it up.
    OutlookExpress cannot find servers (I haven't tried but suspect replacing servers name by ip would fix it temporarly
    He's running XP pro sp2* standalone on a cable modem, the ISP use dynamic IP & DNS, the only connection listed is LAN

    I have already spent close to 2 hours on the phone trying to help fixing it, & I am pretty much out of ideas
    Here's what I've tried already:

    Firefox

    IE7 without addons

    (regular) IE7 reset advanced settings

    Was running no proxy, so tried auto detect

    Safe mode w/networking

    Msconfig: disable all non-MS services & startups

    Netsh winsock reset catalog

    Ipconfig /flushdns

    Tried disabling avast a/v; could not because of a password request, resolved to uninstall avast

    SFC /scannow

    Compared all properties of TCP/IP to my working computer

    Tried OpenDNS instead of default blanks

    Disable/enable LAN

    Repair connection (XP report all's fine)

    Disable/enable network card tru device mgr

    Tried to use System Restore, but it was turned off...;o(

    Used Spybot LSP tool to compare with my comp; only difference found: he's got an extra NS PROVIDER line about Bonjour service (Apple Ipod related)

    I am now at the point where I will ask him to bring the computer over to me
    Any ideas welcome

    XP pro sp2*: windows update downloaded sp3, but failed to install successfully days prior to the URL problem
    « Last Edit: October 01, 2008, 03:44:27 AM by pleh4help »

    jamesj2001



      Beginner

      Thanked: 1
      Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
      « Reply #1 on: October 01, 2008, 09:29:43 AM »
      Is the DNS set to static or automatic?

      Graymatter



        Newbie

        Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
        « Reply #2 on: October 01, 2008, 03:59:09 PM »
        Looks to me as if the Domain Name Server used by your ISP is not resolving the URLs. This would explain why you are able to browse by ip address but not by URL. I know 3 different causes for this situation, all of which have happened to me in the past:

        1) The ISP has changed the DNS address without telling you.

        2) Your settings for DNS have been lost for some reason. This happened to me with a Netgear router once.

        3) Your ISP's DNS servers are down. A little unlikely if this has been happening for more than a few days.


        A call to the ISP should confirm the addresses for the DNS and they can probably confirm whether option 1 or 3 has happened. For option 2 you need to find where the DNS server settings are held for your particular setup.

        Hope this helps a little.


        Graymatter

        pleh4help

          Topic Starter


          Greenhorn

          Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
          « Reply #3 on: October 01, 2008, 05:25:23 PM »
          Hi,
          my friend's ISP is the same as my ISP, & I happen to work for the ISP; nothing whatsoever happens on our side with DNS (trust me, I would know, being in tech support dept), & the ISP we both use is using automatic IP & DNS.
          Also, my friend's pc is standalone, no router
          My TCP/IP is set for auto dns as well as him; I had him try manual with OpenDNS just for the sake of it
          On my pc, both automatic & manual (OpenDNS) works fine

          I have nothing suggesting a problem on the ISP side at this point
           ???

          Graymatter



            Newbie

            Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
            « Reply #4 on: October 01, 2008, 06:24:16 PM »
            Ok, it looks like you have all the bases covered there.

            I have done a couple of google searches on this topic and a common thread seems to suggest that you may have a Winsock corruption.  Have a look at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259 and see if that helps at all.

            Graymatter

            pleh4help

              Topic Starter


              Greenhorn

              Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
              « Reply #5 on: October 02, 2008, 04:03:37 AM »
              Ok, it looks like you have all the bases covered there.

              I have done a couple of google searches on this topic and a common thread seems to suggest that you may have a Winsock corruption.  Have a look at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259 and see if that helps at all.

              Graymatter

              That looks very promising, I am getting the computer later today to bring over to my place
              Will keep you posted
              Thanks !

              pleh4help

                Topic Starter


                Greenhorn

                Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
                « Reply #6 on: October 06, 2008, 04:11:21 PM »
                No joy...
                I have tried other steps afterward, to no avail

                The OS is being reinstalled as we speak

                Tks anyway for posting the KB

                Later
                p4h

                Siscorskiy



                  Beginner
                  Re: Can ping & browse by IP, can't ping or browse by URL
                  « Reply #7 on: October 06, 2008, 04:24:55 PM »
                  No joy...
                  I have tried other steps afterward, to no avail

                  The OS is being reinstalled as we speak

                  Tks anyway for posting the KB

                  Later
                  p4h


                  shame is has to come down to that  :'(
                  I help you do more by doing less.