Netbook wont complete links or go online anymore.

[RPGr]

It's just over a month old. Been working great. Now all of a sudden it won't go online (wired or wireless). It will load the pages I have saved in my favorites, but if I click on a link on a page, it will look like it's loading the page (the green bar on the bottom will fill up), but then it freezes. Or if I go to Google (also on my favorites list) and do a search, it will not load. Also if I enter a website in the address bar, it will not take me there.
This netbook is running (I think it's called) Windows CE??

Any ideas what's wrong here?

Thank you.

[dahlarbear]

Any ideas what's wrong here?

1.  Not yet...  What operating system and service pack level are you using?

2.  Ping.  Lets see if you have any internet access.  I'd like you to "ping" Computer Hope website both by its Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) and its IPv4 address. 

From a Command Prompt window, enter the following commands (without the quotes):
     a.  "ping -n 10 -w 2000 www.computerhope.com"
          (1)  What is the "percent" packet loss?
          (2)  What is the "average" round trip time in milli-seconds?
          (3)  What are the error message(s) if any?

     b.  "ping -n 10 -w 2000 69.72.169.241"
          (1)  What is the "percent" packet loss?
          (2)  What is the "average" round trip time in milli-seconds?
          (3)  What are the error message(s) if any?

Note:  For Command Prompt window (within Windows XP):  Start -> Run -> type "cmd" without quotes and hit <Enter> key.

3.  Website Address.  If the "ping 69.72.169.241" was successful, try to access that website from an internet browser.  Instead of the "domain name" use the IPv4 address "http://69.72.169.241".

[Allan]

Can you ping?

[RPGr]

1. MS Windows CE ver 6.00

2.
     a. Says: Bad value for option -n
                   Bad parameter www.computerhope.com

     b. gave a list of echo sizes from 62 ms to 68 ms and also said TTL=55 after each of those readings.

3. Nothing

[dahlarbear]

1.  I'm not familiar with your operating system, so I'm not sure what diagnostic utilities you have available or what their interface looks like.

It sounds like you have "ping" connectivity to the internet (Computer Hope website) through IPv4 addresses.  I'm not sure yet about Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN); e.g www.computerhope.com.  Ultimately, all web site access is via their IP address.  If a domain name is entered instead, it must be resolved to its IP address before access is possible.  To resolve the names, your system must either use its local Domain Name System (DNS) cache or submit it to a DNS server for resolution (using known IP address of DNS server).

I'm not sure why you're able to access the web pages of your "Favorites" unless their IP addresses are in your local DNS cache (which I thought is clear upon boot), you previously saved their pages "offline", or somehow you're picking up the information from your browser cache.

Assuming "ping" to Internet web sites via known IPv4 addresses is successful, I'd guess you either have a name resolution issue, or a proxy server set within your Internet browser settings.

2.  Ping.  Let's try ping again, first to their known IPv4 address; then to their domain name.
    a.  "ping 69.72.169.241"
    b.  "ping www.computerhope.com"

    c.  "ping 169.232.55.224"
    d.  "ping www.ucla.edu"

    e.  "ping 67.220.106.52"
    f.  "ping www.yosemite.org"

Are you able to access the websites by both their IPv4 address and domain name?

3.  Ipconfig.  If you're not able to "ping" by domain name, verify the connectivity and latency to your DNS servers.  Use the "ipconfig /all" command to display your TCP/IP configuration.  Find the DNS server address(es).  Ping them one at a time in the order in which they are listed.
     a.  Is the "ping" successful?
     b.  If yes, what is it's average round-trip time in milli-seconds?

4.  Browser Proxy Server Settings.  Verify it is not set to use a "proxy server".
     a.  Which browser (and version) are you using?  Not sure if interface is different within Windows CE.

Within Internet Explorer 6.0, you would access via:  Tools -> Internet_Options... -> Connections tab -> LAN_Settings... button.  The
"Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window should display.  Within the "Proxy server" subsection, uncheck "Use a proxy server for your LAN" if set.

     b.  Was the browser set to use a "proxy server"?

[RPGr]

ok All pings seemed to go through:

2.  a. Echo size 32 times = 65 ms   TTL=55
     b. Same as a.

     c. Echo size 32 times = 77ms     TTL= 52
     d. Same as c.

     e. Echo size = 32 times = 50ms     TTL= 49
     f. Same as e.

3. Once I do ipconfig/all it lists everything, but then dissappears within seconds so I can not read it to get the ip addresses.

4.  Checked connectivity and it's set to "Use Lan"

The browser that came with this netbook is IE
Cant seem to find a version number for it


Another weird thing is if I click the "favorites" tab on top of the page, it will not take me to the page. But if I click start, then favorites, it will take me to that page. But like I said earlier, if I click a link within that page it will start to load (green bar fills up on bottom) then it freezes.


<thinks I should have bought a laptop instead of this thing>

[RPGr]

ok, update on #3. Got ip addresses and was able to ping them:

a. 32 times @ 11-15 ms   TTL=59
b. 32 times @ 28-30 ms   TTL=59
c. 32 times @ 14-22 ms    TTL=59

[Computer_Commando]

...
The browser that came with this netbook is IE
Cant seem to find a version number for it
...<thinks I should have bought a laptop instead of this thing>

Windows CE (Windows Embedded Compact) has been around for quite a while.  Didn't know they were using it in newer netbooks. 
The History of Windows CE

[dahlarbear]

1.  Ping.  The round-trip times are fine for all your pings.  Please confirm "domain names" are correctly resolved to Internet IPv4 address.
     a.  Does "ping www.computerhope.com" reply from IPv4 address "69.72.169.241" ?
     b.  Does "ping www.yosemite.org" reply from IPv4 address "67.220.106.52" ?

2.  Ipconfig.  This command should be issued from a Command Prompt window so the output doesn't disappear when the command finishes.  Not sure how you access such a window on your operating system.

4.  Checked connectivity and it's set to "Use Lan"

3.  Internet Explorer.  I don't know what "Use Lan" means (or where it appears)...
     a.  Version.  If there is a main menu bar at top with "Help" entry, select Help -> About_Internet_Explorer.  Version should display on resultant window.
     b.  Connection Settings.  What connection settings are available to you and how are they set (on Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window)?

4.  Protocols.  Try to access Internet using different "protocols".  Try the following text strings in your browser's address box:
     a.  ftp://ftp.hp.com
     b.  http://www.eff.org
     c.  https://www.eff.org
     d.  http://69.72.169.241
     e.  http://<your_home_router_LAN_IPv4_address>       without the"<>".

5.  Security Software.
     a.  What firewall, if any?
     b.  What antivirus?
     c.  What security suite software, if any?
     

[RPGr]

1. Not sure what I am to do

3. "Use Lan" is in internet options (start/settings/control panel/internet options), under the "connection" tab. There is a check where it says "Use LAN (no autodial). There are two other boxes that can be checked and they are: "Use configuration script" and "Use a proxy server".

The only connection settings are what I stated above.

 the only tabs at the top of the page are File, Edit, View, Go, and Favorites. I tried right clicking on the IE icon on my desktop, but there is nowhere where it would tell me the version.

4.I've been getting an error message whichs says "application iesample.exe encountered a serious error and must shut down".
  e. I did my home router one and it went to where I enter my username and password, then it starts to load, but doesn't go through. The green bar on the bottom just keeps going from empty to full like it's trying to load the page.

5. a. just have a WEP code entered
    b. none (I was just using this unit to surf the net, no sensitive info is on it).
    c.none

[patio]

1 Month old...return it.

[RPGr]

1 Month old...return it.

I can't.  Bought it on ebay and warranty is only good for 30 days.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Netbook.  Can't really go further without some documentation for both the computer and the operating system.  (Hopefully there's documentation on the Internet.)
     a.  What is the make and model name/number of the netbook?
     b.  Did you get any restore/recovery or operating system install media with it?
     c.  And the operating system is "Microsoft Windows CE version 6.00"?

1.  Ping.  The round-trip times are fine for all your pings.  Please confirm "domain names" are correctly resolved to Internet IPv4 address.
     a.  Does "ping www.computerhope.com" reply from IPv4 address "69.72.169.241".
     b.  Does "ping www.yosemite.org" reply from IPv4 address "67.220.106.52" ?

2.  I'm asking you to verify that DNS is resolving the above two domain names to their correct IPv4 addresses (the ones listed above)?

[RPGr]

1. It's a EPC model 7" mini netbook. Go to ebay and enter a search for epc netbook and you'll see it. There is no restore/recovery programs that I can see. No OS install media either. Yes it's windows CE ver 6.0

2. ok, just pinged computerhope.com and it gives the ip address as (174.86.203.162) and
   yosemite.com as (139.151.188.41).

[RPGr]

Ok, so the last pings gave different ip addresses than what you wanted. Can you tell what the problem is? 

[dahlarbear]

1.  No, I can't tell what the problem is...  I've not even been able to determine who "makes" your computer...  So I don't know where to go for "support" information (which website).

I'm trying to determine what works and what doesn't hoping it will lead to the problem.  How to fix the problem is another issue entirely...

It appears you can ping Internet websites by their numeric IPv4 address using the ICMP protocol.  If true, you have access through the Internet.

2.  DNS Name Resolution.  I had expected to see responses from:
     a.  "69.72.169.241" for "ping www.computerhope.com"
     b.  "139.151.188.4" for "ping www.yosemite.com"
     c.  "67.220.106.52" for "ping www.yosemite.org"

If you get those values, we know you have connectivity to the Internet and the domain names are being correctly resolved to their number IPv4 addresses.

Can you try them again.  Also are you sure you got "139.151.188.41" or was it actually "139.151.188.4"?

3.  HTTP Protocol.  Enter the following (without quotes) in your browser's address field:  "http://139.151.188.4".  Does a Yosemite website come up?

[RPGr]

1. I have no idea who makes it either. There is nothing on the unit. I suppose I could take the battery cover off and see if it says anything inside the unit.  Let me know.

2. Ping them all again and all pings went through. Also www.Yosemite.com came back as 139.151.188.4 (not 41)

3. Site does not come up. Green bar fills up as to load page then stops at full.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Ping Results.  You appear to have "ping" connectivity through the Internet.  I also believe your DNS name resolution is correct (domain name to IP address).

2.  Browser.  You appear to have a browser issue.  You can't access websites either by their domain name or IP address using the "http" protocol (standard web browsing).

I'm not sure about "https" or "ftp" protocols.  You might give them a try to the following address, but I don't expect them to work (enter without the quotes into your browser address field):
     o  "https://www.eff.org"
     o  "ftp://hp.com"

4.I've been getting an error message whichs says "application iesample.exe encountered a serious error and must shut down".

3.  IESample Error.  I think that is a significant error.  IESample is an example provided by Microsoft to third party developers as an example of how they may add functionality to the Internet Explorer for Windows CE browser (which is based on Internet Explorer version 6.0 for Windows).  It may also be used as is (from Microsoft) to add more functionality to the browser.  Your description of your top level Internet Explorer menu indicates it was installed in your Windows CE image.  I'm guessing it's the addition of "IESample" in your Windows CE image that allows your computer basic internet browsing capabilities. 

So what am I saying...  I think you lost your Internet access because IESample is "crashing".

4.  Restore/Recovery.  I don't know...  I don't know how that operating system is setup, configured, or recovered.  I found some "User Manuals" from third party vendors, but expect each vendor may install a different image.  They take the bare bones operating system provided by Microsoft and tailor it with additional modules from Microsoft or their own applications (so each one is different).

5.  Vendor Support.  Yeah...  I think you need to identify the vendor of that netbook  (and their support website if any).  Going to need some documentation and advice on how to restore/recover your system...

Or how to uninstall/reinstall modules and from what source media.

6.  Reference(s):
     a.  Advantech Windows CE 6.0 Users Manual
     b.  Thinspace Windows CE 6.0 User Manual
     c.  Internet Explorer 6 for Windows Embedded CE

[RPGr]

Ok, Thanks for all your help.

I contacted the seller looking for the mfg and/or model number and explained what was going on, and they said they would replace it for me (even though it's over the 30 day warranty period).

Do you think I might have had a virus?
Should I install an anti-virus program when the new one gets here?
And do you know of any good free ones I can download?

[dahlarbear]

1.  General Support.  Yes, it would be nice to have a "working" system; but I think you're missing the point.  Unless you have access to the knowledge and media necessary to restore/recover and/or install (build?) the Windows CE 6.0 image, you have a "disposable" computer.  This "media" should not just be the computer's disk drive.  If you lose the drive, you lose your system.

2.  Vendor/Model Number.  Is the seller unable or unwilling to identify the manufacturer and model number?  Seems like you'd want/need to know what your support options are, if any...

3.  AntiVirus.  I don't know what is wrong with your system or what the underlying cause is.  Don't know if you should run security software or what the threat risk is to that operating system.  I assume any software you run would need to be compatible with your operating system.  So it might be challenging to find "free" software for Windows CE 6.0.  Quick search turns up avast! PDA Edition, but that version of their product does NOT appear to be free.