DSN Error

[Tracy]

I just switched from dial-up to wireless and can no longer access secure sites. After entering my passcode I get a screen that says:
"Page unavailable or DSN Error".
I have tried these things:
1. Checked security settings
2. Tried to restore system back to a date when it worked
3. Disabled firewall and popup blockers (McAfee)
4. Restored security settings to default
5. Slapping the side of the computer!

I'm using Windows XP and Linksys.
Other computers in house access these sites with no problems.
I'm out of ideas and am very new to the computer world. Help!

[pcwizard]

If you can access normal sites but not secure then your connection is set up fine.
Although you have disabled the firewall (I assume internet security and not the anti virus), it sounds as though it is still blocking you some how. sometimes Windows firewall will enable itself if another is disabled.

Try completely reinstalling your internet security. I know it sounds a bit drastic but I deal with this on a daily basis, and with Norton too. For some reason if the internet connection is setup BEFORE the security is installed then it will accept that connection in its entirety. If the connection is setup AFTER then it falls under the security application which manages it as it sees fit!!

HTH
Jim

[Tracy Weeks]

Jim,
I tried uninstalling my security systems, but I still have the problem.
I'm also getting messages that say my security system is blocking ActiveX controls. Is this part of the same problem, or a whole different one?
Any other suggestions I can try? I'm afraid I may have to give up and hire someone to fix the whole mess!
Thanks-
Tracy

[pcwizard]

When you try and open a page that is blocked because of ActiveX the tools bar at the top will have a section that allows you to enable activeX for that site.

A bit like the blocked pop up message.

Open your IE - go to the secure page that you want and copy the full address from the address bar>

Open your run command and type CMD then <enter>.
Type in nslookup <space> and then copy the address.
e.g. nslookup www.bbc.co.uk

If this comes back with four sets of numbers ping those - this is the ip address of the website.
e.g. ping 212.58.224.65

If you get 4 packets of data sent and received then your system has connected to that site ok.
Something is stopping the page from displaying.

In the same black screen type in netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

then ipconfig /release
then ipconfig /renew

try that!

[Tracy Weeks]

My info bar will tell me that ActiveX is being blocked, but it doesn't give me the option to allow. Clicking on it just leads me to "info bar help".

Here's what I got when I followed the last part of instructions:

'sslookup' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

       Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:

       Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
       IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
       Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
       Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
But, it did show IP info for my wireless connection.

Any other ideas? Thanks for your help.
Tracy

[pcwizard]

'nslookup' is a recognised command although 'sslookup' isn't!    

If it is saying media disconnected then it's not detecting ANY connection, and you can access normal sites still?

Open your internet explorer. Click on tools, then internet options, then the connections tab.

You should have no virtual dial up accounts listed and of the three options below that box should be selected 'Neverdial a connection' - this is because your pc isn't doing the dialing anymore, your router is.

Try right clicking the wireless network icon in your taskbar and selecting repair.
If that fails double left click this icon, then select the 'Refresh Network List' in the top left.

Do you still detect a network?

[Tracy Weeks]

Okay- I think I spelled everything right this time! I did everything you suggested. Here's what I got:

C:\Documents and Settings\Tracys>nslookup http://www.bankofamerica.com/
Server:  ns6.attbi.com
Address:  63.240.76.4

*** ns6.attbi.com can't find http://www.bankofamerica.com/: Non-existent domain

C:\Documents and Settings\Tracys>netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt


C:\Documents and Settings\Tracys>ipconfig/release

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

       Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:

       Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
       IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
       Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
       Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Documents and Settings\Tracys>ipconfig/renew

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

       Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected