Cannot Find Server or DNS when using AOL 9

[Guest]

Here is my Story. I have two problems which I suspect are related to each
other as they seemed to have started to appear at the same time. Problem #1:
Internet Explorer comes back with a "The page cannot be displayed ... Cannot
find server or DNS Error" when I am logged into AOL. My AOL Browser works ok.
Problem #2: Using my AOL browser, I am able to log into the Windows Update
site and get through everything until it comes to download the update. The
download status box appears and the progress bar zips across in a split
second and I get an error message stating that the "updates were unable to be
successfully installed" when I look at the installation log I have an error
which turns out to be 80072EFD.
I have:
- HP m300Y Media Center PC 2004 version 2002 (build 2600) with Service Pack
2. (These problems started happening before I added SP2.)
- Microsoft IE Build 6.0.2900.2180
- AOL 9.0 version 16.4156.5001 US (a)

This all started to happen around late August 2004. The last two updates
from the Windows update site were “Cumulative Security Update for Internet
Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB867801)†and one for Agre Win Modem. Since I
was on vacation, I also did some other updates. Unfortunately I did not see
a black and white “now it works and now it doesn’tâ€. I was hoping that SP2
would take care of it and since I had days off for Thanksgiving, I was able
to install SP2. There has been no change in behavior after SP2.

I started to study the community help and try things and here is a summary
of where I am.

- I do not have Norton Firewall.
- I completed all of the tasks in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=836941
- When I am unsuccessful at downloaded from the Windows update site, I can
get the Windows service bulletin number from the error message and track down
the download from another microsoft web page and I am able to successfully
download my update in that manner using my AOL Browser.
- I am able to telenet into a web site using port 80 from the start/run
screen as one person asked in another thread.
- I am able to ping an IP address from the start/run screen but not connect
with IE.
- From IE, I can log into websites by changing the http: to an https: if
they have an https:.This is also true if I do the same thing from the Windows
Explorer screen.
- From the Windows Explorer screen I was able to get into ftp.windows.com,
but I can not from IE. From IE, I do not get the "cannot find server" error,
I get a permission denied.
- I have Norton Anti-virus software. I have Spybot & Spy Eliminator & AOL
Spy search software.
- Internet Explorer worked briefly when I had just completed the scan using
Spy Eliminator, but before I had actually “cleaned†the WildTangent spyware
it had found. When I clicked on Spy eliminator's online help link, IE
launched and worked until I rebooted the next time. I could not recreate
this.
- In addition to AOL, I have Earthlink total Access 2004. When I am using
Earthlink, Internet explorer works just fine after I have to change the IE
connections setting to no proxy server.
- When I try to use Internet Explorer through AOL, and I put in
http://www.java.com and I watch the status bar at the bottom of the IE
window, I see;
* “Connecting to http://www.java.com/
* 127.0.0.1
* "DONE" (with the cannot find server error).
# If I turn this into an https://www.java.com address, IE goes right to it.
# If I type in http://symantec.com/, I get 127.0.0.1 and then the cannot
find server.
# If I click the refresh button, I see;
* Connecting to http://symantec.com/
* 127.0.0.1
* DONE, but no “Cannot find Server†error. It is like it is locked up
with the windows flag waving and my cursor turns into an hour glass when over
the toolbars.
* I get it unlocked by clicking the home page (about;blank). Then I
can do all of the above again.
- Thinking of the Agre Win Modem update I did. I rolled back my driver and
no change. Then I downloaded the latest driver from the Agre website and
still not change in behavior.

 

[Guest]

I have added more Information Below.

Here is my Story. I have two problems which I suspect are related to each
other as they seemed to have started to appear at the same time. Problem #1:
Internet Explorer comes back with a "The page cannot be displayed ... Cannot
find server or DNS Error" when I am logged into AOL. My AOL Browser works ok.
Problem #2: Using my AOL browser, I am able to log into the Windows Update
site and get through everything until it comes to download the update. The
download status box appears and the progress bar zips across in a split
second and I get an error message stating that the "updates were unable to be
successfully installed" when I look at the installation log I have an error
which turns out to be 80072EFD.
I have:
- HP m300Y Media Center PC 2004 version 2002 (build 2600) with Service Pack
2. (These problems started happening before I added SP2.)
- Microsoft IE Build 6.0.2900.2180
- AOL 9.0 version 16.4156.5001 US (a)

This all started to happen around late August 2004. The last two updates
from the Windows update site were “Cumulative Security Update for Internet
Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB867801)†and one for Agre Win Modem. Since I
was on vacation, I also did some other updates. Unfortunately I did not see
a black and white “now it works and now it doesn’tâ€. I was hoping that SP2
would take care of it and since I had days off for Thanksgiving, I was able
to install SP2. There has been no change in behavior after SP2.

Update: Now that I think about it more, I remember thinking that this update
might have been the source of my problems “Update for Background Intelligent
Transfer Service (BITS) 2.0 and WinHTTP 5.1 (KB842773)â€, but it was not a
black and white observation on my part as to when this problem started to
happen. I had made the decision that if this update had screwed up the
Windows update site, that Microsoft would be on it fast and furious so I
decided to let time pass.

I started to study the community help and try things and here is a summary
of where I am.

- I do not have Norton Firewall.
- I completed all of the tasks in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=836941
- When I am unsuccessful at downloaded from the Windows update site, I can
get the Windows service bulletin number from the error message and track down
the download from another microsoft web page and I am able to successfully
download my update in that manner using my AOL Browser.
- I am able to telenet into a web site using port 80 from the start/run
screen as one person asked in another thread.
- I am able to ping an IP address from the start/run screen but not connect
with IE.
- From IE, I can log into websites by changing the http: to an https: if
they have an https:.This is also true if I do the same thing from the Windows
Explorer screen.
- From the Windows Explorer screen I was able to get into ftp.windows.com,
but I can not from IE. From IE, I do not get the "cannot find server" error,
I get a permission denied.
- I have Norton Anti-virus software. I have Spybot & Spy Eliminator & AOL
Spy search software.
- Internet Explorer worked briefly when I had just completed the scan using
Spy Eliminator, but before I had actually “cleaned†the WildTangent spyware
it had found. When I clicked on Spy eliminator's online help link, IE
launched and worked until I rebooted the next time. I could not recreate
this.
- In addition to AOL, I have Earthlink total Access 2004. When I am using
Earthlink, Internet explorer works just fine after I have to change the IE
connections setting to no proxy server. I have to do this every time, even after launching earthlink twice in a row. I originally thought I was having to do this because I was using Earthlink after using AOL.

* I am also able to use IE through Earthlink to successfully access the
Windows Update web site and download and install an update. I usually use my
AOL 9 browser, but just to put my IE through Earthlink a workout, I am using
it to make this update.

- When I try to use Internet Explorer through AOL, and I put in
http://www.java.com and I watch the status bar at the bottom of the IE
window, I see;
* “Connecting to http://www.java.com/
* 127.0.0.1
* "DONE" (with the cannot find server error).
# If I turn this into an https://www.java.com address, IE goes right to it.
# If I type in http://symantec.com/, I get 127.0.0.1 and then the cannot
find server.
# If I click the refresh button, I see;
* Connecting to http://symantec.com/
* 127.0.0.1
* DONE, but no “Cannot find Server†error. It is like it is locked up
with the windows flag waving and my cursor turns into an hour glass when over
the toolbars.
* I get it unlocked by clicking the home page (about;blank). Then I
can do all of the above again.
- Thinking of the Agre Win Modem update I did. I rolled back my driver and
no change. Then I downloaded the latest driver from the Agre website and
still not change in behavior.

* Since I used the OEM driver 8.30; The Windows update site recognized
that I did not have the xp approved 8.31 version. This is the update that I
successfully downloaded using IE through Earthlink.

 

[Guest]

Sorry about the updates. I thought I was against a wall, but with the below
updates, I keep thinking of other things to do. This thread contains all of
my information, disregard the previous two threads.

Here is my Story. I have two problems which I suspect are related to each
other as they seemed to have started to appear at the same time. Problem #1:
Internet Explorer comes back with a "The page cannot be displayed ... Cannot
find server or DNS Error" when I am logged into AOL. My AOL Browser works ok.
Problem #2: Using my AOL browser, I am able to log into the Windows Update
site and get through everything until it comes to download the update. The
download status box appears and the progress bar zips across in a split
second and I get an error message stating that the "updates were unable to be
successfully installed" when I look at the installation log I have an error
which turns out to be 80072EFD.
I have:
- HP m300Y Media Center PC 2004 version 2002 (build 2600) with Service Pack
2. (These problems started happening before I added SP2.)
- Microsoft IE Build 6.0.2900.2180
- AOL 9.0 version 16.4156.5001 US (a)

This all started to happen around late August 2004. The last two updates
from the Windows update site were “Cumulative Security Update for Internet
Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB867801)†and one for Agre Win Modem. Since I
was on vacation, I also did some other updates. Unfortunately I did not see
a black and white “now it works and now it doesn’tâ€. I was hoping that SP2
would take care of it and since I had days off for Thanksgiving, I was able
to install SP2. There has been no change in behavior after SP2.
Update: Now that I think about it more, I remember thinking that this update
might have been the source of my problems “Update for Background Intelligent
Transfer Service (BITS) 2.0 and WinHTTP 5.1 (KB842773)â€, but it was not a
black and white observation on my part as to when this problem started to
happen. I had made the decision that if this update had screwed up the
Windows update site, that Microsoft would be on it fast and furious so I
decided to let time pass.

I started to study the community help and try things and here is a summary
of where I am.

- I do not have Norton Firewall.
- I completed all of the tasks in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=836941
- When I am unsuccessful at downloaded from the Windows update site, I can
get the Windows service bulletin number from the error message and track down
the download from another microsoft web page and I am able to successfully
download my update in that manner using my AOL Browser.
- I am able to telenet into a web site using port 80 from the start/run
screen as one person asked in another thread.
- I am able to ping an IP address from the start/run screen but not connect
with IE.
- From IE, I can log into websites by changing the http: to an https: if
they have an https:.This is also true if I do the same thing from the Windows
Explorer screen.
- From the Windows Explorer screen I was able to get into ftp.windows.com,
but I can not from IE. From IE, I do not get the "cannot find server" error,
I get a permission denied.
- I have Norton Anti-virus software. I have Spybot & Spy Eliminator & AOL
Spy search software.
- Internet Explorer worked briefly when I had just completed the scan using
Spy Eliminator, but before I had actually “cleaned†the WildTangent spyware
it had found. When I clicked on Spy eliminator's online help link, IE
launched and worked until I rebooted the next time. I could not recreate
this.
- In addition to AOL, I have Earthlink total Access 2004. When I am using
Earthlink, Internet explorer works just fine after I have to change the IE
connections setting to no proxy server. I have to do this every time, even
after launching earthlink twice in a row. I originally thought I was having
to do this because I was using Earthlink after using AOL.
* I am also able to use IE through Earthlink to successfully access the
Windows Update web site and download and install an update. I usually use my
AOL 9 browser, but just to put my IE through Earthlink a workout, I am using
it to make this update.
- When I try to use Internet Explorer through AOL, and I put in
http://www.java.com and I watch the status bar at the bottom of the IE
window, I see;
* “Connecting to http://www.java.com/
* 127.0.0.1
* "DONE" (with the cannot find server error).
# If I turn this into an https://www.java.com address, IE goes right to it.
# If I type in http://symantec.com/, I get 127.0.0.1 and then the cannot
find server.
# If I click the refresh button, I see;
* Connecting to http://symantec.com/
* 127.0.0.1
* DONE, but no “Cannot find Server†error. It is like it is locked up
with the windows flag waving and my cursor turns into an hour glass when over
the toolbars.
* I get it unlocked by clicking the home page (about;blank). Then I
can do all of the above again.
- Thinking of the Agre Win Modem update I did. I rolled back my driver and
no change. Then I downloaded the latest driver from the Agre website and
still not change in behavior.
* Since I used the OEM driver 8.30; The Windows update site recognized
that I did not have the xp approved 8.31 version. This is the update that I
successfully downloaded using IE through Earthlink.

Update2: Using IE through Earthlink, I just went back to the Windows Update
page to get another update. Now IE through Earthlink is acting the same way
as AOL in that I get all of the way through everything until it comes to
download the update. The download status box appears and the progress bar
zips across in a split second and I get an error message stating that the
"updates were unable to be successfully installed" when I look at the
installation log I have an error which turns out to be 80072EFD. This is
most likely the first time I have used IE through Earthlink at the Windows
Update Site since the problem started. It sounds as if the Windows update
site is the common denominator??
* After rebooting and launching Earthlink, I again have to change the
Tools> Options> Connections setting for no proxy server. (I delete my
Earthlink connection from the control panel all of the time and let earthlink
rebuild it when I launch the TotalAccess.)
* Using IE Through Earthlink; I am able to access a random web site.
* Using IE through Earthlink; I am now having the same problem with the
Windows Update site. IE. Get all the way through to the download box and no
success.

- On all of the above, I have been using the original Administrator’s
account or my personal computer administrator’s account. Just on a hunch, I
created a new computer administrator’s account. In this user account I had
to let Earthlink rebuild a dialin account. With this new XP Computer
Administrator account, I did the following;
* Launched IE through Earthlink, accessed websites OK.
* Went to the Windows Update site and experienced same problem. IE. Get
all the way through to the download box and no success.
* Launched AOL and then Internet Explorer. IE works like it should
!!!!!!
* Used IE through AOL to go to the windows update site and experienced
the same problem.
# After Rebooting, I tried to recreate the above using my new XP Computer
Administrator Account.
* Launched AOL and then Internet Explorer. IE works like it should
!!!!!!
* Used IE through AOL to go to the windows update site and experienced
the same problem.
# After rebooting again; I logged onto the original Administrator account.
* Launched AOL and then Internet Explorer. IE gets “Cannot find
Server…†error.
# I logged onto my personal Computer Administrator account.
* Launched AOL and then Internet Explorer. IE gets “Cannot find
Server…†error.
Is there a way to copy-paste my temporary Computer Administrator account IE
settings to my other two accounts for me to try next??

 

[Guest]

To Those Who May Follow: This response it to close the loop on my situation
for those who may be experiencing a similar situation.

My problem was not being able to use Internet Explorer while connected to
AOL. See my original postings for more details. I followed lots of advice
and therefore learned lots of things, but none of them resolved my problem.
In the course of troubleshooting this I discovered that a new Windows XP User
account would work. I did a comparison between a working user accound and a
non-working one and tracked it down to the user account's NTUSER.DAT file.

In researching the NTUSER.DAT file (local user registry file), there were
enough yellow flags raised against copying a new one into an existing account
that I did not try that. I started from scratch by creating new user
accounts and then migrating my files and settings from the old ones to the
new ones. Then when I felt like everything was stable, I deleted the older
user accounts. This has worked so far and it has been about two weeks.

The one older user account I could not change, or did not try, was the
original computer administrator account that a person accesses in safe mode
or by doing the ctlr+alt+del twice from a freshly booted welcome screen. I
am no longer going to use this special account except in safe mode.

I speculate that I had a case of mal-ware and was able to get rid of the
source, but not the changes to my NTUSER.DAT that it must have caused.

I had gone through all of the suggestions that MchWalte suggested (from AOL
community help but eMail directly to me), including his link to HOST Comp
Phred's "a fix to IE". After going through the "A fix for IE"; IE would only
intermittenly work as well as some of my other applications acting funny. I
did a system restore and everything went back to its starting point
successfully. "Internet Explorer Fix.. by HOST Comp Pred"

My Lessons Learned:
- Take the Mal-ware situation more serious. The anti-malware software which
appeared to do the best job was "Ad-Aware SE Personal" and "Spybot" (with the
1.3.1 DOS Exploit fix). Both can be found at www.majorgeeks.com.

- I downloaded the free McAfee Firewall Express from AOL. This is hard to
find through search and help.
http://memberselfservice.aol.com/firewall/index.adp With a firewall, I have
to approve first time outgoing request from applications. This allows me to
see and evaluate some of my applications a little closer on what they are
really doing.

- I did use my safe mode computer administrator account for
installing-uninstalling software, patches, upgrades, etc. Now I only use it
it safe mode in the interest of protecting it from cooruption since I can not
delete this account (I am assuming).

- System restore turned out to be very easy to use, if I would have known
more about how it worked and had not been afraid of it in the beginning when
I first saw my problem, I would have been a lot better off than waiting until
my last system restore point was deleted. (System restore keeps the last 14)

Good Luck to Those that have the unforunate luck to experience a similar
situation.

 

[Guest]

To Those Who May Follow: This response it to close the loop on my situation
for those who may be experiencing a similar situation.

My problem was not being able to use Internet Explorer while connected to
AOL. See my original postings for more details. I followed lots of advice
and therefore learned lots of things, but none of them resolved my problem.
In the course of troubleshooting this I discovered that a new Windows XP User
account would work. I did a comparison between a working user accound and a
non-working one and tracked it down to the user account's NTUSER.DAT file.

In researching the NTUSER.DAT file (local user registry file), there were
enough yellow flags raised against copying a new one into an existing account
that I did not try that. I started from scratch by creating new user
accounts and then migrating my files and settings from the old ones to the
new ones. Then when I felt like everything was stable, I deleted the older
user accounts. This has worked so far and it has been about two weeks.

The one older user account I could not change, or did not try, was the
original computer administrator account that a person accesses in safe mode
or by doing the ctlr+alt+del twice from a freshly booted welcome screen. I
am no longer going to use this special account except in safe mode.

I speculate that I had a case of mal-ware and was able to get rid of the
source, but not the changes to my NTUSER.DAT that it must have caused.

I had gone through all of the suggestions that MchWalte suggested (from AOL
community help but eMail directly to me), including his link to HOST Comp
Phred's "a fix to IE". After going through the "A fix for IE"; IE would only
intermittenly work as well as some of my other applications acting funny. I
did a system restore and everything went back to its starting point
successfully. "Internet Explorer Fix.. by HOST Comp Pred"

My Lessons Learned:
- Take the Mal-ware situation more serious. The anti-malware software which
appeared to do the best job was "Ad-Aware SE Personal" and "Spybot" (with the
1.3.1 DOS Exploit fix). Both can be found at www.majorgeeks.com.

- I downloaded the free McAfee Firewall Express from AOL. This is hard to
find through search and help.
http://memberselfservice.aol.com/firewall/index.adp With a firewall, I have
to approve first time outgoing request from applications. This allows me to
see and evaluate some of my applications a little closer on what they are
really doing.

- I did use my safe mode computer administrator account for
installing-uninstalling software, patches, upgrades, etc. Now I only use it
it safe mode in the interest of protecting it from cooruption since I can not
delete this account (I am assuming).

- System restore turned out to be very easy to use, if I would have known
more about how it worked and had not been afraid of it in the beginning when
I first saw my problem, I would have been a lot better off than waiting until
my last system restore point was deleted. (System restore keeps the last 14)

Good Luck to Those that have the unforunate luck to experience a similar
situation.

 

[Guest]

i have aol as my default and then can connect to IE, as a browser, but
yesterday, it stopped working and also, my games disappeared, simple ones
like solitare, hearts, etc. i have downloaded IE 6, service pack 2 and they
installed and have given me no problems. i do use norton systemworks, have
aol 9.0 and am running xp. i am not a computer guru, so don't understand a
lot of the things which are told by the ones who are really very good at
doing everything, but have had to send my hard dirve back to hp, once, as it
is a total lemon and now have put the second one in and set it up, which has
worked for about 4 months, now. it is not good and even though i was able to
install the new hard drive and discs, this hp has given me nothing but
problems, since day one. this newest ie browser incident is just another
addition to the problems. i do run spysubtract, also and have found it to be
helpful. i do need some help on how to get my ie browser to work again and
for the help to not be in computereze, as i am not as gifted, as many of you
are and can follow the directions, if i am walked through something, but do
have to have the directions to do so. thanks for any help. (e-mail address removed)