Cant get microsoft.com through my LAN!

[Jon]

Hi,

I have an extremely bizarre problem. I cannot access
certain web pages over my local area network. I setp up
the network whereby I'm sharing the internet access via a
broadband modem. There's only two computers currently
connected to the network; the server and my computer, but
they're plugged into a hub. Other networking services are
fine, and a lot of website are ok, but it fails to load
certain sites (after a long wait) - I cannot even get
access to microsoft.com! The server is running XP pro and
I'm using XP home. The server is behind the XP firewall.

Any suggestions? I can't think what the problem is.

Thanks, Jon

 

[Chuck]

Hi,

I have an extremely bizarre problem. I cannot access
certain web pages over my local area network. I setp up
the network whereby I'm sharing the internet access via a
broadband modem. There's only two computers currently
connected to the network; the server and my computer, but
they're plugged into a hub. Other networking services are
fine, and a lot of website are ok, but it fails to load
certain sites (after a long wait) - I cannot even get
access to microsoft.com! The server is running XP pro and
I'm using XP home. The server is behind the XP firewall.

Any suggestions? I can't think what the problem is.

Thanks, Jon

Jon,

There have been dns hijacks known to cause this sort of problem.

Search your entire system drive, including hidden and system folders, for file
"hosts". There is one legit copy, in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\.

How current is your virus protection? Try these free online virus scans:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional carriers of infection.

First, download LSP-Fix from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>, and CWShredder
from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. Both free.

Next, run CWShredder. Have it fix all variants.

Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download>. Both free.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix.

Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi,

I have an extremely bizarre problem. I cannot access
certain web pages over my local area network. I setp up
the network whereby I'm sharing the internet access via a
broadband modem. There's only two computers currently
connected to the network; the server and my computer, but
they're plugged into a hub. Other networking services are
fine, and a lot of website are ok, but it fails to load
certain sites (after a long wait) - I cannot even get
access to microsoft.com! The server is running XP pro and
I'm using XP home. The server is behind the XP firewall.

Any suggestions? I can't think what the problem is.

Thanks, Jon

Do you have a DSL Internet connection that uses PPP Over Ethernet
(PPPoE)? If so, here are some possible fixes. Any one of them should
solve the problem:

1. Install Windows XP Service Pack 1 on the ICS host computer.

2. Find the right MTU setting on the client computer, as shown here:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-107

and then make the setting manually on the client computer, or use
DrTCP to make it:

http://www.dslreports.com/front/drtcp.html

3. Download the free RASPPPoE program and install it on the host
computer. Use it instead of XP's PPPoE program. Details at these
sites:

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/adslpoe2.htm
http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~normanb/

See these sites for more information:

Connectivity Problems on ICS Clients When You Use a PPPoE Connection
on a Windows XP ICS Host
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;319661

Troubleshooting MTU Size in PPPoE Dialin Connectivity
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/794/router_mtu.html
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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