Can't get search engines

[Roderick]

I have two computers hooked up to a router and then a
cable modem. On the laptop only, I suddenly can't connect
to any search engines. If I try to go to google,
altavista, or lycos, I just get "server cannot be found"
or "unable to connect" or "this page cannot be displayed".
I can go to Yahoo.com - but then any searches I try to do
from there yield me the same "cannot find server" page.
Any other web browsing works fine. Any ideas?

 

[tlj13262]

same thing happened to me. If I use the IP address of
Google I can go there but there must be a virus or agent
software keeping this from working.

Works from other PCs on my home network.

thx

 

[Mike Burgess]

Roderick,
The first thing to do is to scan your system for the possibility of
unknown\unwanted spyware or parasites that may be causing your problem(s).

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
--
Symtom: Page cannot be displayed / Cannot find server or DNS Error

In the event you can not access a site and you believe it
may be due to an entry in the HOSTS file.

You can use a simple batch file to rename the HOSTS file "on-the-fly".
Download: RenHosts.bat
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
[more info]
Problems Using Internet Explorer with Incorrect Hosts File
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=219843
_______________________________________
Mike Burgess http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 9-12-03]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid

 

[Peter Todd]

I too have this problem on one computer. When I try to go
to google I noticed in the status bar the IP address
64.191.59.85. I eventually found that my hosts file had
been set to substitute this IP address for a long list of
search engines (see below). However, deleting the hosts
file, or editing it does not solve the problem. Somehow
these address associations must be cached. Clearly this
is the result of some nefarious spyware, referral
hijacker, etc. NEED HELP!

Bad host file:

127.127.127.127 elite
64.191.59.85 www.google.com
64.191.59.85 google.com
64.191.59.85 www.altavista.com
64.191.59.85 altavista.com
64.191.59.85 search.yahoo.com
64.191.59.85 uk.search.yahoo.com
64.191.59.85 ca.search.yahoo.com
64.191.59.85 jp.search.yahoo.com
64.191.59.85 au.search.yahoo.com
64.191.59.85 de.search.yahoo.com
64.191.59.85 search.yahoo.co.jp
64.191.59.85 www.lycos.de
64.191.59.85 www.lycos.ca
64.191.59.85 www.lycos.jp
64.191.59.85 www.lycos.co.jp
64.191.59.85 alltheweb.com
64.191.59.85 web.ask.com
64.191.59.85 ask.com
64.191.59.85 www.ask.com
64.191.59.85 www.teoma.com
64.191.59.85 search.aol.com
64.191.59.85 www.looksmart.com
64.191.59.85 search.msn.com
64.191.59.85 ca.search.msn.com
64.191.59.85 fr.ca.search.msn.com
64.191.59.85 search.fr.msn.be
64.191.59.85 search.fr.msn.ch
64.191.59.85 search.latam.yupimsn.com
64.191.59.85 search.msn.at
64.191.59.85 search.msn.be
64.191.59.85 search.msn.ch
64.191.59.85 search.msn.co.in
64.191.59.85 search.msn.co.jp
64.191.59.85 search.msn.co.kr
64.191.59.85 search.msn.com.br
64.191.59.85 search.msn.com.hk
64.191.59.85 search.msn.com.my
64.191.59.85 search.msn.com.sg
64.191.59.85 search.msn.com.tw
64.191.59.85 search.msn.co.za
64.191.59.85 search.msn.de
64.191.59.85 search.msn.dk
64.191.59.85 search.msn.es
64.191.59.85 search.msn.fi
64.191.59.85 search.msn.fr
64.191.59.85 search.msn.it
64.191.59.85 search.msn.nl
64.191.59.85 search.msn.no
64.191.59.85 search.msn.se
64.191.59.85 search.ninemsn.com.au
64.191.59.85 search.t1msn.com.mx
64.191.59.85 search.xtramsn.co.nz
64.191.59.85 search.yupimsn.com
64.191.59.85 uk.search.msn.com
64.191.59.85 search.lycos.com
64.191.59.85 www.lycos.com
64.191.59.85 www.google.ca
64.191.59.85 google.ca
64.191.59.85 www.google.uk
64.191.59.85 www.google.co.uk
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.au
64.191.59.85 www.google.co.jp
64.191.59.85 www.google.jp
64.191.59.85 www.google.at
64.191.59.85 www.google.be
64.191.59.85 www.google.ch
64.191.59.85 www.google.de
64.191.59.85 www.google.dk
64.191.59.85 www.google.fi
64.191.59.85 www.google.fr
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.gr
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.hk
64.191.59.85 www.google.ie
64.191.59.85 www.google.co.il
64.191.59.85 www.google.it
64.191.59.85 www.google.co.kr
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.mx
64.191.59.85 www.google.nl
64.191.59.85 www.google.co.nz
64.191.59.85 www.google.pl
64.191.59.85 www.google.pt
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.ru
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.sg
64.191.59.85 www.google.co.th
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.tr
64.191.59.85 www.google.com.tw
64.191.59.85 google.at
64.191.59.85 google.be
64.191.59.85 google.de
64.191.59.85 google.dk
64.191.59.85 google.fi
64.191.59.85 google.fr
64.191.59.85 google.com.hk
64.191.59.85 google.ie
64.191.59.85 google.co.il
64.191.59.85 google.it
64.191.59.85 google.co.kr
64.191.59.85 google.com.mx
64.191.59.85 google.nl
64.191.59.85 google.co.nz
64.191.59.85 google.pl
64.191.59.85 google.com.ru
64.191.59.85 google.com.sg
64.191.59.85 www.hotbot.com
64.191.59.85 hotbot.com

 

[Ormrod]

Hey,

I have just run into the exact same problem myself. I'm using
Windows XP Pro .. the problem is possibly some software or adware have
added lines to the hosts files. There are 2 hosts files, one is
C:\Windows\hosts and the other is C:\Windows\System32\etc\hosts. Edit
each of these with notepad or another text editor and remove all of
the bogus entries pointing to 64.191.59.85 and 127.127.127.127. You
really don't *need* any entries in the hosts files unless you have set
them up previously to point domains to ip entries.

The hosts file just takes the domain name listed (www.google.com or
any other you supply) and it will make it go to the ip relating to it
(64.191.59.85).

I'm a little unclear as to what created these lines as I am usually
pretty weary of installing any strange software and usuallly stick to
trusted downloads.

Anywho, hope that helps someone out there...


Matthew