IE 6 not reading local HOSTS file while PING does. Anyone got any ideas?

[Greg Owens]

Hi Guys and Girls,

Hopefully someone can help me out here. I am running Windows XP Australian
version SP 1. I am trying to use a HOSTS file (located at
C:\WINDOWS\system32drivers\etc\) to resolve a domain name locally (website
domain name expired and I want to use message boards while name is being
renewed). I have set up the following lines in the HOSTS file:

64.33.72.9 solumcontego.com
64.33.72.9 www.solumcontego.com

Now my problem is this. When I ping www.solumcontego.com I get the address
resolution and the ping output fine. However when I type the address into my
web browser (IE 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2) I get:

The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site
might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your
browser settings.


I did a search on the web and it suggested disabling DNS Client in Control
panel /Admin Tools / Services. So I did that and no joy. I am running an
ADSL connection with Sygate Home Network 4.2 to share the connection with my
laptop. Both machines run a firewall. I have disabled both the firewalls and
Sygate and name resolution still does not work in the browser (ping does
works with firewalls and Sygate running) so I don't think they are the
problem. I do not have an internet proxy server set in IE. I do not have a
DNS server selected in my ADSL connection.

Does anyone have any ideas on what my problem might be? I can't find any
other tips or advice online so any help would be appreciated. I look forward
to your input.

Regards,

Greg Owens

 

[Jim Mack]

Hi Guys and Girls,

Hopefully someone can help me out here. I am running Windows XP
Australian version SP 1. I am trying to use a HOSTS file (located at
C:\WINDOWS\system32drivers\etc\) to resolve a domain name locally
(website domain name expired and I want to use message boards while
name is being renewed). I have set up the following lines in the
HOSTS file:

64.33.72.9 solumcontego.com
64.33.72.9 www.solumcontego.com

Now my problem is this. When I ping www.solumcontego.com I get the
address resolution and the ping output fine. However when I type the
address into my web browser (IE 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp2) I get:

The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web
site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to
adjust your browser settings.

You don't say what happens if you browse to http://64.33.72.9. This may
have nothing to do with name resolution, and that would tell you.

 

[Greg Owens]

Hi Jim,

If I browse 64.33.72.9 the page displays properly. Problem is I can't use
the message boards as all the messages link to the domain name so it is a
pain to edit each address individually to view all the messages.

Regards,

Greg