Strange Internet problem...

[Mike]

One of the computers in our office has a problem accessing the internet.
I can ping anything by name or number & get replies, but when trying IE, I
get the "Cannot find server or DNS error" message, even if I put the IP
address in the address bar.
I ran WinsockXPFix, thinking something had become corrupt & after rebooting,
I can get on the internet once.
I can even click on links to other pages, etc., but once I close IE, I can't
get back on, even to any of the sites I had just visited!
Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

The actual syntex in cmd is:netsh Winsock reset

 

[Mike]

WinsockXPFix.exe is a program,
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
I'm assuming it does the same thing?

 

[Malke]

WinsockXPFix.exe is a program,
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
I'm assuming it does the same thing?

Andrew E. is an idiot and a troll. WinsockXPFix is used for pre-SP2
installations. I would troubleshoot as follows:

1. Scan for malware/viruses. Malware is one of the most common reasons
for connectivity problems with Windows machines. Here are procedures:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

2. Check your DNS settings. You haven't told us your network setup so I
can't be more specific. If the workstation is a member of a domain,
make sure it is only looking to the server for DNS. The server
naturally only looks to itself with forwarders set for Internet access.

3. Look in the workstation's Event Viewer for clues.
Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

4. Check the hardware. Physical problems like a failing NIC, bad cable,
bad switches can all cause connectivity problems.

Malke

 

[Mike]

See my comments inline...

Andrew E. is an idiot and a troll. WinsockXPFix is used for pre-SP2
installations. I would troubleshoot as follows:

1. Scan for malware/viruses. Malware is one of the most common reasons
for connectivity problems with Windows machines. Here are procedures:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

I started this. I am not that familiar with Ewido, so I had started with
Spybot. When trying to download updates, I recieved an error message
mentioning some thing about buffer in the message, but didn't make note of
the complete message (D'OH!)
Another thing, the HD is a 30G, with only about 600-700MB free.

2. Check your DNS settings. You haven't told us your network setup so I
can't be more specific. If the workstation is a member of a domain,
make sure it is only looking to the server for DNS. The server
naturally only looks to itself with forwarders set for Internet access.

All computers are in a workgroup, with each using the ISP's DNS settings.

3. Look in the workstation's Event Viewer for clues.
Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

Will do.

 

[Malke]

See my comments inline...

And mine. ;-)

I started this. I am not that familiar with Ewido, so I had started
with Spybot. When trying to download updates, I recieved an error
message mentioning some thing about buffer in the message, but didn't
make note of the complete message (D'OH!)
Another thing, the HD is a 30G, with only about 600-700MB free.

As I say on the website, get all tools/updates from a different,
known-clean machine. Either burn them to a cd-r or use a usb thumbdrive
to transfer the files. Ewido is useful as a cleaning tool, but you
should go through the steps I list systematically. A scattershot
approach to troubleshooting isn't useful. If your av scans don't turn
up a lot of trojans, I wouldn't bother with Ewido first.

Most definitely you don't have enough room on that hard drive and that
can cause all sorts of problems. Personally, I wouldn't run XP with
less than 5GB free space and that would be pushing it. Get this machine
cleaned up ASAP by doing the maintenance listed at the Removing Malware
link. Also see:

http://aumha.org/a/health.htm - Take Out the Trash (section 4)

All computers are in a workgroup, with each using the ISP's DNS
settings.

And how is the network structured? How many workstations? Are you using
a commercial-quality switch, router, consumer-level NAT router, or
what?

3. Look in the workstation's Event Viewer for clues.
Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

Will do.

4. Check the hardware. Physical problems like a failing NIC, bad
cable, bad switches can all cause connectivity problems.

Ditto

Malke