View Full Version : Desktop PC is connected to the net but isnīt?
4 year old Dell PC, running XP, Windows Explorer (I know :{ ), wireless connection.
When I look at the little wireless connection icon in the right bottom corner of the screen, it tells me:
Wireless network Connection
Speed: 54 Mbps
Signalstrength: excellent
Status: logged onto the net
But when I open Outlook Express, it tells me there is either a server or a network problem and that it can not log on.
When I start IE, it tells me that I am not logged onto the net and that it can not open the page.
I am writing this from the iBook, which works from the same wireless connection. Our landline phone is also via the net, and it works fine.
All usual lights are merrily blinking on the modem, and I have no idea what to do.
I have of course restarted the machine a few times, my Norton is up to date and I regularly run CrapCleaner and nCleaner.
Any Kind Boffin here who could take me by the hand and lead me through the streets of London? ;)
Hey,
What is the wireless icon showing at the bottom right. Possibilities include:
Computer with world icon, Computer on its own, Computer with exclimation, Computer with cross.
------------------------------------
Also, make sure your pc isn't asking you to "connect" as it is "working offline". If it is go:
Start - Control Panel - Internet Options - Connections - (tick) Never dial a connection - click ok
Then
Internet explorer - File - untick work offline
Restart internet explorer
-----------------------------------
start - run - cmd - ping www.bbc.co.uk (http://www.bbc.co.uk)
(tell me what the response is)
Also
in the cmd window: ipconfig
tell me what it says there.
I'll be on here all day as i'm at work so get back and the response should be fast.
Lasiorhinus
11th Mar 2008, 12:52
Go to the Network Connections window, and make sure your computer is set to use the wireless connection as the default. It may be trying to use the ethernet port, which is probably empty.
Lasio, thanks for the suggestion, but it isnīt that; I checked it. :)
Poss that was quick :)
Thereīs now (like always) 3 icons in the right bottom corner of PCs. 2 of them, like normal, have a red cross, and 1 has 3 green half circles that increase in size radiating out from the right hand side, indicating that the machine is connected to the net.
īNever dial a connectionī was already done, as was not working offline.
When it comes to pinging, I think I understand what you mean and the (translated from Norwegian) result is:
Pings www.bbc.co.uk [198.18.1.11] with 32 byte data:
Answer from 10.0.0.138: Goalhost can not be reached.
Answer from 10.0.0.138: Goalhost can not be reached.
Answer from 10.0.0.138: Goalhost can not be reached.
Ping statistic for 198.18.1.11:
Parcels: sent = 4, recieved = 4, lost = 0 <0% loss>,
Average time for go-return in milliseconds:
minimum = 0ms, maximum = 0ms, average = 0ms
If that makes any sense to you..... :confused:
Posted a reply but it went to server busy and lost what I wrote... what a ****.
The ping showing 4 packets sent 4 received non lost tells me that you have internet access.
Do you have an antivirus?
What version of internet explorer are you using?
my Norton is up to date and I regularly run CrapCleaner and nCleaner.
[/COLOR]
Yesterday, same as always when I get back froma trip and husband and son have had unfettered access to the PC, I ran an extra update of the Norton, did a full system scan with it, ran CCleaner and nCleaner and defragged the machine.
It ran fine the whole day after that.
Last it was on the net was when I went to bed last night at 2300 and son was surfing the net.
IE version 7
Thanks for taking the time, very kind of you.
Saab Dastard
11th Mar 2008, 14:11
The ping showing 4 packets sent 4 received non lost tells me that you have internet access.
Eh?
Answer from 10.0.0.138: Goalhost can not be reached.
The default gateway (or next hop router) is simply saying that it does not know how to reach a foreign network or host - i.e. has no route defined, or the destination network or host does not exist.
Interestingly, www.bbc.co.uk should resolve to www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.253.74] - at least it does so in the UK.
Juud, please run ipconfig /all from a CMD session and post the result here.
There are still several possibilities as to what the problem is - and it is probably a network problem, rather than a virus problem or an IE problem!
SD
Unfortunately my pings resulted in request timed out so i couldn't check bbc's ip address.
It showed packets been sent and received... usually a sure sign of internet activity.
I was going to suggest:
Start - Control Panel - internet options - advanced - reset
As SD says: do the IPCONFIG /ALL thing and post the results here.
Do you have a firewall - Windows or ZoneAlarm? Does that allow your browser etc through?
Lasiorhinus
11th Mar 2008, 14:20
C:\>ping www.bbc.co.uk (http://www.bbc.co.uk)
Pinging www.bbc.net.uk (http://www.bbc.net.uk) [212.58.253.75] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 212.58.253.75: bytes=32 time=325ms TTL=239
Yeah, thats how the ping resolves for me, and I'm in Australia.
Juud, sounds like your problem is related to your DNS. Can you ping 212.58.253.75 ?
Also, just for fun, see if your browser can find 212.58.253.75
If it can, then you have internet access, but your computer isnt understanding the Domain Name system.
Juud, please run ipconfig /all from a CMD session and post the result here.
Saab & Keef, I have no idea what that means; Iīm not computer clever like you guys.
I can follow simple short step by step instructions though...... please? ;)
Lasio, when I pinged 212.58.253.75 I got the same result as above. But maybe I am not doing it right? (am typing cmd in the run window, and then īping space numbersī in the black window)
As to seeing if my browser can find 212.58.253.75; I again have no idea how I would do that.
The Windows firewall is off.
Norton has something called īautoprotectī which is on.
Saab Dastard
11th Mar 2008, 14:39
Juud,
Type cmd in the run window, and then īipconfig /allī in the black window.
To copy the text, right click the black window, select MARK, then highlight the text to copy and press enter.
Then paste the text wherever.
Alternatively, type "ipconfig /all > c:\ipconfig.txt" in the black window - that will pipe the output to a text file called ipconfig.txt at the root of the C: drive.
SD
Ok here we go.
No point in copying the text, the PC isnīt on the net :) so Iīm typing it all out.
Again, pls keep in mind that I am translating from the Norwegian and that I am probably getting the technical translations wrong. Depending here on your collective smarts to recognise what it should have been. ;)
Windows IP-configuration
Hostname ............... : troll-jgair3fmp
Primary DNS-suffix ... :
Nodetype ................ : Unknown
IP-routing activated ... : No
WINS Proxy activated . : No
Searchlist for DNS-suffix: lan
Ethernet-card local connection:
Media situation ...... : Medium not connected
Description ........... : Intel<R> PRO/100 VE network Connection
Physical Address .... : 00-07-E9-4B-B8-C4
Ethernet-card local connection 2:
Media situation ...... : Medium not connected
Description ........... : Bluetooth PAN network Adapter
Physical Address .... : 00-0D-3C-39-26-C4
Ethernet-card Wireless networkconnection 2:
Connectionspecific DNS-suffix .... : lan
Description ............................. : 802.11 USB Wireless LAN Adapter
Physical address ...................... : 00-02-72-4D-F8-DF
DHCP activated ........................ : Yes
Automatic configuration activated : Yes
IP-address ............................... : 10.0.1
Networkmask ........................... : 255.255.255.0
Standard gateway ..................... : 10.0.0.138
DHCP-server ............................ : 10.0.0.138
DNS-servers ............................ : 10.0.0.138
Leasingdeal recieved ................. : 11 March 2008 14:00:04
Leasingdeal expires ................... : 12 march 2008 14:00:04
While wreaking havoc with the housekeeping and dinner, this is actually fun, Iīm learning things. :ok:
Saab Dastard
11th Mar 2008, 15:44
DHCP activated ........................ : Yes
Automatic configuration activated : Yes
IP-address ............................... : 10.0.1
Networkmask ........................... : 255.255.255.0
Standard gateway ..................... : 10.0.0.138
DHCP-server ............................ : 10.0.0.138
DNS-servers ............................ : 10.0.0.138
Your problems are:
1) the IP address is wrong (although this could be a typo!!!). If the gateway and DHCP server is 10.0.0.138, netmask 255.255.255.0, then the IP address of your PC MUST be 10.0.0.x, where x is a number between 1 and 254 (except 138).
2) the DNS servers are listed as the same address as the gateway and DHCP server - this is an error.
Either the DHCP server (your Wireless Access Point / router) is wrongly configured, or your PC is wrongly configured. The PC should have both "obtain IP address" and "obtain DNS servers" set to automatic. Or both manually entered. This is in the network settings for the wireless card.
You should be able to obtain the correct DNS server settings from the wifi router and from the Mac.
One thing you can do quickly is type "ipconfig /release" and then "ipconfig /renew" at command prompt.
That MIGHT reset the config. correctly.
SD
SaabD, youīre right; i missed out a zero
IP-address ... 10.0.0.1
Quick typing the release/renew didnīt do the trick.
How would I obtain the correct DNS server settings from the wifi router and from the Mac please?
And once I have done that, what would I do with it/them?
really very grateful here; husband already threatening to buy a new PC :hmm:
Keygrip
11th Mar 2008, 16:41
You *want* a new PC?
Might be easier to get a new husband (one that can fix computers?).
Saab Dastard
11th Mar 2008, 16:42
How would I obtain the correct DNS server settings from the wifi router and from the Mac please?
Depends on the router config / setup program - RTFM, I'm afraid.
Ditto with the Mac - there must be a simple network information button, as it's a Mac ;) It would be useful to check what the IP address, subnet mask, Default gateway, DHCP server and DNS servers are on the Mac. Check also if you can ping the Mac and the wifi router (10.0.0.138).
Once you have the correct info, you can manually enter it into the network settings for the PC.
Here (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/connections.mspx) is a useful guide - lots more where that came from!
You can either choose to have a fixed IP address and enter the DNS servers manually, DHCP IP address and enter the DNS servers manually or both DHCP IP address and DNS servers obtained automatically.
Since the last case isn't working, and I don't recommend the second, that leaves you with the first option.
Before you change anything, note down your current settings!
You will need to enter the IP address as 10.0.0.x, where x is any number not already in use (10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.138 etc.), the subnet mask as 255.255.255.0, the default gateway as 10.0.0.138 and the DNS servers as whatever they turn out to be.
husband already threatening to buy a new PC And that would help... how?
Spending the money on a complete reference library for Windows XP support might be a wiser investment! ;)
SD
What SD says ... something is wrong with the IP setup the pooter is getting from the WiFi.
Are the other machines on the network using the same WiFi connection, or are they hard-wired? [Edit - RTFQ, Keef] Since they are wireless and working right, it points to a problem with the pooter.
Do you have a cable so that you could connect the pooter direct to a port on the router? If that works, some more ipconfig /all with that link working would reveal useful stuff.
The PC's IP address is 10.0.0.138, and the local gateway is 10.0.0.1, which looks normal for a NAT setup. The PC reports its connection is OK, and if you Ping the gateway, I bet it will work:
ping 10.0.0.138
Then, if the IP connection is fine, but you still have problems connecting to a name, then it's a Name Resolution problem. I see that the report seems to have the correct value in there:
DNS-servers ............................ : 10.0.0.138
And when you try to ping BBC, you get
Answer from 10.0.0.138: Goalhost can not be reached.
That is, your gateway is reporting that it cannot ping the BBC.
Since your gateway and PC are communicating, I think your gateway or your ISP are having problems. I don't know what to make of the fact that other machines work - cached DNS records? Have you tried restarting the connection on the gateway, or the gateway itself?
re fixed IP addresses, you should not need to resort to such measures on a home network, unless you enjoy that kind of thing! DHCP is mature enough to cope, these days. :8
SaabD, my extended family smile with derision at the fact that I always RTFM. :ouch:
Too tired in the head to understand any of the above. Will try again tomorrow.
:)
Saab Dastard
11th Mar 2008, 18:34
bnt,
It is clear that the gateway address is 10.0.0.138, and the PC IP address is 10.0.0.1.
Unusual, but hey, there's nothing wrong with it.
DHCP is already set for the PC - but it appears that it isn't working for DNS server settings, for whatever reason, as it is assigning the gateway address as the DNS server.
There's nothing peculiar about the fact that the Mac is working. It obviously has valid DNS settings.
The "destination can not be reached" is the response you expect with the default gateway being configured as the DNS server - but you are right to say that the PC must therefore be talking to the gateway.
Restarting the router and then running "ipconfig /release" and "ipconfig /renew" might help to reset the DNS config.
I have had this problem before - and resorted to fixed IP addresses and manual DNS configuration. It is a LOT more reliable! And technically a little bit more secure!
SD
Both of you with the snarky comments: yes, I spotted my mistakes, and was fixing them as you were typing. Try again?
Normally the router is at one end of the range, ...1 or ...254. Having it on ...138 is just weird. Having the router as the DNS server is not wrong, that's what I have here: the router is a DNS relay.
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
...
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.7
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 11 March 2008 22:03:26
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 11 March 2008 23:03:26
green granite
11th Mar 2008, 22:28
my config is the same as Judd's xxx66 being the pc and xxx254 being the router and my system works fine.
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : home-4e88e39f51
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1D-60-3A-50-D4
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.66
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 11 March 2008 10:29:05
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 12 March 2008 10:29:05
Could it be that whoever used it last changed the selection in the TCP/IP properties from "obtain DNS server address automatically" to "use the following"?
Suggest you go to start- contoll pannel-network connections then right click on the wireless connection select properties select TCP/IP click advanced and check that the box that says "obtain DNS server address automatically" is checked.
Mine does much the same - uses the default gateway as the DNS server - I suppose the router is clever enough to cope with that. I don't use DHCP because there's a VPN into this machine and that needs a fixed IP address, but it looks like this:
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0B-6A-92-30-A6
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.8.110
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.8.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.8.1
What does seem a tad odd to me is that this machine is 10.0.0.1 - somehow, I'd have expected .1 to be reserved. My daughter has a similar set of addresses, and her first machine is 10.0.0.4 - other machines work up from there.
Anyway, let's see how Juud makes out from this step. I'd have expected Auto DHCP to work just fine, but if it won't, then fixed IPs do have a certain stability to recommend them.
Saab Dastard
12th Mar 2008, 09:55
I have to admit that I didn't think about the router acting as a DNS relay or DNS proxy.
Having said that, if it isn't working (as seems apparent) then my recommendation would still be to configure a fixed IP address and DNS servers.
What make and model is the router? The router setup should confirm if DNS Relay is in use, although some devices with no DNS Relay option will default to DNS Proxy if DHCP is enabled but no DNS servers are configured in the scope.
The status page should indicate what DNS servers addresses it has received from the ISP.
Regarding the Default Gateway address - there is no requirement to assign the first or last IP address in a range for the DG, it is simply a convention. Yes, it is peculiar for the DG to have .138 as its address, and the PC to have .1, but it is technically perfectly sound.
Perhaps it is an opportunity to overhaul the IP addressing scheme on the Juud network?
SD
Hi Juud,
Not been here for a while so don't know if this has now been sorted, but I have just sorted a similar problem out.
I have Zonealarm firewall which on the firewall settings should be set to medium, and windows update KB951748 should be removed via "add or remove programs" in the control panel.
Don't know if this will solve your problem but it might give the bigger boys a clue...