Cannot ping or browse to domain name but can using IP address 1

[Schnippster]

Hi,
I need help! I can get on the internet but cannot get any page to load. I am able to view google if I use its IP address but not domain name. I can even search through Google but cannot folow any links. Same result if I try to ping -- success through IP address, failure through domain name.

All 3 browsers: IE, Firefox, Netscape 8.
Wndows XP Pro, service pack 2.

 

[BabyJeffy]

Sounds like your DNS is not valid.

Start > Settings > Network Settings > ** your connection to the internet **
... a new window pops open...
Click the Properties button
... a new window pops open...
Click "Internet Protocol TCP/IP Settings" then click the "Properties button"
... a new window pops open...
The DNS settings are shown in the bottom half of the popup window.

You may be getting them "automatically" -- in which case you need to look at the configuration at your modem/router/gateway (look for a place to enter in the IP address of a Primary and Secondary DNS to use). Check that any IP addresses you use indeed a valid DNS for you (check with your ISP for this one).

Hope that helps you get started.
Jeff


[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

[/tt]

 

[Schnippster]

Thanks Jeff. I tried this last night with primary and secondary DNS's from my ISP. I also re-installed Windows XP Pro SP2, thinking a file might be corrupt. Have also tried transplanting all the registry entries for the ISP from a known good account/connection. I have also updated the BIOS and video drivers. I am really at a loss on this one.

Do you have any other ideas?

Also, I have deleted all networking connections (Lan and Internet) and manually set up one clean one.

 

[BabyJeffy]

Wow! You've exhausted all the things I would try. It's about now I'd post to Tek-t... Ah.

Jeff


[tt]Jeff's Page [/tt][tt]@[/tt][tt] Code Couch

http://www.codecouch.com/jeff/

[/tt]

 

[Schnippster]

I am getting desperate!!!!
I have run Norton Av, Spy-bot and Ad-Aware; have "flushed" the local DNS cache and added d-Words to the registry to block negative DNS's and limit cache time for others.

Does ANYONE have any ideas I could try?

 

[FAM]

If you try a trace route in cmd prompt to say

http://www.bbc.co.uk

what results are returned via IP address and domain i.e.

tracert 212.58.224.89
tracert

http://www.bbc.co.uk

Also is this on a network going through a proxy/firewall/server or is it just a personal pc?

 

[Schnippster]

Thanks Fam. I tried that -- results below. This is a
personal/desktop PC, with dial-up. Firewalls and LAN disabled. Any other suggestions?

Things I have done -- not necessarily in order:

1. Uninstalled/re-installed all Network connections and browsers.
2. Run Ad-Aware, SpyBot and Norton AV.
3. Re-installed Windows XP Pro SP2.
4. Run system file check from XP install disk.
5. Run a local DNS cache flush; added D-Words to registry to prevent negative caching and to limit time on all other caching.
6. Updated machine BIOS and Video/Graphics drivers.
7. Run winsockfix.exe and iefix.exe
8. Contacted ISP to verify preferred and alternate DNS numbers; "borrowed" all registry keys of ISP from a known good/working account; manually set up account.
9. Uninstalled and re-installed modem.

10. Scanned a gazillion tech/help pages and uttered a few uncomplimentary epitaphs

(these were no more effective than the list above).


11. Run trace report to two known IP's and domain names. Results were:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert 212.58.224.89

Tracing route to 212.58.224.89 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 163 ms 187 ms 171 ms 209.244.188.164
2 171 ms 171 ms 156 ms 63.212.220.3
3 171 ms 171 ms 171 ms 4.68.124.241
4 187 ms 202 ms 201 ms 64.159.0.238
5 203 ms 202 ms 202 ms 4.68.97.42
6 202 ms 202 ms 186 ms 209.246.126.6
7 187 ms 202 ms 201 ms 212.58.255.33
8 296 ms 264 ms 265 ms 212.58.255.214
9 280 ms 264 ms 265 ms 212.58.224.89

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert

http://www.bbc.co.uk

Unable to resolve target system name

http://www.bbc.co.uk.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert

http://www.google.com

Unable to resolve target system name

http://www.google.com.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert 216.239.37.99

Tracing route to 216.239.37.99 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 164 ms 171 ms 171 ms 209.244.188.164
2 171 ms 171 ms 171 ms 63.212.220.3
3 170 ms 171 ms 171 ms 4.68.124.241
4 187 ms 202 ms 202 ms 64.159.0.229
5 203 ms 187 ms 202 ms 4.68.121.18
6 202 ms 187 ms 186 ms 4.79.228.26
7 186 ms 202 ms 186 ms 216.239.46.34
8 187 ms 202 ms 187 ms 64.233.174.130
9 203 ms 186 ms 202 ms 216.239.48.110
10 203 ms 186 ms 202 ms 216.239.37.99

Trace complete.

 

[teqmod]

LAN disabled? I assume you are using dial up then?

Try going to the command prompt and run nslookup. It will default to your primary DNS server then type in google.com and see what it says. If it is still unable to resolve it would be the DNS server not your PC. You can try setting another DNS server so that you can verify results. I use 216.127.136.200 for DNS when this happens. You can set the server in nslookup by typing "server 216.127.136.200" and it will change to that server and query it for name resolution.

It does not sound like an issue with your PC.

 

[Schnippster]

Thanks for your time.
I also re-set the TCP/IP through XP's net shell utility.

I just tried the nslookup. It defaulted to my "preferred dns", and gave it a name.
When I typed in google.com it came back with "Non-authoritative answer: (3 different IP's).
with

http://www.google.com

I got 2 totally different IP's.
I played around with a few more domain names and then tried to
browse to the IP's. Some it found. Most it did not.

Same results when I changed to your DNS server.

What does all of this mean? Is it my server or the machine?

 

[teqmod]

nslookup dueries the DNS server for name resolution. non-authoritative answers are ok, it just means that particular DNS server does not control the DNS for whatever name you entered and it provides the address it knows.

As for multiple addresses, this is load balancing and any of the addresses provided should display the page you are looking for. If you are getting name resolution for google.com then the DNS server did its job. You should have gotten results similar to the following:

> server 216.127.136.200
Default Server: dns02.xecu.net
Address: 216.127.136.200

> google.com
Server: dns02.xecu.net
Address: 216.127.136.200

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: google.com
Addresses: 216.239.37.99, 216.239.57.99, 216.239.39.99

now if you put any of hte three addresses listed you should get a google.com page.

Since this is working I guess the next step would be to take a look at your hosts file and see if anything has been added that may cause an issue.

Also what is your IP address scheme? If you are using public addresses on a private network this can also cause problems.

 

[Schnippster]

Ok. I checked the hosts file. It had only the 127.0.0.1 entry. I checked all the other "hosts.*" --- only one of them had any entries and they were the 3 computers on the LAN I disabled. I do not use internet-connection-sharing.

How can I determine my "IP Address scheme"? As far as I know there is no "private network".

I should mention two things -- everything was working fine until about 3 days ago. Secondly, I have this computer configured exactly the same as the problem machine -- same ISP, same DNS server, same version of Windows (XP Pro SP2). I even created an account in my name on the 2nd computer to trouble shoot.

When I run the modem diagnostics I get only "success" etc.
As long as I am getting on the internet and can browse to some IP addresses, there isn't a problem with the modem is there? What about the physical phone line coming in to the house. Is there a chance there is something weird going on there? The two computers are on different lines.

 

[Schnippster]

Thanks everyone!!!!!
Maybe it was just overwhelmed with everything I was throwing at it but it is working now.

I ran the net shell utility again to reset the TCP/IP and suddenly it is working and I can navigate to where so ever I want!!! Ya Hoo!!!

I really appreciate those of you who took time to try and help!