Unable to browse, but able to PING

[internetjunkietiff]

Ok, so, I have Windows XP Pro SP2 with all updates installed. I have been so fed up with my computer that I reformatted and reinstalled, I only have the window's firewall installed at this time. What happens is that I am able to browse for some time.... anywhere from 1-12 hours, then I start getting page cannot be displayed. I go to the command line and I am able to ping EVERYTHING (

http://www.abc.com,

etc). I have a home network, with a Linksys Router, and Comcast High Speed Cable internet. All the other computers in the house work fine. I am getting really frustrated. I know it's something with my computer causing the internet connection problems. This started when I got my MSI motherboard. I don't know what to blame though, since I'm still able to ping. I restart and all is well again, for at least an hour. It's getting really frustrating. Oh, and while i am unable to browse, I am still able to chat on AIM, Yahoo, MSN, etc, unless I get disconnected and then it will not reconnect. Any suggestions? I do have a secondary hard drive with files on it, is it possible this may be a virus that isn't being picked up by the virus scanning software I have used?

 

[kjv1611]

You said you started having problems after you got your MSI board. Are you using an on-board network connection for that board? If so, can you try an add-on card, to see if maybe the LAN driver is having some sort of problems - a glitch of some sort - that is causing Internet browsing to not be allowed after so much time?

Also, what about the possibility that somehow you've got a time restriction of some sort set on your machine's security settings as to when or how long you can browse the web? I don't know if it's possible for that to be the case right off the bat, but it's worth checking.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[dtrtel]

Google for LSPfix, sounds like you've got malware on your second hard drive. Or you could have gotten infected by surfing a malicious site before getting all the windows updates installed.


--jeff

http://linkedin.com/in/JeffLynch

 

[internetjunkietiff]

Well, LSPfix says that there are no problmes found..... and I have scanned the computer and removed the malware that was found (nothing huge, just some like tracking cookies and such) and so far, it has only made things worse! As of this morning I was having to restart my computer every 30-45 minutes to get my "connection" back.... I still don't get how I can ping and even browse my network, but websites are "Page cannot be displayed" *sigh*

 

[kjv1611]

Well, this sounds like a long shot, but try running the Network Setup Wizard. Sounds weird, but I had it work on a laptop someone asked me to fix the internet connection on - I could ping out from it, but couldn't browse with IE.

After running the network setup wizard, everything seemed to just work. Weird, it seemed, but worked it did.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[internetjunkietiff]

Yeah, I actually have already ran that. I always do when I first get up and running so that I can make sure I can see everyone else on the network. Which, of course, I can. I am about ready to scream and then throw my computer out of my window.... I have even gone in and set myself static in the past, to see if that made a difference, and it hasn't. I just don't get it, I really don't. Tonight I was even downloading from my newsgroups when I "Lost connection" in IE. I have even tried used other browsers to see if that was the issue, and there was no difference....

 

[kjv1611]

Have you tried a different router, or gone into the router settings?

You know, if it's still under warranty, maybe tossing out the window WILL fix it.

[ROFL2][ROFL][ROFL2]

NO NO NO! I am just kidding of course, please DO NOT toss your computer out the window....

That is, of course, unless you take a video of it, and post it online, giving us a link, so we can watch it....

No, of course, just teasing... but I'm just sayin'... [PONDER]

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[internetjunkietiff]

LOL, I actually build all my systems, so, no warranties (also stressful when you are told to call your computer manufacturor for help!)

I mess with my router settings all the time, but I don't have it set right now to prevent any connections. I also have 2 other computers and 2 xboxs on the network that have no browsing issues, and they are all set up dynamically currently.

I can even go in and release and renew my IP and get all the same information back. The DNS info all matches up to the information I show on my router, coming directly from comcast.....

 

[kjv1611]

Hmm, do you happen to have an extra network card or either a second onboard network connection? And have you checked the current network connection's drivers? Being that it's sort of intermittent, but rather sort of regularly intermittent - if that's even the way to say it, I'm starting to think it could be a hardware/driver issue. Have you checked the device manager for any exclamation or question marks on network related hardware? Also, have you checked the event manager for clues?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[internetjunkietiff]

I don't have anything uninstalled currently, or with exclamation points (except my webcam that I never reinstalled since reinstalling my OS). Only the on board NIC at this time.... I was thinking about disabling it and installing another NIC to see if that works (even though I tried this already once in the past)... I haven't tried the event manager yet.... As far as the drivers, I have gone to MSI's site and downloaded their Online Update LIVE, and have updated all of the NIC drivers. I have installed all the mother board drivers, everything. I don't get it. It doesn't seem to matter if i'm using the generic ones Window's installed, or the drivers that they tell me to install from MSI. I thought about taking the router out of the picture to, and having a direct connection to my modem.... It really has me baffled....

 

[kjv1611]

And another thing to try. Have you tried a different browser, to see if it is specifically an IE problem? You could download and install Firefox, and try that to compare. If you get the same problems, then it's likely not IE.

Also, try to see if you can find out the actual manufacturer of the onboard network connection, and go to their site for the driver (for instance, it could be Intel). That way you could make sure you have their most stable/current version of the driver. I've found motherboard manufacturers to some times be behind on the most recent drivers for the components making up the boards - not always, but sometimes.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[internetjunkietiff]

I actually used to use Firefox all the time, when this started, I thought maybe it was just a browser issue, and it would be happening in IE too. So, I have played that game too.... I will have to try other drivers a little later in the afternoon though. I get to go play taxi now! I will let you know if it works. Let me know if you think of anything else!

 

[kjv1611]

I'm guessing you've already tried the old resetting of the modem and router. That's always worth a shot as well, though I'd be shocked if that was the problem/fix.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[fuwath]

If you are able to ping one thing I may suggest checking is your web browser connection settings.

IE

Tools > Internet Options > Connections Tabs > LAN Settings
-Make sure that none of the boxes are selected (Automatically Detect Settings, Use Automatic Config Script, or Proxy Server)

Firefox

Tools > Options > Advanced Tab > Network Tab > Connection Settings
-Make sure Direct Connection to the Internet is selected and
Automatic proxy configuration is not selected

Not sure for other web browsers but this may fix the problem because if you can ping you have connection to the internet

 

[kjv1611]

Good thought, fuwath.

internetjunkietiff,

Have you gotten anywhere with this issue?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[internetjunkietiff]

No, I have tried all the basics, I have tried all the advanced troubleshooting, I have been unable to resolve this issue. I used to work in High Speed Internet Support, and so I am very familiar with browser issues, I also have an IT degree, and my friend who works for Unisys can't figure this out either. It's getting very frustrating. The only thing I can think at this point is that it has to be something with either my mother board or with some virus or malware that is hidden and that the spyware software didn't find.

I know that I have Interent Connection fuwath, if you read my above posts, you would see that I states that I can even CHAT when this problem is occuring and that I can PING, I know I have internet connection. That is not the question here. The question is WHY do I loose my ability to browse after an undertermined amount of hours.

Anyway, I don't have anything else to try... so I'm just waiting for ideas to come in that might actually work.....

 

[kjv1611]

Maybe try downloading hijack this, and posting a log over in the spyware forum:

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=760

forum760

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[fuwath]

It just so happens that I work for Comcast. In this case (as sad as it maybe) our policy would be to refer you to your OEM or microsoft. I really don't think it's hardware issue because you can ping and remain connected with IM. One thing you may want to try if you are thinking it's your second hard drive is to have a clean install of windows and not install 2nd hard drive to see if the issue occurs again or if it is corrected. If it work's fine until you plug in other hard drive your thoughts are correct. If it still occurs even with the one hard drive, I'm at a lost. Very interesting problem that I'm looking forward to seeing a resolution to.

 

[fuwath]

One thing about your last post is you say that you can chat and ping...this doesn't answer the question of your web browser settings being correct or not. Does this only happen in one web browser or does it occur in others? Perhaps if it is malware, virus, etc. maybe it's changing your browser settings. Just a thought.

 

[burtsbees]

Ping only resolves at layer 3...is there an IP that you can telnet into out there, or at least get prompted for a password? Telnet verifies all 7 layers (OSI). Also, I know you say you have tried this, but what about another NIC AND Firefox? If I were this frustrated, I know I would put the MoBo into a known working computer and try to isolate the problem. Hell---you may even find that BOTH computers will mysteriously work after swapping the mobo with a working computer...

Burt