DNS problems?

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debbie.games@googlemail.com - 16 Jul 2007 12:13 GMT

What is likely to be the problem if one pc can resolve a url, but
another can't?
I can't even do an nslookup on the domain on my pc, but someone else
can see the domain fine on their pc.

I'm going to have a look at the other pc, but what sort of thing
should I look for?

Any link, hints or tips would be welcom,

TIA

Debbie

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Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM - 16 Jul 2007 13:41 GMT

> What is likely to be the problem if one pc can resolve a url, but
> another can't?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Debbie

Check C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc for a file named HOSTS with no
extension. (Not Hosts.sam)
Make sure Windows is set to show hidden files and folders and is NOT set to
hide extensions for known file types.
If HOSTS exists, rename it to HOSTS.OLD
Reboot an try again.

Or, In a Cmd window, enter
ipconfig /flushdns
then clear your TIF also, and re-boot.

Signature

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com

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debbie - 16 Jul 2007 14:08 GMT

On Jul 16, 1:41 pm, "Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM"
<franksaund...@mvps.org> wrote:

> <debbie.ga...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> ipconfig /flushdns
> then clear your TIF also, and re-boot.

It seems very flaky as to whether the site is visible from a pc or
not. I know a friend (who'd never visited the site before) could see
it on his. My pc can't see it at all. The oner of the site can see it.

The host file suggestion: is that for the pc that can see it? My host
file only has the default setting for the localhost. I'll see what's
on the PC that can see it tomorrow.

Having said that, I don't want to "fix" the pc so that he can't see it
without being able to recover it. I don't think that would go down too
well!

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Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM - 16 Jul 2007 22:37 GMT

> On Jul 16, 1:41 pm, "Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM"
> <franksaund...@mvps.org> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
> without being able to recover it. I don't think that would go down too
> well!

If the HOSTS file contains a line for the site with the wrong IP address, IE
will try to go to that IP address. A common way of preventing IE from
visiting a site is to list it with the loopback IP.

For instance, to prevent IE from going to www.fjsmjs.com you would put this
line in HOSTS:

127.0.0.1 www.fjsmjs.com

Signature

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com

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Robert Aldwinckle - 16 Jul 2007 15:05 GMT

> What is likely to be the problem if one pc can resolve a url, but
> another can't?

Different DNS server addresses? Compare with ipconfig /all
or nslookup (interactive mode)

> I can't even do an nslookup on the domain on my pc, but someone else
> can see the domain fine on their pc.

Give an example?

> I'm going to have a look at the other pc, but what sort of thing
> should I look for?

You could also compare with Network Diagnostics: netsh diag gui

BTW which OS? A better newsgroup for dealing with this symptom
would be networking for your OS and normally I would initiate a cross-post
with my reply for one but can't do that if the poster doesn't disclose the OS
involved.

> Any link, hints or tips would be welcom,
>
> TIA
>
> Debbie

HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---

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debbie - 16 Jul 2007 15:46 GMT

> BTW which OS? A better newsgroup for dealing with this symptom
> would be networking for your OS and normally I would initiate a cross-post
> with my reply for one but can't do that if the poster doesn't disclose the OS
> involved.

Sorry about that. The OS on both PCs I've tried is Windows XP.

My PC is set to obtain DNS automatically: I'm not sure about the other
two. Might that mean my DNS can't look it up but others can, maybe
according to ISPs? (Sorry, my knowledge of DNS stuff is very limited!)

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John - 16 Jul 2007 18:56 GMT

Try using ping. Open a command prompt... Run--CMD
Then type ping followed by the web address like ping microsoft.com
If you get address not found, you have a DNS issue. If it's a url try using
the www.microsoft.com as well as just the microsoft.com

>> BTW which OS? A better newsgroup for dealing with this symptom
>> would be networking for your OS and normally I would initiate a
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> two. Might that mean my DNS can't look it up but others can, maybe
> according to ISPs? (Sorry, my knowledge of DNS stuff is very limited!)

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debbie - 16 Jul 2007 19:28 GMT

> Try using ping.

I tried that, but it can't find the url from my pc at all.

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debbie - 16 Jul 2007 20:45 GMT

One more thing:
I couldn't ping the nameserver address, e.g. ns1.hostname.co.uk
but could ping its ip address.

Once I'd mapped the hostname in my hosts file, I could then ping the
name, but still couldn't view the web for the domain I wanted.

There is another site hosted on that nameserver that I'm aware of
which I can view ok If I do a whois lookup on that site it lists the
nameservers as

name ipaddress

whereas the faulty site just has

name
without the ipaddress mapping

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debbie - 16 Jul 2007 21:15 GMT

I've just posted a precis onto a hopefully more suitable newsgroup:
microsoft . public . windowsxp . network_web

Thanks for the replies so far.

Debbie

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Robert Aldwinckle - 16 Jul 2007 23:29 GMT

> One more thing:
> I couldn't ping the nameserver address, e.g. ns1.hostname.co.uk
> but could ping its ip address.

Did you do an ipconfig /all and see that IP address as one of your
current DNS server addresses?

In any case if it is a valid nameserver that you are allowed to use
you could force nslookup to use it. The simplest way would be
using nslookup's command-line syntax. E.g. specify the server
address as the second parameter.

> Once I'd mapped the hostname in my hosts file, I could then ping the
> name, but still couldn't view the web for the domain I wanted.

I asked you before for an example... ; }

> There is another site hosted on that nameserver that I'm aware of
> which I can view ok If I do a whois lookup on that site it lists the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> name
> without the ipaddress mapping

You've been using "domain name" ambiguously. Originally I was giving you
the benefit of doubt that you were trying to use a host name that you knew
should work but now I'm wondering if you are just assuming that the domain name
is a server name? That is sometimes the case but not always. The latter
would explain your symptom. Again, providing some specific details would
clarify your questions and make our answers more pertinent.

HTH

Robert
---

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Rich - 12 Oct 2007 18:48 GMT

I have been using IE7 (XP Professional) for months. But after being away a
couple of days, I cannot open any websites. When I try to use IE7, I get the
Unable to open website and at the bottom of the screen it quickly flashes a
message that ends in "DNS.HTML". So, I am assuming some kind of DNS problem.
Also, I run IM and it works fine. I even get email notifications but cannot
access email.

I have tried just about everything on the MSN Support website (using my
laptop connected to the same router and ISP for access to support).

I am not sure if this is the same problem you have been discussing.

If you have any suggestions, please make it simple to understand (I don't
claim to be a techy).

Thanks,
Rich

> What is likely to be the problem if one pc can resolve a url, but
> another can't?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Debbie

Reply to this Message

Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM - 17 Oct 2007 01:44 GMT

>I have been using IE7 (XP Professional) for months. But after being away a
> couple of days, I cannot open any websites. When I try to use IE7, I get
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> If you have any suggestions, please make it simple to understand (I don't
> claim to be a techy).

Error message after you install a Windows Internet Explorer 7 update from
Windows Update or from Microsoft Update: "Webpage cannot be displayed"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942818

From Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

If tweaking your third-party firewall's settings don' help, try the
following:

1. Disable your anti-virus application, any real-time protection provided by
an anti-spyware application (except for Windows Defender; includes Spybot
Tea Timer, SpySweeper Guards, AVG AS guard.exe, etc.), disable any
third-party firewall AND enable the Windows Firewall.

NB: If you're running ZA Free firewall, you may need to uninstall it instead
of disabling it. You're "working without a net" now: Don't to ANYTHING else
online (e.g., browsing; reading email; chatting) except #4 below until your
anti-virus application has been re-enabled!

2. Uninstall "Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB939653)"
[or "Security Update for Windows XP (KB939653)"] via Add/Remove Programs
(make sure Show Updates box is checked at top right) and reboot.

3. Re-do #1 above.

4. Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and install any Critical Updates
offered. If "Root Certificates" update is listed in the Optional Updates
category, you might install it, too, to take full advantage of IE7's
additional security.

5. Reboot > Make sure everything in #1 above is enabled again and, if
applicable, disable the Windows Firewall and enable your third-party
firewall.

Signature

Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not send email

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