can only get to web sites using ip address

dic gordon · Dec 21, 2006

How's everyone doing out there. I've run into this problem more than a few times and I'm looking for a quick/easy soultion. I can connect to the internet using my test laptop using either a wireless or hardwired connection to the router. However when I try to use the troubled PC I cant connect to the internet. I can only connect if I type the ip address into the address bar of internet explorer. I have also tried using other brousers only to get the same result. If I go to command line I can ping the router and I can ping any ip address as long as I know what the site is.I can't ping in command line if I type "ping www.google.com",this is how I know it's a problem w/the DNS. The DNS is failed at the application level. I've tried resetting the winsock using netsh winsock reset.
But that did not work either. Does anybody know what would cause this?
And of course does anybody know how to fix this problem.

I've run into this on XPsp1 XPsp2 as well as win9x machines.

Major Attitude · Dec 21, 2006

Could have a malware infection.

Look at your hosts file, which can be found in C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc on an XP machine. It should look like this:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anything after 127.0.0.1 localhost is causing a problem. Remove all of those lines and you might want to do some malware scans from our tutorial in the malware forum.

dic gordon · Dec 21, 2006

Thanks for getting back to me. It very well could be a malware issue.
I will have to check the hosts file like you said.
Most of time when I run into this problem, the owner of the PC is non-geek,and does not speak the language. They have no idea what DNS is let alone a ping.

pari22 · Dec 22, 2006

in your IP settings, does your dns point to the router or the public isp dns?
also, in your tcp/ip properties, is it set to use host file? If you have the correct settings, your pc doesn't even need to use the lmhost file..., so I guess what i'm saying is, chekc to see if your dns is pointed to router or public and switch around to see if it helps.
Also, I had a very similar problem with one of my clients and it was somehow solved by giving it static ip settings... I know this does not make sense and shouldn't be the way, but it worked. And I'm still trying to figure out why...

anyway, good luck and merry x-mas

Gecks · Dec 22, 2006

If you go to start->run->services.msc, is the DNS client service set to "automatic" and started?

If no, what happens when you set it to automatic, and start it?

dic gordon · Dec 22, 2006

Pari22 I have also tried your sugestions. Sometimes they work for some unknown reason. But I'm led to believe that there is a problem w/ the lmhost file. I will not have any time to look into it further till I get back to work next week. Thanks for the reply. When I find out what the fix is I will be sure to share it. I mean the easy answer is to dump the machine as that always works. But that answer never makes the client happy.

dic gordon · Dec 22, 2006

Gecks, I don't have the answer to your question yet. But I will find out.

Thanks. and Happy Holidays

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can only get to web sites using ip address

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