I have an old Dell Latitude running Windows XP (SP2). Recently, my internet quit working: the computer tells me that I am connected, but when I open a browser I cannot access the web. I've tried all the basic fixes (resetting the modems, some resets, new drivers, etc.). The problem happens no matter where I am -- at home, public network, etc.
Recently, I had a fix that seemed to work, but with two problems: (1) it was done by the cable guy who magically went into my settings and fixed things, but I don't know what he did (see end of this post for my vague sense of what the magical cable guy did), and (2) it only worked overnight (when I shut down my computer at night and restarted it in the AM, the problem resurfaced).
So the obvious problem is that my computer says I'm connected, but I can't actually get online. The thing that clued the cable guy in was this:
When I open network connections, then right-click and select "properties" from the network connection (this happens both with Local Area Network or wireless connection), then click TCP/IP and choose properties, I see "Use the following DNS server addresses" clicked, with the following DNS addresses:
Preferred DNS server: 72.3.247.239
Alternate DNS server: 209.200.151.4
If I click "Obtain DNS server addresses automatically" it deletes those two addresses. BUT (and this is the kicker) if I then click out (by choosing "OK" twice to get back to Network Connections) and then go *back* into Properties and back into TCP/IP Properties, the "Use the following DNS server addresses" is re-clicked and the same two addresses are back in place! I've tried doing some basic resets (like the "netsh winsock reset" command) without any luck.
For more possibly useful information, under "Advanced TCP/IP Settings," I have the following:
IP settings: DHCP enabled is listed, and "Automatic metric" is checked
DNS: I now only have "Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes" clicked. If I click "Register this connection's addresses in DNS" and then click out and click back in, I get the two DNS addresses listed above in the "DNS server addresses, in order of use" box.
WINS: "Enable LMHOSTS lookup" is clicked
Under NetBIOS settings, the "Default: Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server..." is clicked.
Option: TCP/IP flitering is listed as an Optional setting
Anyone out there have any idea how to fix this problem with the DNS addresses? I am not very tech-skilled, so I need to be walked through fixes. The ones I've tried I've found through message boards like this. I have looked all over online (on microsoft help, on these therads, etc.) and haven't found a fix. I've tried
From what I gather, the fix needs to make it STAY on "Obtain DNS server addresses automatically." The previous fix (from a very handy cable guy) involved finding the Winsock2 folder and deleting (I think) the information in it, then running some sort of reboot or other. Again, this solution seemed to work, but only until I shut down and restarted my computer. So ideally I need a longer-term fix.
Thanks in advance (endless thanks!) for helping.
- Bill
Recently, I had a fix that seemed to work, but with two problems: (1) it was done by the cable guy who magically went into my settings and fixed things, but I don't know what he did (see end of this post for my vague sense of what the magical cable guy did), and (2) it only worked overnight (when I shut down my computer at night and restarted it in the AM, the problem resurfaced).
So the obvious problem is that my computer says I'm connected, but I can't actually get online. The thing that clued the cable guy in was this:
When I open network connections, then right-click and select "properties" from the network connection (this happens both with Local Area Network or wireless connection), then click TCP/IP and choose properties, I see "Use the following DNS server addresses" clicked, with the following DNS addresses:
Preferred DNS server: 72.3.247.239
Alternate DNS server: 209.200.151.4
If I click "Obtain DNS server addresses automatically" it deletes those two addresses. BUT (and this is the kicker) if I then click out (by choosing "OK" twice to get back to Network Connections) and then go *back* into Properties and back into TCP/IP Properties, the "Use the following DNS server addresses" is re-clicked and the same two addresses are back in place! I've tried doing some basic resets (like the "netsh winsock reset" command) without any luck.
For more possibly useful information, under "Advanced TCP/IP Settings," I have the following:
IP settings: DHCP enabled is listed, and "Automatic metric" is checked
DNS: I now only have "Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes" clicked. If I click "Register this connection's addresses in DNS" and then click out and click back in, I get the two DNS addresses listed above in the "DNS server addresses, in order of use" box.
WINS: "Enable LMHOSTS lookup" is clicked
Under NetBIOS settings, the "Default: Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server..." is clicked.
Option: TCP/IP flitering is listed as an Optional setting
Anyone out there have any idea how to fix this problem with the DNS addresses? I am not very tech-skilled, so I need to be walked through fixes. The ones I've tried I've found through message boards like this. I have looked all over online (on microsoft help, on these therads, etc.) and haven't found a fix. I've tried
From what I gather, the fix needs to make it STAY on "Obtain DNS server addresses automatically." The previous fix (from a very handy cable guy) involved finding the Winsock2 folder and deleting (I think) the information in it, then running some sort of reboot or other. Again, this solution seemed to work, but only until I shut down and restarted my computer. So ideally I need a longer-term fix.
Thanks in advance (endless thanks!) for helping.
- Bill
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