IE Explorer or Ethernet Card (or other) Problem?

[rkr1958]

Two computers, mine (see profile) and my wifes connected to the internet via cable modem to a hub. Everything's been working well until today ... My wife's computer (the older one) no problems ... mine has the problems. Here it is ... After connecting to the internet and browsing a few pages I get the "Cannot Find Page" Error. If I got to a MSDOS prompt (I running W2K Pro) and type (1) ipconfig /release and then (2) ipconfig /renew, I get my connection back through IE. Also, when my connection is up I can type (in MSDOS) (3) ping knology.com and the ping recognizes Knology's IP address but doesn't get through because of its firewall. After browsing again for a couple of minutes ... samething "Cannot Find Page" Error in IE. Also, now if I type command (3) ping knology.com I get an error. However, if a type (4) ping <ip address> (where <ip address> is the actual IP address the command works (but still doesn't get through). Any thoughts, suggestions ... Like I said everything up until today has been working fine since I built my new computer back in October. Also, I contacted knology and their tech guy after doing some trouble shooting with me said that it was an IE or Windows problems.

[808smokey]

Do you have 2 seperate IP's from your ISP company for each computer. If not you can get those problems. Is it a smart hub or a plain old regular hub? I had that same problem once with Windows ME and it was a DHCP, I can't remember, Damn it!!! But it was the program that changed www.knology.com to the IP address XXX.XX.XX.XXX I had to reload Windows ME to fix the problem

[Ripper2860]

A Little Info ...

You need to have 2 seperate IP addresses -- one for each PC. These addresses can be static (i.e. fixed and never change) or dynamic (where the IP address is assigned and "leased" to each machine). If you are configured for dynamic IP adresses you must get your IP addresses from a DHCP server -- usually provided by your ISP. Each PC's network card is identified by the MAC address (unique to all cards) and assigned a unique IP address which is typically leased for a certain amount of time before it expires and the PC must request a new address. If you are using a HUB -- you are getting the IP addresses from your ISP's DHCP server. If you are using a router/firewall/switch - you are probably getting your IP addresses from a built-in DHCP server typically part of that device. ISP's typically charge for more than 1 IP address associated with a certain modem cable/DSL modem.

A DNS Server resolves the URL to the appropriate IP address of the server you are trying to contact. All devices on the Internet are identified by their IP address. You cannot get to anything without knowing the IP address. DNS is a server (once again -- typically at the ISP) which takes the URL (i.e. www.YAHOO.com) and cross-references or looks up YAHOO.com's IP Address. It is akin to a phone book where if you know the persons name you can look up their phone number. Some DNS entries are cached on your computer, saving the step of going to your ISP's DNS server to look-up an address. Sometimes the IP address for a server is changed and it takes a while to propogate the new address to all DNS servers on the Internet. This change is sometimes not reflected in your DNS cahe on your PC. This can cause a HTTP:404 ERROR

If it is a DNS Cache error -- try going to a command prompt and type "ipconfig /flushdns". This should flush the DNS resolver cache and start a new one. This may resolve the HTTP:404 Error

Your problem sounds like a DNS related issue. If you were literally "disconnecting" from the internet (ala bad nic or wire), I would think you would not be able to type in the IP address and get to the site.

I know the above my not have provided a great deal of assistance, but it may at least give you a place to start looking.

** One more thing. I did have a similar problem once. I would surf and then get 404 errors. Same setup as you -- 2 PC's on HUB w/ Cable modem and Win2K. One PC would work fine and 1 would not. I changed the IP's to static and switched the IP addresses between the PC's and the problem moved to the other PC. Turns out the probelm PC was getting an IP address to a different network segment and the ISP had DNS server issues with the server on that segment. The other working IP address was on another segment and used a different DNS server. I had my ISP assign my IP lease to point to the same segment as the other and problem was solved. Back then they used my PC Name to determine which DHCP server and IP address block to assign from.

Might be worth a try !!

[rkr1958]

Appreciate the detailed responses ... wow ... It's 5:30 a.m. in the morning and I'm heading out for a run ... I'll reread them both again in more detail when I get back. Anyway to respond now as best as I can based on my initital read of your responses and other info ...

I have two separate IP addresses (one for each computer) that are assigned dynamically by the DHCP server (I fairly sure) ... When I built my new computer I had to call knology and give them the MAC address. I've been running with two IP addresses and a hub for over two years now (different computers initially though) and luckly knology just changes for one IP address (I get cable, internet and phone through them).

It's not an IE problem. If I use WS_FTP and go to a site to FTP a large file it stops after about a minute into the download. I then have to use ipconfig to /release and then /renew. Everything is fine for another minute ... then same thing. The site I went to was Ulead and the file I was trying to download was the trial version of MovieFactory 3. I chose this site and file because the file is huge (130MB or so) and I DID succesfully download it this past Saturday.

Also, when the internet part is down ... I'm still able to see my wife's computer and transfer files back and forth.

I've run Norton and it DID NOT detect any virusus ... Could it be malious code? I usually very careful and run both a firewall (ZoneAlarm) and Antivirus. Or is it W2K ... in which I must reload it? Or is it hardware?

Anyway, thanks again for both responses, I'll explorer again in more detail what you wrote ... I'm headed out for my run now ... It's 29 degrees with a wind chill of 19. Not to bad for most of you (I guess) but I like it a little warmer.

[808smokey]

I think it's definitly something wrong with your network settings. You said every minute it loses connection?? That's strange... Hmmm... I have to think about that one. I'll get to ya

Just a guess but what is your Zonealarm set to. Maximum? Did you just get an update or something for ZA... I had it default back to maximum one time took a day to figure that one out

[ChrisX]

Occasionally my network computers do get dropouts and this is losing connectivity. This is as very annoying, for example when I type this reply and click “submit” and this gets lost when the a webpage re-loads as it slows and drops out.

The gateway computer can get errors such as DNS and DHCP and things like that with the ISP. Occasionally, it’s the network computer that is in error. Times like this: DHCP looking for an IP address from the server.

The best way to fix the network and Internet connection is to re-start all the computers together at the same time. This usually fixes the problem and this is happening today. The errors are gone when I’ve done this.

I am at the moment using a recent network driver update from Realtek for the network of PCs using the 5 port 100 Mbps switch.

I think there maybe a network driver issue and I may have to download it from Windows Update as there is one available now.

I’ll try it and see if will fix the drop outs?

[rkr1958]

I want to thank everyone who responded for their help. Problem solved ... I hope. It appears that the problem I was having was that my integrated LAN was going bad. Apparently, they can go bad in way that you still can maintain connectivity to local computers but lose your ability to stay connected or connect to the internet. That appears to be my case.

I upgraded my computer last October and bought a high end Intel MB (D875PBZLK). 160 w/$30 rebate which I've just received. Integrated Intel Pro/1000 CT Network Connect fails ... I really don't want to send it back, which would mean that I'd have to get an RMA; remove 4 PCI cards, 1 Video Card, etc. ... ship the MB back, wait, install the replacement when it gets here, reinstall the HD, PCI and Video cards, and (most importantly) reconnect the front panel USB ports (two & 4 wires per), reset, power and HD LED. Whew ...

So I decided to disable the integrated LAN (in BIOS), go get a PCI LAN card (I have one open PCI slot) and install it.

I initially bought a LinkSys LNE100TX ver. 5.1 LAN. 5-minutes to install, insert CD-ROM and load W2K drivers ... wait ... instructions say CD-ROM has W2K drivers ... but the CD-ROM doesn't ... no big deal ... go to LinkSys website and download drivers (on my wife's computer). Unzip and ... W2k doesn't recognize drivers ... WHAT? Work this issue for 45 minutes to an hour ... Took the card out and right there on the card LNE100TX ver. 5.1 ... but diagnostic utility with the downloaded drivers doesn't recognize the card ...

I'm hot ... take the card back to Best Buy and get a D-Link DFE-530TX+. 5-minutes to install card ... load drivers ... get an error (I think) ... reboot and get the Blue Screen ... WHAT?! Troubleshoot ... maybe it's some conflict with my MB / Chipset. Take the LAN card out of my wifes computer (which also runs W2k) and install the D-Link card ... same result ... swap the cards and get my wife's computer back to where it was ... Now I read the instructions ... The DFE-530TX+ requires that you install W2K drivers first before you physically install the card ... O.K. I feel like and idiot. Install the drivers, install the card, bootup, call knology to give them my new LAN MAC address ... all is well

It still burns me that my high end Intel MB of 4-months lost the integrated LAN ... but not bad enought to send it back though ...

I'm happy to be back on-line (knock on wood)