Computer Problems of my Own it seems

[Bigal1]

Here's the problem:

I have a desk top computer. I have two "user" accounts, one for me and one for my wife. When I'm logged onto the computer as me I have full internet access. When my wife logs on, she used to have full internet access but now she gets notta.

What's changed? All i can think of is that the computer does automatic windows updates.

I have disabled windows firewall protection thinking that was the problem. no change.

I have mcafee privacy service. Disabled it, uninstalled it. notta.

I have closed mcafee security center with no change.

Anyone gotta clue?

Using windows XP.

[dahvaio]

What's the error message that she gets when she opens up IE?

Check in IE Tools - Internet Options - Connections Tab, then the LAN Settings button and make sure that Automatically Detect Settings is checked.

Go to Start-Run and Type CMD and hit OK. In the Dialog Box, type ipconfig and see if you are getting an IP Address and make sure it is something other than 156..., 192... or 169....unless your running an internal network.

[Bigal1]

auto detect settings is checked.

error message in IE is: "the page cannot be displayed"



I'm using an internal lan so I get IP address of 192.168.0.101 when I type ipconfig.

thanks.
more questions?

[Bigal1]

and if I ping the default gateway (192.168.0.1) I get 4 good returns.

[dahvaio]

in CMD
try to Ping your Gateway... it should be 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1

Then try to Ping www.yahoo.com

[Bigal1]

pinging my gateway is successful.

pinging www.yahoo.com says:
"ping request could not find host www.yahoo.com. Please check the name and try again."

[dahvaio]

Right Click on My Network Places and then Right Click on Local Area Connection

In the Middle area there is a Internet Protocol TCP/IP, make sure it is highlighted and then go to properties. Make sure that Obtain DNS servers automatically is checked...

[Bigal1]

"Obtain DNS server address automatically" was checked.

keep em comin.

[dahvaio]

You could try in CMD:

ipconfig /release <enter>

Ipconfig /renew <enter>

Ipconfig /all and then double check the DNS server entries and make sure it matches the ones that you get under your account...

I gotta go home now and maybe on my way home I can think of something...

Good luck

[Bigal1]

roger.
thanks.

[Bigal1]

You could try in CMD:

ipconfig /release <enter>

Ipconfig /renew <enter>

Ipconfig /all and then double check the DNS server entries and make sure it matches the ones that you get under your account...

I gotta go home now and maybe on my way home I can think of something...

Good luck


did it all.

checked the new ip address and dns entries. all look good (exactly same as old ones)

and still it don't work.

[Luzrd]

it seems to me that your wifes user account is able to access the network, but not the internet.

my first thought would be to d/l a different browser (mozilla,opera,etc.etc.) with your account, install it on her account and see if you can access the internet with that (i hate IE!). if with a different browser you can access the internet you can be confident its IE. if you still cannot access the internet its likely an XP problem.

if its an XP problem i would go to "control panel" "user accounts" and change her account type to "administrator" to see if its a problem with permissions. you dont want to keep a regularly used account set as "administrator", so once youve done this change it back, and let us know the results (if any).

now to warn you, im no computer guru. this is just my $.02 im sure others will be more helpful
and if all else fails SYSTEM RESTORE TO THE RESCUE!! (hopefully)

[Bigal1]

it seems to me that your wifes user account is able to access the network, but not the internet.

my first thought would be to d/l a different browser (mozilla,opera,etc.etc.) with your account, install it on her account and see if you can access the internet with that (i hate IE!). if with a different browser you can access the internet you can be confident its IE. if you still cannot access the internet its likely an XP problem.

if its an XP problem i would go to "control panel" "user accounts" and change her account type to "administrator" to see if its a problem with permissions. you dont want to keep a regularly used account set as "administrator", so once youve done this change it back, and let us know the results (if any).

now to warn you, im no computer guru. this is just my $.02 im sure others will be more helpful
and if all else fails SYSTEM RESTORE TO THE RESCUE!! (hopefully)


Thanks.

She's already set up as an administrator.


Does it make any difference in that outlook express (which used to work for her) doesn't work at all now?

[matthepepe]

quit looking at pr0n

[Bigal1]

quit looking at pr0n


??? :notsure:

[Bigal1]

ok matt, took me a few minutes now I know what you meant to say. It is too early in the am.

[Vantage_TeS]

Log in as you
Create new account
See if the internet works
If it does then you have two options
A) select everything in her old "documents + settings" folder and copy it to her new one
B) delete the old account but tell it to keep the files and then create a new one with the same name

This is something to do with the internet sharing between accounts but I can't find the ruddy options to change it.

[Bigal1]

Log in as you
Create new account
See if the internet works
If it does then you have two options
A) select everything in her old "documents + settings" folder and copy it to her new one
B) delete the old account but tell it to keep the files and then create a new one with the same name

This is something to do with the internet sharing between accounts but I can't find the ruddy options to change it.
yup, tried that but on your recommendation I did it again. Created new account. No access to internet.

[Bigal1]

I also searched microsoft's xp help files last night. found nothing helpful.

Don't know if I should be working to resolve an XP problem or mcafee problem or even something else.

[RangerX]

That's a weird problem. I would try to rebuild the profile, as Vantage mentioned but if that didn't work I'm really not sure. Did you restart before you tried to login using the new account? Make sure you don't copy the user.dat file located in her profile.

Try to rebuild it. Log in as you... rename her folder (under documents and settings). Reboot the machine, create her account again. Log in as her and try it before copying old data to the new profile.

If all else fails, put the lastest service pack on the computer (service pack 2)... if you have already done so, re-install the service pack.

Check open processes, and see if anything odd is running.

Download the latest .dat files for you anti virus, make sure any firewalls are turned off.

Let's start there, and let me know what you come up with. If you would rather IM me, my AIM is: TLA RangerX

Let me know!

Nick

[Bigal1]

No I didn't reboot before using the new account.

Don't even know how to copy the user.dat file...

I'll try again rebooting in between.

have SP2 but can reinstall it.

more to follow.

and thanks.

[Bigal1]

Created new account. rebooted. still no internet connection.

Also, I can ping my access point with good results. But when I open IE and type in the address for the access point (http://192.168.0.1) I get page not found. (don't know if that's relevant.)

[Bigal1]

And, when I go to the MS XP website to download service pack two, it determines that I already have it and I can' reinstall it. how do I unistall it? It isn't listed as something to uninstall in the add/remove software page.

[Bigal1]

Holy Cow.

I thought my desktop was on it's deathbed after I uninstalled XP service pack 2. I was pulling my hair out thinking I was about to reformat the hard drive because nothing was working but I was able to get an internet connection and I connnected to microsofts website and am reinstalling SP2 right now. Assuming the blood transfusion is successful, I wan't have to put my computer to sleep.

Net effect, no change in status of original problem. Almost made it worse.

[RangerX]

Ok man... I'm not sure how familiar you are with Windows XP, or how comfortable you may be. There are some known issues, and resolutions.

Let's start with this one: Log in as the account that can't browse the interenet.
Read this article and apply
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357/EN-US/

Also, given that you can ping your internal network... (other ip address internal, and your gateway) try this. All this article is doing, is telling you to choose your DNS server manually, rather than having your router handle them from your ISP.

Read this article and apply
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812336

Might want to take a peek that this one... (you may have tried this)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293402

If you have installed 'Internet Boost' or any type of software that claims will make your web browsing faster... this could be the problem as well.

Read article and apply
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;262264

If you need help or have questions with any of this, don't be shy to shoot me a question.

Nick

[Bigal1]

I will read and attempt what I learn from the articles. right now working from my laptop.

Service pack 2 reinstallation complete and pretty much successful. Lost some functionality but all in all I'd say it was successful.

[masterdebater]

§§§§ing sp2 lol

[Bigal1]

I'm still working the MS articles above but I'll share this. I logged onto the desktop this morning under the account that doesn't access the internet. As soon as it starts I get that little notice that new updates are available for my computer. I'm thinking this isn't going to work b/c it doesn't access the internet. So I click on update now and sure enough, it starts downloading and updating XP. So now I try to open IE and it says "page not found".

Extremely weird...

[Bigal1]

Completed actions from this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357/EN-US/
Reset log attached to this post. Hope it means something to someone. No change in internet connectivity.

[Bigal1]

completed actions of this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...kb;en-us;812336

no change.

(should I remove the DNS servers added in this step?)

[Bigal1]

Tried this one:
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...kb;en-us;293402

didn't work.

[Bigal1]

with respect to the last article concerning internet boost, don't have internet boost but I noticed it's by the same company that makes software my daughter had installed on my computer while I was on deployment. I have long since removed it however.

Anyway, don't think the article applies to me.

thanks.

net effect is no change...

[Vantage_TeS]

:) backup and reformat

Yes I realize this is not the answer you really want to hear, but there is a point where you have spent too much time on the problem.

By all means keep trouble shooting if you feel you can fix it, I'm not saying it can't be fixed.

Most times it's nice to start again with a clean image anyways, it gets rid of all that junk that got on there to start with.

[Vantage_TeS]

Actually an even better idea, try just reinstalling windows.

It will keep all your files etc. You may have to reinstall a couple programs since you are wiping the registry but most will be ok.

[dahvaio]

I've been really busy as of late.

1: Can your PC access the internet under any account? Or none of the accounts can access the internet?

2: You are able to PING the Gateway, and the DNS Servers? However, you are not able to ping www.yahoo.com? Can you ping 68.142.226.50?

3: If you have multiple computers on an internal network, can you PING the IP of another PC?

4: Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and there is a file called hosts Open it up with notepad and please post the contents here. If you do not see it, you will need to go to Tools-Folder Options - View and enable the Hidden and system files.

5: If you are on a network, go to a computer that you know is able to access the network and open up cmd and type the following telnet <IP ADDRESS OF NON WORKING PC> 80 i.e. telnet 192.168.0.100 80
Tell me me if the cmd box stays just black or if an error message scrolls by.

6: What type of router are you using? Double check to make sure that no filters have been set that blocks port 80 or the PC IP address.

[RangerX]

I've been really busy as of late.

1: Can your PC access the internet under any account? Or none of the accounts can access the internet?

2: You are able to PING the Gateway, and the DNS Servers? However, you are not able to ping www.yahoo.com? Can you ping 68.142.226.50?

3: If you have multiple computers on an internal network, can you PING the IP of another PC?

4: Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and there is a file called hosts Open it up with notepad and please post the contents here. If you do not see it, you will need to go to Tools-Folder Options - View and enable the Hidden and system files.

5: If you are on a network, go to a computer that you know is able to access the network and open up cmd and type the following telnet <IP ADDRESS OF NON WORKING PC> 80 i.e. telnet 192.168.0.100 80
Tell me me if the cmd box stays just black or if an error message scrolls by.

6: What type of router are you using? Double check to make sure that no filters have been set that blocks port 80 or the PC IP address.

That's all been covered, this appears to be a profile specific problem.

Actually an even better idea, try just reinstalling windows.

Vantage, I agree with everything you say except for that. Just backup, and repartition and install a fresh copy.

Sorry I couldn't help you out more BigAl...Troubleshooting this to the next level would require an extensive knowledge of Windows, and the registry... and I would rather not guide you through that.

I would take Vantage's advice and backup, and blow away the instance of Windows and start fresh.

(and you might as well change your DNS settings back to automatic, as that attempt did not fix the problem)

-RangerX

[Bigal1]

I've been really busy as of late.

1: Can your PC access the internet under any account? Or none of the accounts can access the internet?

2: You are able to PING the Gateway, and the DNS Servers? However, you are not able to ping www.yahoo.com? Can you ping 68.142.226.50?

3: If you have multiple computers on an internal network, can you PING the IP of another PC?

4: Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and there is a file called hosts Open it up with notepad and please post the contents here. If you do not see it, you will need to go to Tools-Folder Options - View and enable the Hidden and system files.

5: If you are on a network, go to a computer that you know is able to access the network and open up cmd and type the following telnet <IP ADDRESS OF NON WORKING PC> 80 i.e. telnet 192.168.0.100 80
Tell me me if the cmd box stays just black or if an error message scrolls by.

6: What type of router are you using? Double check to make sure that no filters have been set that blocks port 80 or the PC IP address.
1. Yes. When I log my wife off and log on as me, I have full internet access.

2. Pinging 68.142.226.50 from wife's account works. pinging www.yahoo.com does not work.

3. pinging other computers on home network works.

6. Using D-Link DI-624 Wireless. No filters applied.

4-5 Will get back to you.
thanks.

[RangerX]

Al, have you tried posting on some technical websites? Might find a much quicker resolution...

Here, try this one:
http://www.tek-tips.com/

[Bigal1]

I'm still drudging my way through the microsoft help (or lack thereof) sites.

[RangerX]

Forget the microsoft sites, technet can be overwhelming if you don't know how to queury their knowledge base the right way.

[blindman]

have you tried connecting the computer directly to the modem and connecting to the internet?

[Bigal1]

[QUOTE=dahvaio]I've been really busy as of late.



4: Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and there is a file called hosts Open it up with notepad and please post the contents here. If you do not see it, you will need to go to Tools-Folder Options - View and enable the Hidden and system files.

5: If you are on a network, go to a computer that you know is able to access the network and open up cmd and type the following telnet <IP ADDRESS OF NON WORKING PC> 80 i.e. telnet 192.168.0.100 80
Tell me me if the cmd box stays just black or if an error message scrolls by.
QUOTE]


4. Here's what the hosts file says:
127.0.0.1 localhost
192.168.0.102 HP000D9D1512FE

5. when I type (typed exactly as I typed it at the cmd line):
telnet 192.168.0.101 80 <ENTER>
I get:

Connecting to 192.168.0.101...Could not open connection to the host on port 80: Connect failed

For what it's worth, the 127.0.0.1 is the server where I get my inbound email (mcafee) and I also thought it is noteworthy that the IP address of the computer that isn't working for "some" users is 192.168.0.101 but the hosts file above shows a 192.168.0.102

[RangerX]

127.0.0.1 is your loopback address... leave that. You can remove the other entry... lmhost and host file directly relates to a stupid idea Microsoft had once called WINS

DNS takes care off all this §§§§ now.

-RangerX

[dahvaio]

BigAl,

Make a copy of the Host file and save it... Then edit the original and remove the last line with 192...etc...

Make sure when you save you save it with without a file extension. In NotePad,

Use File-Save As and in the "Save as type", make sure all files is selected....

[Bigal1]

I also forgot if this was asked: Did you disable the built in FireWall with SP2?


A B S O L U T E L Y ! ! !

[dahvaio]

Read what I edited in the message before...

[El Pirata]

Al I am not a computer geek in any way but I would use the telephone and call Cox and explain part of the information, the part that says you can't connect to the internet. Personally I would leave out the part about one account can log in and the other can not only for the simple fact they will probably disregard some of the troubleshooting steps if they know you are not completely off the internet.

Another option is call the manufacturer of your computer, if known. Lastly call Microsoft. While some people prefer to get answers online I prefer a one on one either face to face or telephone because they can hear from the tone of my voice that I WILL KILL THEM IF THEY DO NOT FIX MY PROBLEM so I can generally get better service that way. Just my $0.02

[Vantage_TeS]

Very nice El.

Al it seems your computer is trying to use your mail server rather then your internet. Grab the IP and DNS from the account that works, then go into the account that doesn't and tell it to use a specific one, and plug in those numbers.

[Bigal1]

Read what I edited in the message before...


Done.

No change.

El: I would call and complain if I could figure out who to call. I don't know if it's:

a. mcafee (completey uninstalled right now so I don't think so)
b. cox (don't think so cuz I can have additional accounts on the laptop and connect just fine)
c. microsoft
d. d-link

I'm off to New Mexico on Monday so I can continue to troubleshoot til sunday night but then it's on hold til the desktop arrives in NM.

[El Pirata]

Al, call all of them.