Solve : can't connect?

1.	Solve : can't connect?
Answer» I am TRYING to figure out a problem my parents are having on their computer. They are having problems logging on to the internet. They have a comcast broadband connection, and whenever they try and connect, instead of the homepage (www.comcast.net), the get an HTML page stating the the web page cannot be displayed, cannot find server or DNS error. It's a page that I'm sure everyone has seen at least once. Nothing has been changed since the last time they were able to connect. It suddenly started happening. Comcast is saying that everything is fine on their end, and that this must be a computer problem. I don't know much about their computer other than that it is an older Dell running Windows 98. Any help with this problem would be appreciated. If you type a new address in the address bar, does it take you to that page? Ex. http://www.google.com ... When did this start? Do they have virus and Spyware protection? Have they made any changes to thier system recently? Also, I trust you have a DSL MODEM. This sounds strange, but it usually helps. Turn off the computer. Once it is off, unplug the power cord going into the DSL modem for 15-30 seconds. After waiting, restore power to the DSL modem, and give it about a minute to warm-up. You may now turn on the computer. Tell us if this changes anything. FlameThey have a cable connection, not DSL. Nevertheless, I tried what you suggested, unplugging the cable modem and plugging it back in. It had no affect. They do have plenty of security software installed. Nothing has been changed on the computer since the last time they were able to connect. This problem just happened suddenly. Back to the drawing board I guess.Quote If you type a new address in the address bar (and hit enter), does it take you to that page? Ex. http://www.google.com ... Is it only the Comcast URL that can't be resolved or are there others? A quick server history check shows that Comcast are at least on their way to becoming famous for their DNS outages and related problems. If Comcast has a user forum area, take a look through it to see if others are having similar problems. They do have a dedicated forum on [highlight]DSLReports[/highlight] and it may actually be a better idea to look there FIRST. From what I've just seen of it, you're FAR from alone in having issues with Comcast and a resolution, or at least an explanation may well be found there. If nothing turns up in those areas, we'll take a look your end. What modem/router/other connection equipment do you use and how is it all connected? Was anything installed/uninstalled/updated immediately prior to this happening? Don't forget Windows and other automatic updates! Is a software firewall in place and if so, has it's configuration changed or become corrupt? If a router is in place, can you access it's setup and check that it's DNS etc settings correspond to those actually issued by Comcast. Input them manually if possible rather than allowing the router to get them from Comcast. If a modem is in place, check the same as above but via the connection applet. Enter ipconfig /all >c:\windows\desktop >ipconfig.txt in the Start>Run box. A file called ipconfig.txt should now have appeared on your desktop. Open it, copy the entire contents and paste it all here.

Answer»

I am TRYING to figure out a problem my parents are having on their computer. They are having problems logging on to the internet. They have a comcast broadband connection, and whenever they try and connect, instead of the homepage (www.comcast.net), the get an HTML page stating the the web page cannot be displayed, cannot find server or DNS error. It's a page that I'm sure everyone has seen at least once. Nothing has been changed since the last time they were able to connect. It suddenly started happening. Comcast is saying that everything is fine on their end, and that this must be a computer problem. I don't know much about their computer other than that it is an older Dell running Windows 98. Any help with this problem would be appreciated.

If you type a new address in the address bar, does it take you to that page? Ex. http://www.google.com ... When did this start? Do they have virus and Spyware protection? Have they made any changes to thier system recently? Also, I trust you have a DSL MODEM. This sounds strange, but it usually helps. Turn off the computer. Once it is off, unplug the power cord going into the DSL modem for 15-30 seconds. After waiting, restore power to the DSL modem, and give it about a minute to warm-up. You may now turn on the computer. Tell us if this changes anything.

FlameThey have a cable connection, not DSL. Nevertheless, I tried what you suggested, unplugging the cable modem and plugging it back in. It had no affect. They do have plenty of security software installed. Nothing has been changed on the computer since the last time they were able to connect. This problem just happened suddenly. Back to the drawing board I guess.Quote

If you type a new address in the address bar (and hit enter), does it take you to that page? Ex. http://www.google.com ...

Is it only the Comcast URL that can't be resolved or are there others?
A quick server history check shows that Comcast are at least on their way to becoming famous for their DNS outages and related problems.

If Comcast has a user forum area, take a look through it to see if others are having similar problems. They do have a dedicated forum on [highlight]DSLReports[/highlight] and it may actually be a better idea to look there FIRST. From what I've just seen of it, you're FAR from alone in having issues with Comcast and a resolution, or at least an explanation may well be found there.

If nothing turns up in those areas, we'll take a look your end.
What modem/router/other connection equipment do you use and how is it all connected?
Was anything installed/uninstalled/updated immediately prior to this happening? Don't forget Windows and other automatic updates!
Is a software firewall in place and if so, has it's configuration changed or become corrupt?
If a router is in place, can you access it's setup and check that it's DNS etc settings correspond to those actually issued by Comcast. Input them manually if possible rather than allowing the router to get them from Comcast.
If a modem is in place, check the same as above but via the connection applet.

Enter ipconfig /all >c:\windows\desktop >ipconfig.txt in the Start>Run box. A file called ipconfig.txt should now have appeared on your desktop. Open it, copy the entire contents and paste it all here.

Solve : can't connect?

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