Internet connection problem

[Sacred]

I've got a problem with my current windows machine. Basically it can connect to the internet however some websites work and others won't load and I'm redirected to my ISPs "cant find this website" page. The websites that don't work include microsoft.com, google.co.uk, hotmail.com and quite a few others.

I'm not really sure what could be wrong, I've tried a multitude of different things including three full formats of the HDD and fresh installs of Windows.

So pretty much open to any advice that can be given as would really like to try and get this computer back up and running!!

Thanks,
Sacred

[CaptainCrash]

If you can connect to some websites but not others, it sounds like it might be a routing problem at your ISP's end.

How long have you had the problem? Have you checked your ISP's service status pages and/or user forum (if they have one)?

[TAKTAK]

try clearing your internet history

[Sacred]

If you can connect to some websites but not others, it sounds like it might be a routing problem at your ISP's end.

How long have you had the problem? Have you checked your ISP's service status pages and/or user forum (if they have one)?

The problem appeared 3 weeks after downloading Dekaron Online and this was the last thing that I did on this computer, scanned for spyware and viruses using various programs and found nothing. And the problem probably started in July and still persists today (the machine just sits their idle as its useless to me without being able to play online games/browse the internet).

I've got three other machines on the same network, (two macs and one other windows machine) and all three of them are able to access the internet on all websites/downloading/gaming without any issues.

try clearing your internet history

Theirs no history to clear, currently the system is empty following its last format.

[Zake Black]

The problem appeared 3 weeks after downloading Dekaron Online and this was the last thing that I did on this computer, scanned for spyware and viruses using various programs and found nothing. And the problem probably started in July and still persists today (the machine just sits their idle as its useless to me without being able to play online games/browse the internet).

I've got three other machines on the same network, (two macs and one other windows machine) and all three of them are able to access the internet on all websites/downloading/gaming without any issues.



Theirs no history to clear, currently the system is empty following its last format.

Ok based on everything you have done..

This puts the ball right into the ISP's lap!

If you want to be certain of this the only thing you have not mentioned is what modem/router you are using.. replace if possible to be sure then ISP can not blame this part.. as you would have tried every that you can..

Which ISP is it?

[MSIC]

Ok based on everything you have done..
This puts the ball right into the ISP's lap!

If i understood the post right, i have to disagree.

I've got three other machines on the same network, and all three of them are able to access the internet on all websites/downloading/gaming without any issues.

So 1 machine doesnt work properly, but 3 others do work properly.
The fault lies with the machine, not the ISP.

Sounds like Trojan / Virus activity to me.
One way to be sure is to run a new operating system on the knackered PC, see if that solves the issue.
Download & burn an Ubuntu ISO (let me know if you dont know what i'm talking about or how to do it), run that, and you'll have your answer without making any changes to your system.
If it turns out to be this issue, then your best bet might be to wipe the Operating System and re-install from scratch.

Edit: It also could be a browser issue, which is easy to test by downloading a new broswer. What Operating System do you use, and what browser? Your system specs suggest Mac OS X, so i'm going to guess it's Safari? Mac's are traditionally thought to not get Trojans or Viruses, although it's certainly technically possible. Need more info to know what's going on.

Edit again: You mentioned at the start it's a windows machine. So that still leaves an OS issue, or a browser issue.

[Zake Black]

Im so sorry, i missed the comment about the 3 other machines.. teach me for not reading all the posts in full..

However i think we are both guilty of that. he did say in his first post he had formatted and done a fresh install

Thanks

Andy

[edp33]

Which ISP is it, what Firewall are you using and how is it connected to the internet, via ethernet to a modem/router? - are the other machines use a wireless connection?

[peterb]

This could be a DNS problem (although I'd expect that to afect all sites)

If you type in an IP address (this one is one of microsofts) - does that work?

207.46.197.32

[Sacred]

Sorry for the slow reply guys, whole areas internet has been down all day.

ISP is Tiscali UK

Yes the machine with the problem is a windows machine, have tried surfing with IE, Firefox and Safari all three replicate the unable to access certain websites problem.

Firewall used is included Windows XP (SP2) firewall (tried with this on and off, currently off) and I assume my router has a built in firewall, the router in use is a Belkin N1 Vision.

All 4 machines connect wirelessly to the router.


207.46.197.32 will load but takes around 5 minutes to do so.



www.google.co.uk

Returns me to the following page:

The address is not valid

Most likely causes:
There might be a typing error in the address
If you clicked a link, it may be out of date.

and the address bar at the top changes to: http:///



www.hotmail.com returns the following page:

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage


www.hexus.net , www.bbc.co.uk , www.youtube.com also all load but take quite some time to do so (up to 10-15 minutes, sometimes resulting in the page not being displayed correctly)


www.sky.com , www.gametribe.com , www.facebook.co.uk are all forwarded to either a microsoft search page that never completes or to tiscalis own search page.


Open to any suggestions here as I'm baffled!

Download & burn an Ubuntu ISO (let me know if you dont know what i'm talking about or how to do it), run that, and you'll have your answer without making any changes to your system.
If it turns out to be this issue, then your best bet might be to wipe the Operating System and re-install from scratch.

Would doing this be of any use? If so what would I have to do?

[MSIC]

Would doing this be of any use? If so what would I have to do?

Well, thanks for the extra info, i am quite clear that currently the mostly likely explanaition is that your windows PC has been hijacked by a virus, trojan, rootkit or whatever. Or possibly even just extreme spyware, although i've never personally witnessed spyware do that amount of messing about.

The purpose of using Ubuntu (or indeed any alternative operating system) would be to confirm my theory. It still could be something router-based, but i think it's much less likely in my experience.
The process therefore is this:
1) You boot using the new operating system
2) It runs only in RAM, making zero changes to the hard disk (so you risk nothing).
3) When in a whole new operating environment, you try to get on the internet again (although for the purpose of ease of use i would most strongly recommend that you plug in over wired ethernet - Ubuntu does come with some wireless drivers, notably all the Intel Centrino stuff, but you dont want to turn this into a Linux driver-install fest on top of the original problem).
4) You will then either a) suceed or b) it will be exactly the same.
5) This will give you a very important piece of information however ie whether or not it is something to do with your windows installation (as i suspect it to be).
6) If this is true, you could try to repair the damage, running all sorts of scans and sweeps, however honestly, the quickest approach, and most reliable, will be to save your important data first, then wipe the drive and start again (assuming you have a windows re-install disc and know how to use it).

For information on downloading and then running Ubuntu, here is a fair guide, although i'd probably even ignore the bit at the start about bittorrent and Winmd5sum.
Or i'd be happy to write an even simpler guide for you.

[Zake Black]

Hi,

Just one other question.. the system that is not working. have you tried it over wired connection?

Cheers

Andy

[Sacred]

Well, thanks for the extra info, i am quite clear that currently the mostly likely explanaition is that your windows PC has been hijacked by a virus, trojan, rootkit or whatever. Or possibly even just extreme spyware, although i've never personally witnessed spyware do that amount of messing about.

The purpose of using Ubuntu (or indeed any alternative operating system) would be to confirm my theory. It still could be something router-based, but i think it's much less likely in my experience.
The process therefore is this:
1) You boot using the new operating system
2) It runs only in RAM, making zero changes to the hard disk (so you risk nothing).
3) When in a whole new operating environment, you try to get on the internet again (although for the purpose of ease of use i would most strongly recommend that you plug in over wired ethernet - Ubuntu does come with some wireless drivers, notably all the Intel Centrino stuff, but you dont want to turn this into a Linux driver-install fest on top of the original problem).
4) You will then either a) suceed or b) it will be exactly the same.
5) This will give you a very important piece of information however ie whether or not it is something to do with your windows installation (as i suspect it to be).
6) If this is true, you could try to repair the damage, running all sorts of scans and sweeps, however honestly, the quickest approach, and most reliable, will be to save your important data first, then wipe the drive and start again (assuming you have a windows re-install disc and know how to use it).

For information on downloading and then running Ubuntu, here is a fair guide, although i'd probably even ignore the bit at the start about bittorrent and Winmd5sum.
Or i'd be happy to write an even simpler guide for you.

Thanks for that, I've already gone through the route of formatting the hard drive, removing partitions, removing the RAID functions and then starting from a complete fresh install of windows from CD to the machine. As for data on the computer their was nothing that I needed to keep so it was a simple full format.


As far as I can tell the system has a problem with the onboard network card meaning I'm unable to connect over ethernet. However I would be willing to give this a go in order to eliminate it as a possible cause. I'm having to go to the bank right now though so will have to begin with this later in the afternoon!


Thanks fora ll the input so far guys, hopefully will be able to get things working again!

[kalniel]

Just sounds like a wireless card problem in the computer to me. They often go, but you could try reseating it if it's discrete, or if it's USB stick then try a different port.

[MSIC]

You know what, after re-reading this whole thread again i think Zake was right

.. teach me for not reading all the posts in full..
However i think we are both guilty of that. he did say in his first post he had formatted and done a fresh install

I can't see how a new install of windows could cause this...
So i'm sorry for sending you down the wrong path.

Still, at least we can all eliminate the most likely explainations as we continue....

As unlikely as wireless cards or routers are to do this particular thing, i'd agree that it now seems like the most likely cause.

For what it's worth though, i'd still like to see how another OS behaves on that machine

[Sacred]

As unlikely as wireless cards or routers are to do this particular thing, i'd agree that it now seems like the most likely cause.

Well I've tried with two different wireless USB network cards, one being a cheap one bought for 2 or 3 quid. The other being a brand new Belkin N1 Wireless USB card.

I'm going to get some network cable out and give the network port a try see if it can find anything.

With regards to installing another OS, would this mean partitioning the hard drives? And does the fact I have two hard drives running in RAID 0 have any effect on this? (as I know windows fails to boot without the correct RAID drives being installed first).