DNS Error

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Biggie2 · #1 Post by **Biggie2** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 10:45 pm

I have some sort of DNS problem on my thinkpad... Been troubling me for months... Problems include not being able to check email through such servers as my Virginia Tech webmail, as well as hotmail (Outlook, however, is able to get through to the server and get my email for me... thank god). Windows Update also wont work, and im still stuck on SP1. Anything like online Fileboxes also do not work. Any help?? Its been a lingering problem for awhile now... Thanks

JohnDrake · #2 Post by **JohnDrake** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:20 am

Do you have this problem on a generic DHCP TCIPIP connection? Like if you are doing DSL, cablemodem, (or even some internet cafe?)

Then you can check with IPCONFIG what the DNS entries SHOULD be (because the ISP should allow you to know) and compare and contrast...

aleung · #3 Post by **aleung** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:07 am

well.. maybe access connect is the problem. I had problem with latest access connect and mcafee antivirus.

Biggie2 · #4 Post by **Biggie2** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:46 pm

No i dont use access connections so its not that...

Ive had the problem on every connection ive tried... I dont know how to check what the DNS should be.

lvlolvlo · #5 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 6:45 pm

Biggie2 I have no idea what you're talking about.

But I will tell you this...

How do you know it's DNS?
Can you use your inet connection with another computer normally?
Have you run spyware/adware and virus scans? With the latest definition files?
Have you checked your firewall settings?
Are you using Windows firewall with your personal firewall?
Have you contacted your ISP(Internet Service Provider)?
Have you contacted Virgina Tech's help desk?

Try doing those and if you still can't figure out how to "show" your dns open Google and type "show dns in windows xp" and the very last link on the page will be
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/ ... ation.html and that should be sufficient.
If you still can't figure it out open up the command prompt (in your accessories menu under programs) and type in "ipconfig /all" without the quotes.

Elhabash · #6 Post by **Elhabash** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:26 pm

So you use MS Internet Explorer, and if not, does it work with IE?

Biggie2 · #7 Post by **Biggie2** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:19 pm

I do not know its DNS.. I dont even know what DNS does, but ive heard from other people i believe, in months past that it was something to do with DNS. It is not the connection, i have my two year old desktop and this 5 month old T42p. Only the laptop has the problem. Furthermore the problem carries with me from my VT connection to my cable connection here at home.

Ran a spyware check with spybot... and ran a virus scan as well and got nothing. I use symantic corporate anti-virus...

Not running a firewall except for what windows has on SP1, if anything.

I do not think it has anything to do with my ISP because i have used multiple different connections.

Virginia Tech has some computer people that will come around and fix my computer if need be, but ill probably just do a fresh install of everything instead.

I am thinking it might be a virus because of the variety of problems. Beyond windows update being screwy and not working, and the inability to use various webmail/fileboxes, i also encountered a problem last night in which i could not update my computer to DirectX 9.0c. I got some sort of error in which it said a certain file could not be varified.

The fact that it says a file can not be varified, doesnt have anyhitng to do with DNS, so sounds like a virus to me. Like i said Symantic corporate anti-virus found nothing.

My recovery disks that i had mailed to my by IBM are back at school... I think i am going to try to get them to mail me a second set if they will. I have so much spare time at home, i would hate to get back to tech and have to reinstall windows, when i dont really have that spare time to give...

Biggie2 · #8 Post by **Biggie2** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:20 pm

Yes i use IE...

Bob Collins · #9 Post by **Bob Collins** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:43 pm

Perhaps you have specified DNS addresses in your network configs, and you cannot get to those servers for DNS.

DNS is Domain Name Services. Basically it figures out for you that when you type in forum.thinkpads.com that you really want to get to the IP address associated with forum.thinkpads.com. For lack of a better term, it is like a telephone book of internet addresses to internet names. It makes using the net easier so you do not have to remember numbers like 123.123.123.123 but rather a simple name like yahoo.com.

Anyhow, if your DNS queries are not being answered you will not know how to get where you want to go. Mostly you should be getting page not found errors.

I will throw in here that you could also be having troubles due to a specified gateway or default router. As others reccomended, use a command prompt and type in "ipconfig /all" without the quotes. This will give you a fair amount of output, but mostly you will want to see the following items: DHCP enabled, Default Gateway, and DNS addresses.

Once armed with this info, you could try some simple pings to see if you can get data there and back. For example, let's say your DNS address was shown as 216.199.0.131, you could, from a command prompt type "ping 216.199.0.131" without the quotes and press enter. You should get some affirmative reply that they made it back.

Another and perhaps better test, as you are assuming a DNS error, is to try some name resolution. From a command prompt type "nslookup" and press enter. Again, all examples will have quotes, which you will not actually type, they are there some you know what is to be typesd. Sorry, not meaning to be condescending, just making sure we are all clear on things. Anyway you should get a reply that looks like

D:\Documents and Settings\bobc>nslookup
Default Server: some.server.name.com.org.net.gov (whatever)
Address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

>

Now at the ">" you should type in something simple like
"forum.thinkpads.com" and then press enter

You should then see something like

> forum.thinkpads.com
Server: some.server.name.com.org.net.gov (whatever)
Address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: some.server.name.com.org.net.gov (this will be a real name)
Address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (this will be a real ip address)
Aliases: forum.thinkpads.com

>

To exit the nslookup tool, type "exit" and press enter.

If that is going well, then it really is not likely a DNS problem. If DNS is working then you might assume it is a routing/path issue. In the sense of your machine not knowing how to leave itself and get on the net.

You could go back to ping and see if you can ping your deafult gateway.

This should be enough to get you going with the troubleshooting.

Finally, you can go to Start | Settings | Control Panel and then click on the network settings. You should make sure your machine is using DHCP for all settings, assuming DHCP is the method used for your normal network use. I know some smaller places used hard defined settings per machine, but assuming your VT network is pretty sizeable, I think it is safe to say they use DHCP.

w0qj · #10 Post by **w0qj** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:59 pm

thinking out of the box:

a) you can use any free/public DNS server in your city (problem is finding one, which is hard).

b) turn your own computer into an email server (freeware versions):
www.postcastserver.com
www.mailenable.com

note: for option (b) above, if your ISP don't give you a fixed DNS server IP address (ie: DNS set automatically), then you also need to use option (a).

the retail versions of (b) gives you alternative DNS server address, if you can't find (a).

Bob Collins · #11 Post by **Bob Collins** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:19 am

If you do your own DNS and email, you will need to perhaps add a domain registration, assuming you will not be allowed to relay through VT or the like. You would also want to add one of the dynamic DNS support sites to your use.

Here are two. I know nothing of them, never used them, do not get a kickback from them, for all I know they could be offline and all dead or on vacation. Just sending as a point of reference.....YMMV

http://www.dyndns.org/
http://freedns.afraid.org/

ian · #12 Post by **ian** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:17 am

Bob Collins wrote:YMMV

Sorry guv, don't understand your banter...

Bob Collins · #13 Post by **Bob Collins** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:56 am

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary

Sorry

ian · #14 Post by **ian** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:24 am

TaSTBYBILTALALS

Thanks, and Sorry To Bother You But I Like To At Least Appear Less Stupid...

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