My pc refuses to go to some websites

[Warlock!]

Wtf?!? I used to be able to go to this website, http://www.snowmobileauction.com/ , whenever I wanted. Yesterday I tried to go there for the first time in about 3-4 months, but it comes back with the generic:

Server not found

Firefox can't find the server at www.snowmobileauction.com.

blah, blah, blah.

I tried again today and I get the same message. I walk over to my bro-in-law's office and commandeer his computer. I type www.snowmobileauction.com in the address bar and hit enter... and the website snaps up immediately. I've had this problem with other sites, too (none of which I can think of at the moment :irked: )... If I can't reach it on my puter I'll go to another computer on the network and I'll be able to pull it right up.

So I'm thinkin' it must be my virus/internet protection software settings (Norton AV 2006, updated). I turn it completely off and try the website again... Nuthin'.

I'd understand if it would back away from a porn site... Hell, it's done that plenty of times, too, much to my chagrin. But most of the time it's just your run-o-the-mill site that it can't seem to find, although they're right in plain site to the other puters in our network. We're all running XP Pro on a Win 2K server, and all have similar antivirus software. Does anyone have a clue why my station has to be such a freak??? For what it's worth, I'm also the "computer guy" in our company, as our other office personnel can barely find the ON button. That's sayin' something, because I'm far from being computer savvy. Therefore, as always, any help would be accepted with heartfelt appreciation.

:gomer:

[Sean Malone]

Same results with IE?

[chop456]

Your wife blocked that site after you bought the last three sleds.

[Cam]

Matt...

I got called out to a a companmy just yesterday that there was a computer with an IP addy aof 192.168.2.3 (prvate IP) it could not see a server that's IP was 192.168.2.250.... Would not talk! I changed the IP to be staic to 192.168.2.13 and all was good...

Whay this **** happens is beyond me. Winblows TCP/IP for some reasoion can be selective of what it talks to...

[Warlock!]

Sean... yes, same results w/ IE7

Chop... she would have if she had not been shopping at Kohl's at her every spare moment.

Cam... does that mean I should just light my computer on fire and be done with it? I'm serious... I am not computer savvy. :D

[Sean Malone]

Sean... yes, same results w/ IE7

Chop... she would have if she had not been shopping at Kohl's at her every spare moment.

Cam... does that mean I should just light my computer on fire and be done with it? I'm serious... I am not computer savvy. :D

Then Cam is on the right track. It sounds like an IP issue.

[nrc]

Matt, If you go to this URL do you get a page that says "Web Utilities
WebShell4"?
http://75.126.94.74/

[SteveH]

I've heard that problems like this can usually be traced back to surfing porn sites. Not sure if that applies to you though Warlock! In either case, good luck. :thumbup:

[Warlock!]

Matt, If you go to this URL do you get a page that says "Web Utilities
WebShell4"?
http://75.126.94.74/
Yes... it popped right up without hesitation. I hope it was supposed to do that. :)

Steve... duh. :D

[KLang]

Maybe on old DNS entry cached? Try the command 'ipconfig /flushdns' without the quotes.

[dando]

Maybe on old DNS entry cached? Try the command 'ipconfig /flushdns' without the quotes.

It's 'lock!, yo. Better tell him it's the Start menu, Run and then enter ipconfig /flushdns click on OK. :)

-Kevin

[Gnam]

:chirp:

First things first. Have all the smoke detectors been accounted for?

[nrc]

Yes... it popped right up without hesitation. I hope it was supposed to do that. :)

Steve... duh. :D

Yes, that's good. It's the snowmobile site responding the way it does if you don't refer to it by its name. It means that your connection path to that site is fine.

As KLang and dando suggest that points to a DNS caching problem. Try the command that they've suggested.

Start->Run Command
Then enter:
ipconfig /flushdns

[Warlock!]

:chirp:

First things first. Have all the smoke detectors been accounted for?

:finger:

(I'd forgotten about that... why can't you???)



Start->Run Command
Then enter:
ipconfig /flushdns

No change. Still can't find the server. :(

[Sean Malone]

:finger:

(I'd forgotten about that... why can't you???)



No change. Still can't find the server. :(

It may be more than just a flush. If it's an older NIC you may have to do a release, then a flush then a renew. I used to have to do that everymorning on an old box I kept around.

[Warlock!]

It may be more than just a flush. If it's an older NIC you may have to do a release, then a flush then a renew. I used to have to do that everymorning on an old box I kept around.
you mean...

first - ipconfig /releasedns,
then - ipconfig /flushdns,
and finally - ipconfig /renewdns???

[dando]

you mean...

first - ipconfig /releasedns,
then - ipconfig /flushdns,
and finally - ipconfig /renewdns???

Almost:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

Personally I like your earlier solution. I'm still messing with the Windoze profile issue I posted in another thread a few weeks ago. I'm about ready to ditch the PC and move to an iMac.

-Kevin

[Warlock!]

Almost:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

-Kevin
Dammit... still nuttin'. Good thing I've got this flask in my desk drawer.

:longswig:

[edit] I just found another site I can't get to... from another thread:



http://www.brunotavares.com/2007/09/02/flavors/redbull-air-race-rocks/

Same exact error. :flame:

[Sean Malone]

Rebooted your machine lately? ;)

[cameraman]

I'm about ready to ditch the PC and move to an iMac.

-Kevin

You will need to relearn a few things if you do. Flushing the DNS cache has changed with OS 10.5. From the terminal you type:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

[Warlock!]

Rebooted your machine lately? ;)Just now... to no avail.

(that wasn't in the instruction kit I was given ;))

[Sean Malone]

Just now... to no avail.

(that wasn't in the instruction kit I was given ;))

You're on a work LAN right? Is your windows firewall turned on? You might want to verify that it's off.
You also try to flush your dns since you rebooted. It will take a few minutes to renew...as long as three or four.

[RusH]

ping the server. I had the same problem once and one of the hops refused connections from my ip group because it was mistakenly blacklisted.
I bet you can see the site if you use a proxy server. I did.
It clears up on it`s own after awhile(you hope)....anyhow, it`s all IMO.

[dando]

You will need to relearn a few things if you do. Flushing the DNS cache has changed with OS 10.5. From the terminal you type:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Thx. I'm a part-time Mactop user and I have a number of buds that are Mac users as well. I'm fairly certain an iMac is in the near future. Unfortunately I'll still need to run Windoze for my kids' games, etc.

-Kevin

[cameraman]

Macintoshes make excellent Windows machines. I run XP Pro on mine with excellent results. The only caveat is while the iMac video boards are quite good (256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO) they are not the insanely fast variety many gamers seem to require.

[nrc]

Ping the server to see what ip you're actually getting from your DNS. It could be that the DNS you're being directed to is out of date.

Start->Run
ping www.snowmobileauction.com
ping snowmobileauction.com

[dando]

Macintoshes make excellent Windows machines. I run XP Pro on mine with excellent results. The only caveat is while the iMac video boards are quite good (256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO) they are not the insanely fast variety many gamers seem to require.

Just pre-school games and Flash game sites for now. :)

-Kevin

[Cam]

You could also try http://www.opendns.com/

[Indy]

You PC guys are funny.

[Warlock!]

Ping the server to see what ip you're actually getting from your DNS. It could be that the DNS you're being directed to is out of date.

Start->Run
ping www.snowmobileauction.com
ping snowmobileauction.com
A little dos-type window opens for about 10-15 seconds then closes. However, the millisecond before it closes a sentence pops up on it, but it closes so quickly I can only make out the first word, which is "Ping".

How does that sound? :)

[RusH]

cmd

[Warlock!]

cmd
Ah...


"Ping request could not find host snowmobileauction.com. Please check the name and try again."

and...

"Ping request could not find host www.snowmobileauction.com. Please check the name and try again."

[Cam]

Pull the power from the router for 19od so secs,, Retart all Worked for me just again this AM.

[Warlock!]

Pull the power from the router for 19od so secs,, Retart all Worked for me just again this AM.Just did that too, I think. Do you type with your knees? ;) Then I did the ipconfig commands again. Question: When I do the release, flushdns, and renew commands, should it come up w/ a different IP? After the renew I get the following message everytime, and the numbers never change... before or after the unplugging.

Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection specific DNS Suffix... :
IP Address... : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask... : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway... : 192.168.1.1

Every time, without any changes.

[dando]

Just did that too, I think. Do you type with your knees? ;) Then I did the ipconfig commands again. Question: When I do the release, flushdns, and renew commands, should it come up w/ a different IP? After the renew I get the following message everytime, and the numbers never change... before or after the unplugging.

Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection specific DNS Suffix... :
IP Address... : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask... : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway... : 192.168.1.1

Every time, without any changes.

Since you are connected to a router and other devices already have assigned IP addresses, your IP address probably won't change. However, once the router is unplugged and replugged, the IP address assigned to it by the modem will change.

-Kevin

[Insomniac]

Since you are connected to a router and other devices already have assigned IP addresses, your IP address probably won't change. However, once the router is unplugged and replugged, the IP address assigned to it by the modem will change.

-Kevin

Why would the address from the modem change? The modem has already obtained an IP and binded it to the MAC Address on the router. The modem would only get a new IP if it is restarted (or some other ISP/modem reason), but not from restarting the router.

[Insomniac]

Is there anything else on your network that can get to the site?

[Warlock!]

Is there anything else on your network that can get to the site?
If you're talking to me, every other computer on the network (5 other puters) can get to the sites that I can't reach.

[Sean Malone]

If you're talking to me, every other computer on the network (5 other puters) can get to the sites that I can't reach.

Stay late... switch out your PC with the guy next to you...problem solved. :)

[nrc]

So the ping indicates that you're not getting an IP address for that host at all. If everyone else on your network is we need to see the difference in your DNS settings.

Do Start->Run and run "cmd". In the window that pops up run:
nslookup www.snowmobileauction.com

The first two lines tell us who you're talking to for DNS lookups. Do this for your system and compare it to a system that is working. Maybe at some point your DNS was manually configured to work around another DNS problem.

[dando]

So the ping indicates that you're not getting an IP address for that host at all. If everyone else on your network is we need to see the difference in your DNS settings.

Do Start->Run and run "cmd". In the window that pops up run:
nslookup www.snowmobileauction.com

The first two lines tell us who you're talking to for DNS lookups. Do this for your system and compare it to a system that is working. Maybe at some point your DNS was manually configured to work around another DNS problem.

And if it is, that's where the fun stuff begins. :)

'lock: go to start menu...settings...control panel...network connections...local area network. This will display a dialog with several connection types. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then poperties. This will reveal the DNS lookup config. Compare that to the other PCs in the office and there is likely a difference in the configs. Try switching it to one of the other configs.

By the time we get this fixed, it'll be tome for powerboatauctions.com. :gomer:

-Kevin

[dando]

Why would the address from the modem change? The modem has already obtained an IP and binded it to the MAC Address on the router. The modem would only get a new IP if it is restarted (or some other ISP/modem reason), but not from restarting the router.

True, but this is generally the case for me. Whenever I release/renew on my router, a new IP is loaded. Perhaps the old IP went stale, which is why the connection went down. In fact, it happened to me just last night and usually every few weeks. :irked:

-Kevin

[Ankf00]

who knew a computer could get tired of pr0n?

[dando]

who knew a computer could get tired of pr0n?

The DNS may have been altered to gain access to said pr0n. :gomer:

-Kevin

[Warlock!]

Do Start->Run and run "cmd". In the window that pops up run:
nslookup www.snowmobileauction.com

The first two lines tell us who you're talking to for DNS lookups. Do this for your system and compare it to a system that is working. Maybe at some point your DNS was manually configured to work around another DNS problem.Okeydokey... this is what my puter had to say after nslookup www.snowmobileauction.com:


DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
***Can't find server name for address 85.255.113.110. Timed out
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
***Can't find server name for address 85.255.112.227. Timed out
Default servers are not available
Server: Unknown
Address: 85.255.113.110

DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
***Request to Unknown timed-out

This is what another workstation had to say after the nslookup:

Server: primary.dns.bright.net
Address: 209.143.0.10

Non-authoritative answer
Name: www.snowmobileauction.com
Address: 75.126.94.74

This is what yet another workstation had to say after doing it:

Server: primary.dns.bright.net
Address: 209.143.0.10:53 (<---- the only difference)

[B]Non-authoritative answer
Name: www.snowmobileauction.com
Address: 75.126.94.74


Okay. Now... wanna see something goofy? I went back to my pc and go to a site that I hit quite often, www.newegg.com. It pops up right away, no problems whatsoever. So I try the cmd > nslookup www.newegg.com and I get:

DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
***Can't find server name for address 85.255.113.110. Timed out
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
***Can't find server name for address 85.255.112.227. Timed out
Default servers are not available
Server: Unknown
Address: 85.255.113.110

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.newegg.com
Address: 216.52.208.185


What da Hell?!?

[racermike]

1) Go into your FF/IE7 settings, and delete the cookie for the site
2) Check security/AntiVirus settings, make sure the site is an "allowed" site. Sometimes it might get classified as a bad website and get blocked (usually for some kind of Flash/Java ad it didnt like for some reason or another)
3) Download this link below. Its a batch file I wrote to release/renew your IP address. Just unzip, and double click to run (It safe, I just wrote it for you)

http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.php?cat=other&file=Renew.zip

[Warlock!]

1) Go into your FF/IE7 settings, and delete the cookie for the site
2) Check security/AntiVirus settings, make sure the site is an "allowed" site. Sometimes it might get classified as a bad website and get blocked (usually for some kind of Flash/Java ad it didnt like for some reason or another)
3) Download this link below. Its a batch file I wrote to release/renew your IP address. Just unzip, and double click to run (It safe, I just wrote it for you)

http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.php?cat=other&file=Renew.zip
Aww... and I didn't write you anything for this Christmas. :o

:D

Thanks for the help, mang. I dbl-clicked it but the dos window closed on me as soon as it was done so I ran it thru the cmd line again. This is what I got:



C: \>echo ipconfig/flushdns
ipconfig/flushdns

C: \>ipconfig/flushdns

Windows IP Configuration

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

C: \>echo ipconfig/release
ipconfig/release

C: \>ipconfig/release

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

C: \>echo ipconfig/renew
ipconfig/renew

C: \>ipconfig/renew

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media disconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

C: \>exit

C: \>


Howzabout that???

[cameraman]

This thread is the best ad for the Macintosh that I have ever seen:p

[dando]

This thread is the best ad for the Macintosh that I have ever seen:p

Windoze and networking should considered mutually exclusive terms. :irked:

-Kevin

[nrc]

The DNS may have been altered to gain access to said pr0n. :gomer:

-Kevin

Since it appears that he's configured to access a DNS server in the Ukraine I sure hope so. The only other reason I can figure for that would be the result of a virus or worm that changed his DNS settings to enable spoofing attacks.

Lock, you're going to need to dig a deep hole in the back yard put this computer in it, cover it up, and never go near it again.

Seriously, if you don't recall changing the DNS settings for ... say, entertainment purposes, you should install a fresh copy of whatever your virus scan of choice is and run a full check on your system.

Now, fixing. I hate Windows so I'm not going to try to type all this. Go to this page for information on setting your Windows DNS:

http://www.webhero.org/System/windowsxp_dns.htm

Down in the part for setting the DNS server make sure the "Obtain DNS server address automatically" radio button is selected. Right now it's probably set to 85.255.113.110 which answers DNS requests but (surprise) doesn't resolve www.snowmobileauction.com.

After you've fixed this reboot and it should work. (release and renew will probably work, but what the heck one more reboot can't hurt.)

[Warlock!]

Since it appears that he's configured to access a DNS server in the Ukraine I sure hope so. The only other reason I can figure for that would be the result of a virus or worm that changed his DNS settings to enable spoofing attacks.

Lock, you're going to need to dig a deep hole in the back yard put this computer in it, cover it up, and never go near it again.

Seriously, if you don't recall changing the DNS settings for ... say, entertainment purposes, you should install a fresh copy of whatever your virus scan of choice is and run a full check on your system.

Now, fixing. I hate Windows so I'm not going to try to type all this. Go to this page for information on setting your Windows DNS:

http://www.webhero.org/System/windowsxp_dns.htm

Down in the part for setting the DNS server make sure the "Obtain DNS server address automatically" radio button is selected. Right now it's probably set to 85.255.113.110 which answers DNS requests but (surprise) doesn't resolve www.snowmobileauction.com.

After you've fixed this reboot and it should work. (release and renew will probably work, but what the heck one more reboot can't hurt.)Had I known changing DNS setting coulda got me to more porn sites, you bet yer sweet patootie I'da done it! However, I dinna. I checked the DNS setting of the other puters in the network and each was a bit different. On my computer I had the "Obtain automatically" button selected for the TCP/IP and the "Use the following" button for the DNS. Some computer had the opposite selected. Some had the same DNS and a different TCP/IP. Another had it the opposite. On a trial I changed my DNS button to "Obtain automatically". I rebooted and...













I'm in! :w00t!:

Now I can see about dropping some more coin on another sled.

I wonder how this will affect my porn surfing...

Thanks for all who had input during this asstastic display of computer illiteracy. :thumbup:

[SteveH]

I wonder how this will affect my porn surfing...


How did I know? :D :D :D :D

[Hard Driver]

whoops, see you already got it fixed.

[Insomniac]

True, but this is generally the case for me. Whenever I release/renew on my router, a new IP is loaded. Perhaps the old IP went stale, which is why the connection went down. In fact, it happened to me just last night and usually every few weeks. :irked:

-Kevin

Hmmm, I wonder if your router has trouble if the modem gets a new IP? Do you need to keep the connection "alive" (DSL)?

[nrc]

BTW, found a reference to this rogue DNS server in some posts about malware that hijacks search results and sends them to porn sites. That would explain why you didn't notice any problems before. The good news is that it's probably one of the more benign things they could do.

[dando]

Since it appears that he's configured to access a DNS server in the Ukraine I sure hope so. The only other reason I can figure for that would be the result of a virus or worm that changed his DNS settings to enable spoofing attacks.

Lock, you're going to need to dig a deep hole in the back yard put this computer in it, cover it up, and never go near it again.

Seriously, if you don't recall changing the DNS settings for ... say, entertainment purposes, you should install a fresh copy of whatever your virus scan of choice is and run a full check on your system.

Now, fixing. I hate Windows so I'm not going to try to type all this. Go to this page for information on setting your Windows DNS:

http://www.webhero.org/System/windowsxp_dns.htm

Down in the part for setting the DNS server make sure the "Obtain DNS server address automatically" radio button is selected. Right now it's probably set to 85.255.113.110 which answers DNS requests but (surprise) doesn't resolve www.snowmobileauction.com.

After you've fixed this reboot and it should work. (release and renew will probably work, but what the heck one more reboot can't hurt.)

Great, now we solved this Windoze fiasco. Now can someone puhleeeze figger out why my profile in WinXP Pro cannot access any files or folders? This issue is really getting the best of me, and I have yet to find any remedies so far. :cry: :saywhat: :irked:
http://www.offcamber.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13686

-Kevin

[Gnam]

Now I can see about dropping some more coin on another sled.
Stylin' :thumbup:

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5928/wunderwheelssnogirls80sv6.jpg

[nissan gtp]

BTW, found a reference to this rogue DNS server in some posts about malware that hijacks search results and sends them to porn sites. That would explain why you didn't notice any problems before.

:rofl: