Internet Explorer cannot display webpage

[patholloway]

Internet Explorer Cannot Display the Webpage

Dell Inspiron 1526

Windows Vista Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1

AMD 64 Athlon 64 X2 Processor

Router: Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 GH 54Mbps

Affected: Windows Internet Explorer 7

Firefox2.0.0.13

I am writing on behalf of my husband who is computer illiterate and has a very low frustration threshhold.

We us a local wireless ISP. The router is connected directly to a Dell Dimension E510 desktop computer. There are no issues there. He uses the laptop wireless network connection.

Here is the issue:

He was able to access the internet thru ISP wireless network for 9 months with only minimal issues. Access inexplicably became more difficult through wireless network access over a two-week period until no access was available at all. However, when connected directly to the router, everything works fine with good speed.

When running the diagnostics, the message is: “Cannot communicate with the primary DNS server (151.164.44.201)”, which is the DNS server number listed in the Network Connection Details. However, the computer indicates that it is connected and has a strong signal.

Dell Tech Support insists that the issue is a software problem. (A hardware issue would raise a warranty question!) A Dell wireless technician took control of the computer and was able to temporarily gain internet access via wireless router. However, the original problem returned once the computer was shut down and turned on again. Dell Tech Support ignored subsequent requests for assistance via phone and e-mail.

I have tried all eight of the Microsoft “fixes” for this problem to no avail.

Access can be obtained by temporarily disabling all add-ons. Since permanent disabling is not possible with built-in add-ons, disabling each time is not practical.

Is the a router issue?

Software issue?

Wireless card issue?

Virus?

Hope you can help us. Thanks

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

This does not sound like an easy thing to resolve. A key issue here seems to be "Access can be obtained by temporarily disabling all add-ons."

Are these IE or Firefox add-ons? If so, can you start IE and/or Firefox in "Safe Mode" (Start -> Programs -> Mozilla Firefox -> Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode)).

Also, another thing I'd like to know; is the Internet connection actually active while you cannot access the Internet from the browsers? (Start -> Run -> cmd [Enter] -> ping www.microsoft.com [Enter]); what is the reply - request timed out, or successful replies?

[rong]

I take it it's an internal wireless connection on the laptop? if so could you get a USB wireless adapter and see if it still happens, this would be a cheap way to check if the internal one is the problem. As it works wired this would be the first thing I would suspect.

[patholloway]

Hello Pat and rong. Thank you for replying. I just did a ping and a tracert for www.microsoft.com and there was no response whatsoever.

I also tried to access www.microsoft.com and was told "the address is not valid". And yes I typed it correctly...3 times!

The add-ons on IE. Hubby never uses Firfox. I downloaded it for comparison.

An interesting note. I was just able to access hotmail on his computer. I sent him a test e-mail and it went through. But I still can't navigate to any other sites.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Try to clear the DNS cache; from the same Command Prompt type ipconfig /flushdns

[patholloway]

Tried ipconfig /flushdns and got reply "The requested operation requires elevation".

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

See if this forum thread gives you the solution for that error. There are plenty of other information found by Google.