DNS error accessing BT ADSL from Windows 98 PC

I'm having problems accessing the Internet via the BT ADSL service.

I'm using a Dell Pentium II machine running Windows 98 (first
edition), IE ver6.0, and a BT-provided Westell USB modem. Everything
was working fine until I installed a network card to replace the modem
with a router. Since installing the card I can't access the Internet,
either via the router or the modem.

From the command prompt I can ping an external IP address e.g.
217.12.3.11, but not the equivalent web address (e.g. yahoo.co.uk)- I
get the "Unknown host" error. From IE any URL gives the familiar
"Cannot find server or DNS error". When using the modem, I can
establish a dial-up connection, but cannot access the Internet (same
IE message). Interestingly, when using the network card and router, I
can't access the router URL from IE, although the router correctly
assigns an IP address to the PC.

The problem must lie with my PC setup somewhere, as I can successfully
access the Internet from a laptop using the same router, cables and
ADSL line.

So far I've tried the following:

- Checked Connections settings in IE for both dial-up with the modem
(Always Dial Default Connection / all checkboxes blank under
Settings), and LAN settings with the router (Never Dial A Connection /
all checkboxes blank under LAN Settings).

- Set up a new dial-up connection using Dial-Up Networking

- Under Control Panel/Network/TCP-IP->32-Bit Ethernet
Adaptor/Properties, manually set the DNS configuration to settings
advised by BT (Domain: btopenworld.com, DNS Server Search Order:
213.120.62.91/213.120.62.97), and manually set the Gateway IP as the
router IP

- Physically removed the network card, and removed the network card
adaptor via Control Panel/Network (USB modem access still doesn't
work)

- All combinations of the above!

I've also browsed the Microsoft Windows 98 site and the BT ADSL site
but couldn't find anything else to try.

Any suggestions!

In article <(E-Mail Removed) >, "Andrew"
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> I'm having problems accessing the Internet via the BT ADSL service.
>
> I'm using a Dell Pentium II machine running Windows 98 (first
> edition), IE ver6.0, and a BT-provided Westell USB modem. Everything
> was working fine until I installed a network card to replace the modem
> with a router. Since installing the card I can't access the Internet,
> either via the router or the modem.
>
> From the command prompt I can ping an external IP address e.g.
> 217.12.3.11, but not the equivalent web address (e.g. yahoo.co.uk)- I
> get the "Unknown host" error. From IE any URL gives the familiar
> "Cannot find server or DNS error". When using the modem, I can
> establish a dial-up connection, but cannot access the Internet (same
> IE message). Interestingly, when using the network card and router, I
> can't access the router URL from IE, although the router correctly
> assigns an IP address to the PC.
>
What do you get from "ipconfig /all"?

Andrew wrote:

> - Set up a new dial-up connection using Dial-Up Networking

If you are using a NIC, you shouldn't need this. In fact I'd recommend
removing all your DUN stuff once you've installed the NIC.

> - Under Control Panel/Network/TCP-IP->32-Bit Ethernet
> Adaptor/Properties, manually set the DNS configuration to settings
> advised by BT (Domain: btopenworld.com, DNS Server Search Order:
> 213.120.62.91/213.120.62.97), and manually set the Gateway IP as the
> router IP

Can you ping either of these addresses? Set everything back to auto,
then once the machine has rebooted, run winipcfg, and see what is
assigned. Your DNS servers will prolly be the same as BT gave you, if
not, manually add them in the ip configuration. Leave the gateway as
auto - setting it manually is irrelevant for this I think - it's your
DNS that's not working, not your routing.

> - Physically removed the network card, and removed the network card
> adaptor via Control Panel/Network (USB modem access still doesn't
> work)
>
> - All combinations of the above!
>
> I've also browsed the Microsoft Windows 98 site and the BT ADSL site
> but couldn't find anything else to try.

Wonder if it may be something to do with the drivers for the NIC under
98. Have you tried the manufactuer's web site for any?

Rob Morley wrote:

> What do you get from "ipconfig /all"?

It's actually winipcfg on 9x. I think ipconfig only appeared with ME.

"Nig" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4169a040$0$94916$(E-Mail Removed).. .
> Rob Morley wrote:
>
> > What do you get from "ipconfig /all"?
>
> It's actually winipcfg on 9x. I think ipconfig only appeared with ME.

From memory:

95 has winipcfg only
98 and Me have both winipcfg and ipconfig
NT4 and 2000 have ipconfig only

Not sure about XP; I don't have it.

Alex

In article <4169a040$0$94916$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Nig"
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> Rob Morley wrote:
>
> > What do you get from "ipconfig /all"?
>
> It's actually winipcfg on 9x. I think ipconfig only appeared with ME.
>
ipconfig is certainly present in W98SE, not sure about the first
edition.

Thanks for your suggestions. After posting this question I browsed
some other user groups and found a resolution on
comp.os.ms-windows.networking.tcp-ip (solution originally sourced from
http://computing.net). I've posted the relevant extract below. Seems
like installing the network card corrupted the registry - editing the
registry as below solved the problem. Can now access the internet
with both the modem and the router.

================================================== =========================

BELOW IS A POSSIBLE RESOLUTION TO THE WINSOCK FAILURE PROBLEM. THE
PROCEDURE IS
DESCRIBED IN ABBREVIATED FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS MESSAGE.

The solution was posted on the microsoft.public.win98.performance
newsgroup under
the Subject "DUN Win98 - Socket connections error." Below is a version
of the
instructions, re-numbered to better reflect discrete steps. If you
need more details
on performing the procedure, let me know. Good luck!

Roger T. Imai
Nashville TN
(E-Mail Removed)


PROBLEM: INSTALLING WINDOWS 98 SECOND EDITION CAUSES WINDOWS SOCKETS
TO FAIL

Windows 98 2nd Edition installation caused Winsock-TCP/IP to stop
working, disabling
Internet-based communication client software.

The problem may also occur under the original Windows 98 if the
"128-bit Encryption
Support for Dialup Networking 1.3" Update is installed, then
subsequently
uninstalled from Control Panel, Add/Remove.


SYMPTOMS

After installing Windows 98 Second Edition, Winsock clients may report
the following
errors:

* Internet Explorer 5.0: "Cannot Find Server or DNS Error,"

* Outlook 98: "The server could not be found. (Account 'MindSpring
Mail Server',
POP3 Server: 'pop.mindspring.com', Error Number 0x800ccc0d)."

* FTP client WS_FTP (if used): "FTP Failed 'createsocket' - address
not supported."

Windows 98 Dialup Networking may connect normally to the ISP with
"Password
Authentication Protocol" and "TCP/IP" listed in the "Connected To..."
window under
the Modem icon in the System Tray. Modem Diagnostics and the Modem
Session Log may
report no error conditions.

Other procedures provided by the Windows 98 Troubleshooter Wizards do
not resolve
the symptoms.


--------
RESOLUTION

1. Remove DUN from Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs - Windows Setup
tab, click
(don't un-check) Communications then click the Details button and
un-check Dial-up
Networking. Click OK to close with windows.

2 Ignore prompt to Restart

3. Run regedit from the Start->Run box. Delete Winsock and Winsock2
branches from
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es

4. Run AUTODIAL.REG (see below). This puts back a few items into the
registry
deleted in step 3. Run it by finding it in explorer and
double-clicking it.

5. Restart Windows

6. Reinstall DUN similar to how you removed it in step 1. (you will be
prompted for
the Windows 98 CD)

7. Restart Windows

Winsock functions should be restored.


CONTENTS OF AUTODIAL.REG

Create a file called AUTODIAL.REG somewhere with the lines between the
dash lines
below.

--------------------------------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Winsock\Autodial]
"AutodialDllName32"="url.dll"
"AutodialFcnName32"="AutodialHookCallback"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Internet
Settings]
"EnableAutodial"=hex:01,00,00,00

---------------------------------

The procedure described above did solve my problem. One point, I
checked what
happened to the registry when I ran the AUTODIAL.REG and noted that it
did not
install the "AutodialDllName32"="url.dll" entry like I thought it
should so I did it
manually after running the .REG and noticing it was missing the key. I
am not sure
if it is required. Regedit lets you create keys and values.

================================================== ==============

Rob Morley wrote:

>>>What do you get from "ipconfig /all"?
>>
>>It's actually winipcfg on 9x. I think ipconfig only appeared with ME.
>>
>
> ipconfig is certainly present in W98SE, not sure about the first
> edition.

Ooops, sorry chaps.