Windows 98 won't resolve DNS names

Hi,

This one has really got me stumped. A friend asked me to troubleshoot their
old Windows 98 PC that would not browse the web.

The machine uses a dial up connection via a 56k modem and once connected can
ping and tracert IP addresses on the internet. The problem is that it won't
resolve DNS names.

Neither Outlook Express, Internet Explorer or command line utilities seem to
be able to resolve any DNS names to IP addresses.

IPCONFIG shows that everything has been assigned and I can ping the ISP DNS
servers.

HOSTS file just has the usual 127.0.0.1 localhost entry.

No firewall is on the PC.

Anti Virus software is present (McAfee) but hasn't been updated for ages as
the machine is seldom used. Also, cannot now update it as the DNS cannot be
resolved for the update server!

Tried reinstalling TCP/IP and Dialup adapter to no avail. Tried repairing
IE6.

Any ideas anyone?

TIA

--
Grant
--

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 20:27:13 +0100, "Grant"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>This one has really got me stumped. A friend asked me to troubleshoot their
>old Windows 98 PC that would not browse the web.
>
>The machine uses a dial up connection via a 56k modem and once connected can
>ping and tracert IP addresses on the internet. The problem is that it won't
>resolve DNS names.
>
>Neither Outlook Express, Internet Explorer or command line utilities seem to
>be able to resolve any DNS names to IP addresses.
>
>IPCONFIG shows that everything has been assigned and I can ping the ISP DNS
>servers.
>
>HOSTS file just has the usual 127.0.0.1 localhost entry.
>
>No firewall is on the PC.
>
>Anti Virus software is present (McAfee) but hasn't been updated for ages as
>the machine is seldom used. Also, cannot now update it as the DNS cannot be
>resolved for the update server!
>
>Tried reinstalling TCP/IP and Dialup adapter to no avail. Tried repairing
>IE6.
>
>Any ideas anyone?

I've recently seen adware that forces the DNS settings to an address
starting with 214.*.*.* (* because I can't remember the rest of the
address), rather that allowing the machine to pick up the ISP's server
addresses.

In TCP/IP, settings check if DNS is set to

Right Click on the connection icon.

Click on TCP/IP Settings and check these settings:
Server Assigned IP Address should be checked.
Server Assigned Name Server Addresses should be checked.
Use default gateway should be checked.

Derek
--
The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.

"Derek" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
| On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 20:27:13 +0100, "Grant"
| <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
|
| >Hi,
| >
| >This one has really got me stumped. A friend asked me to troubleshoot
their
| >old Windows 98 PC that would not browse the web.
| >
| >The machine uses a dial up connection via a 56k modem and once connected
can
| >ping and tracert IP addresses on the internet. The problem is that it
won't
| >resolve DNS names.
| >
| >Neither Outlook Express, Internet Explorer or command line utilities seem
to
| >be able to resolve any DNS names to IP addresses.
| >
| >IPCONFIG shows that everything has been assigned and I can ping the ISP
DNS
| >servers.
| >
| >HOSTS file just has the usual 127.0.0.1 localhost entry.
| >
| >No firewall is on the PC.
| >
| >Anti Virus software is present (McAfee) but hasn't been updated for ages
as
| >the machine is seldom used. Also, cannot now update it as the DNS cannot
be
| >resolved for the update server!
| >
| >Tried reinstalling TCP/IP and Dialup adapter to no avail. Tried repairing
| >IE6.
| >
| >Any ideas anyone?
|
| I've recently seen adware that forces the DNS settings to an address
| starting with 214.*.*.* (* because I can't remember the rest of the
| address), rather that allowing the machine to pick up the ISP's server
| addresses.
|
| In TCP/IP, settings check if DNS is set to
|
| Right Click on the connection icon.
|
| Click on TCP/IP Settings and check these settings:
| Server Assigned IP Address should be checked.
| Server Assigned Name Server Addresses should be checked.
| Use default gateway should be checked.
|
| Derek
| --
| The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.

Thanks, but the DNS settings were the ISP allocated ones as expected

Grant