Can't access Dell website
 

Does anyone know a reason why I can't access Dell's website? www.dell.co.uk (or .com etc)

I'm running WXP, ZA firewall (but tried it off), ie privacy medium (but tried it off @ same time as firewall off), NTL broadband

I've tried a different proxy and turning proxy off (as far as I can using ie tools) but with no joy. Of course maybe my computer doesn't want to be replaced...:dozey:

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

try
start > run, type "cmd" then OK
then type "ipconfig /flushdns" then press Enter

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I have problems with that particular website from time to time, although it is working for me at the moment.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Or just type ipconfig /flushdns in the run box :)

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

You can do, but that just flashes the DOS box up, which then auto-closes when it's finished so you don't see owt. Prefer to actually see confirmation of whether or not it's finished.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

sadly no joy, even tho successful dns flush in cmd box

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Working ok in Leeds

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Mind doing an Nslookup and Tracert to dell.co.uk again through the command line?

ie...

> nslookup dell.co.uk
> tracert dell.co.uk

and paste the results in here.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

tried one leeds proxy but didn't work - what's your proxy?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

What happens if you put this
143.166.224.202
in the address bar instead of www.dell.co.uk ?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>nslookup dell.co.uk
Server: cache2.ntli.net
Address: 194.***.*.100 (not sure if this number should be seen on web)
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
DNS request timed out.
timeout was 2 seconds.
*** Request to cache2.ntli.net timed-out
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>tracert dell.co.uk
Unable to resolve target system name dell.co.uk.
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>tracert www.dell.co.uk
Unable to resolve target system name www.dell.co.uk.
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:26 ----------

no joy with 143.166.224.202

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I have mine set to automatically detect settings and no proxy specified so I don't know lol Sorry

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Looks like a DNS problem still.

If you're using USB on the modem this won't work - but try it all in Safe Mode with Networking. Turn the PC off, then as soon as you press the power button then repeatedly start tapping F8, choose Safe Mode with Networking and then press Enter twice, then try again.

This does boot up the PC with no security software so don't stay in there too long, but at least it will let you see if it's still not working or not.

---------- Post added at 16:31 ---------- Previous post was at 16:31 ----------

Not going to be a proxy, the command line utilities like nslookup don't really bother with the proxies which only cache port 80 anyway.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I don't know Chris T had a look at mine and said it was pink :blush: so I was useing a proxy and afaik you have to go through a proxy in Leeds?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Try:
http://143.166.224.202/uk

Are you connected to a router or straight to a cable modem?

At the command prompt, if you type ipconfig /all what DNS servers does it return / display?

Is your network card set for DHCP ?

Can you ping 194.168.4.100 or 194.168.8.100 ??

Can you ping 143.166.224.202 ?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

replies in blue, pings below

C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>ping 194.168.4.100
Pinging 194.168.4.100 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Reply from 194.168.4.100: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=117
Reply from 194.168.4.100: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=117
Reply from 194.168.4.100: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=117
Ping statistics for 194.168.4.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 14ms, Maximum = 16ms, Average = 15ms
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis> ping 194.168.8.100
Pinging 194.168.8.100 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Reply from 194.168.8.100: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=119
Reply from 194.168.8.100: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=119
Reply from 194.168.8.100: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=119
Ping statistics for 194.168.8.100:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 12ms, Maximum = 14ms, Average = 13ms
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>ping 143.166.224.202
Pinging 143.166.224.202 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=127ms TTL=235
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=146ms TTL=235
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=137ms TTL=235
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=131ms TTL=235
Ping statistics for 143.166.224.202:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 127ms, Maximum = 146ms, Average = 135ms
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 17:02 ----------

no joy in safe mode either

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

If you can ping the ip address of the dell website but you can't access it via your browser means there must be something else wrong with your setup other than DNS. If you have Real Player installed try typing the website in there and see if it displays it.

The fact you are loosing the first ping request to each DNS server seems a little odd. Are connected to your router via wireless ?

You can find out if you're using DHCP at the commmand prompt with ipconfig /all - Somewhere on the list of information you should see DHCP Enabled Yes or No

At the command prompt try tracert 194.168.4.100 and copy back the result here.

Also I find deleting your internet cache and cookies helps with a lot of problems with websites but that doesn't explain the DNS issues.

Which router make and model are you using ?

Also it may help if you post back the results of ipconfig /all

Nothing is in a particular order, I'm just thinking out loud.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

No losses this am on pinging anywhere. I've put 143.166.224.202 and dell.co.uk in my hosts file and can now ping and tracert (see below) but still cannot open webpage.

Router (ethernet wired) Netgear RP614

thanks for help - this makes no sense to me!

C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>ping dell.co.uk
Pinging dell.co.uk [143.166.224.202] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=147ms TTL=235
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=126ms TTL=235
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=126ms TTL=235
Reply from 143.166.224.202: bytes=32 time=127ms TTL=235
Ping statistics for 143.166.224.202:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 126ms, Maximum = 147ms, Average = 131ms
C:\Documents and Settings\Challis>tracert dell.co.uk
Tracing route to dell.co.uk [143.166.224.202]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.2.1
2 10 ms 6 ms 7 ms 10.252.172.1
3 9 ms 8 ms 7 ms oxfd-t2cam1-b-ge95.inet.ntl.com [213.106.246.141
]
4 8 ms 7 ms 8 ms oxfd-t2core-b-ge-wan61.inet.ntl.com [195.182.174
.5]
5 11 ms 11 ms 11 ms bre-bb-b-so-033-0.inet.ntl.com [62.253.187.13]
6 13 ms 12 ms 11 ms 195.50.91.129
7 20 ms 16 ms 17 ms ae-31-51.ebr1.london2.level3.net [4.68.117.30]
8 17 ms 16 ms 17 ms ae-1-100.ebr2.london2.level3.net [4.69.132.122]
9 16 ms 12 ms 17 ms ae-2.ebr1.london1.level3.net [4.69.132.146]
10 20 ms 17 ms 14 ms ae-1-100.ebr2.london1.level3.net [4.69.132.118]
11 * 86 ms * ae-4.ebr1.newyork1.level3.net [4.69.132.109]
12 84 ms 83 ms 98 ms ae-12-55.car2.newyork1.level3.net [4.68.97.149]
13 85 ms 82 ms 83 ms te-7-4.wch010.nycmny2.level3.net [4.68.110.22]
14 83 ms 84 ms 83 ms 64.200.249.149
15 87 ms 89 ms 88 ms hrndva1wcx2-pos1-0-oc192.wcg.net [64.200.210.178
]
16 87 ms 87 ms 87 ms hrndva1wcx3-pos4-0-oc192.wcg.net [64.200.89.122]
17 120 ms 120 ms 120 ms drvlga1wcx2-pos2-0-oc192.wcg.net [64.200.210.237
]
18 120 ms * 119 ms hstntx1wcx2-pos11-0.wcg.net [64.200.240.77]
19 122 ms 117 ms 119 ms hstntx1wcx3-pos11-0.wcg.net [64.200.186.78]
20 122 ms 124 ms 122 ms austtx1wce010-pos3-0.wcg.net [64.200.184.22]
21 142 ms 153 ms 135 ms 64.200.185.2
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * 208 ms * 10.180.82.89
24 130 ms 130 ms 129 ms 143.166.72.147
25 126 ms 126 ms 126 ms dell.co.uk [143.166.224.202]
Trace complete.

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : *******
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter LAN to router:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NETGEAR FA311 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : **-**-**-**-**-**
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.3
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 194.168.8.100
194.168.4.100
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 29 September 2006 07:49:39
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 19 January 2038 04:14:07

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Ok this maybe a long shot but can you swap your DNS server order. At the moment it seems you are going to 194.168.8.100 first. Can you make sure that 194.168.4.100 is the primary DNS server.

When I perform an nslookup against each server for dell.co.uk they provide the same results but list the IP addresses in different orders.

I'm sure we can resolve this ;)

Do you have any Static Content Filtering configured on your router. Also with your router you don't need any software firewall installed on the PC unless you are crazy paranoid, uninstall it for the purpose of testing :-)

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Have found I can access website if I don't use router, so that's the problem, but what's the cure?

No static content filtering on router.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

What's the MTU set at in the router?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

how do I find the current MTU? I've downloaded DR tcp which will help change it, but don't know where I'm starting from.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I'm thinking that some routers have a facility for setting the MTU internally, independent from your PC. That might be why things are OK when you don't go through the router..

What router do you have?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

That will only set the MTU on the PC which should be 1500. Your routers default MTU is 1500 too.

Did the problem start when you started using the router or has this just come up?

Do we still need to use mac cloning, anyone ? Could this be the cause?

If it were me I would reset the router to defaults and start again :dunce:

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

See here...

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

An interesting article....

I have my MTU set to 1500 and I can access the site with no problems. I would hope that dell would account for a common MTU size but you never know.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

cobbydaler: router in Netgear RP614

markknell: think it's a recent problem but can't be 100% certain

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Did you uninstall the firewall on your PC? If not then try that. If that doesn't work then try resetting the router to defaults before you go too deep with this.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Have restored factory settings on router. Have changed MTU on router to 1400 via router webpage. No Joy.
Didn't uninstall firewall but did try accessing webpage in safemode where firewall not loaded.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

1400 is too low I think, try 1492..

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I had the same problem this morning with a user working from home with a linksys router and a software firewall. He couldn't access Windows Update.

Once the software firewall was uninstalled he was working fine. As long as you are going through the router you won't need it. I have 4 PC's and 2 wireless laptops going through my router without any software firewall !! Unless you have your PC configured as a DMZ the router will act as your firewall.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

markknell: but it's not my software firewall that's at fault, cos when I bypass the router and still use the software firewall all is well, and when I try in safe mode (without software firewall) then I still can't access the page. It's just my router...

cobbydaler: no joy with MTU settings still

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I don't know why this should work, but it might (I've seen it cure other problems, though not this one!).

If the router IP is not in ZA's trusted zone, try adding it...

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

sadly doesn't help

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

I have just looked over your previous posts again. Do you still have dell.co.uk set in your hosts file? If you can perform a complete trace to dell.co.uk you should be able to browse it. Can you please install Firefox or something different than your current browser.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

And there's no keyword blocking & you've tried going down in increments of 10 from 1492 for the MTU?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Did you clear your internet cache and cookies ?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

markknell: dell still in hosts file, tracert & ping fine but not the webpage, also have tried firefox on my W98 machine which also has the same problem (put dell into hosts file there also). And yes I've cleared cache & cookies.

cobbydaler:no keyword blocking, I've gone down in increments to 1392 but then got bored & went for 576 with no success (but then at no point is there any packet disruption on the ping)

I've mailed dnstech at dell on the whois page in case he has any ideas, but if you have more suggestions keep them coming - I & dell will be very happy if we find the solution!

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

What happens if instead of letting DHCP assign the DNS Servers you put these in the router:

4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2?

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Valerie,do you have a cd/dvd burner? or access to one,
the fact you say you have tryed a W98 implys its not the installed OS settings but just to be sure , go grab a linux livecd , burn &boot that to see if you can then get through.

the slax i refer to here http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...355#post795355 will probably do fine for testing.

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Success!!!!!

Cobbydaler - you are terrific - changing dns servers to 4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2 solved the problem - now can you explain why? (hoping no-one else comes up with reason why this is a bad idea!!)

rep point coming your way! many thanks to you and everyone who tried to help - great place this!

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

Well, I don't understand the techieness behind it or why it affects dell.co.uk & not other sites!

I just remembered I'd read somewhere that some router/DNS server combinations don't handle the translation through the router very well if the DNS server addresses are assigned by DHCP...

I just suggested 4.2.2.1 & 4.2.2.2 as they're the ones I've had in my router since ntl's were playing up a while ago. They're also easy to remember!

I'm not sure, but it could be if you put the ntl dns addresses (194.168.4.100 / 194.168.8.100) in the router manually it might fix the problem as well. That's if you don't want to use the alternative...

Glad it's fixed!

Re: Can't access Dell website
 

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...7&postcount=13

Hmm DNS and you lot were still going on about firewalls :S