DNS problems virgin media
 

hi all i live in the plymouth area and from last night i cant access certain sites i have visted for the last few years , i cant also use any ftps either as it logs in and dosent list the directorys? i have this problem with the standard cable modem and my belkin router. ive been reading up on DNS but dont really undertstand what DNS actually does on networks? i always use overclockers uk forums and speed test every day and they will not work any ideas would be most grateful would a clean install fix this ?

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

Which other sites can't you reach?

Can you ping those sites by IP address when you can't access them?

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

not sure how to ping sites i know u use cmd to do so but dont know commands

there are lots of random sites i cant connect when searching on google using firefox IE and safari, overclockers main page wont load overclockers forum wont load speed test wont load and ftps will log in but wont list any directorys and just hangs i had a problem with ebay never loading a few months back and a fresh intstall solved it but i have 3 pc on my network and every pc is not working on these sites and ftps using both cable modem and router any suggestions would be helpful

have also disabled kapersky internet security and turned off windows firewall

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

overclockers doesn't respond to pings.

Try connecting to some sites now & come back with one you can't reach.

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

thanks for your help can you or anybody test the links to see if connection is ok http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/ or http://www.speedtest.net/?

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

Both work for me.

Try this at a command prompt:

ping 69.17.117.207

That's the IP address of speedtest.net

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

ping statistics for 69.17.117.207:
packets:sent=4 Recieved =4, Lost= 0 0% loss)
approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
minimum = 178ms, maximum= 183ms average = 180ms

will a system restore be worth it?

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

Then yes it looks like a DNS problem.

Try replacing the VM DNS server IPs with:

208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

If you're not sure how, instructions are here

Probably best to choose the router option...

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

cheers pal will have a go will let u know the result will reinstalling vista make any differnce? the link open dns wont work either ?

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

I wouldn't go as far as a re-install.

Attached a screenshot of the openDNS Belkin instructions.

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

cheers thanks for all your help im going to have a mess around with my host files after reading up of it this could be the prob 2

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

Its not a DNS problem, I live in plymouth too and had EXACTLY the same problem start yesterday.

Initially i put it down to the national problem they were having, phoned support, they said "plug your pc directly in to the modem", I did, worked fine again. Plugged the router back in, no go.

You know what fixed it? I lowered my MTU on the router to 1492 from 1500. It works now! i think im phoning support again and making sure i dont get charged, cos it takes the mick (25p a min!)

Edit: phoned them back, i wont be charged for the call.

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

hi im having this problem with my router and the cable modem

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

okay well reset your hardware, then adjust the MTU on your router to 1492 for the internet side, then try again, im pretty sure this is the problem.

presuming you were ex-blueyonder, your DNS servers should be

194.117.134.19 <-- blueyonders (still used)
62.31.176.39 <-- virgins

but your symptoms seem the same as mine, the sites are "found" as in you get "website found waiting for reply" but nothing else happens. i dont think the DNS is the problem, but i can see you currently have the free ones in.

Re: DNS problems virgin media
 

Almost confirms it's a DNS problem with VirginMedia.
Once you have OpenDNS is use, all of your DNS problems will go away.