DNS error

[clueless Graham]

Hi

For the past month I keep getting ''The webpage ".........." cannot be found DNS error occurred. Server cannot be found. The link may be broken'' coming up when I try to open websites.
Most websites are having these problems loading, if they do load, not all the parts load correctly, there are avatars, pictures & adverts that at times are missing and just have the x kiss of death with 'Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage', this also happens when using Mozilla.

Websites that worked from my favourites don't work, links from Google (when I get it opened) don't open, I have to repeatedly (10-20 times)try loading them before they open.
I have not made any changes or installed any new programs that could have caused the problem.

I have run programs such as Registry Mechanic and checked for Malware, Spyware and Viruses and nothing has been found.

Emails seem to work though!

A speed test when it works


This lasts for about 50-60 minutes or so then everything suddenly works for a very short time (5-10 minutes) before stopping again.

One thing I notice is that when I can't connect and get a page to open and get the DNS error the modem receive light doesn't flash at all.

I would be very grateful for any help as this is really annoying.

Thanks
Graham

[heisenberg912]

Wow that is a weird one. Sounds like there is a problem with the DNS server you are connecting to.

In one of the brief periods where it is all working you might want to visit open dns (http://www.opendns.com/) and setup your modem/router so it uses their server instead of the VM one.

Then if your internet works OK after this get on the blower to VM and let them know their DNS server is broken! If this does not work I have no idea. :P

Cheers

Tim

[webcrawler2050]

could you try this please..

start >> run >> cmd

tracert website

And pasts the results

ping website

And paste the results

[clueless Graham]

PING
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Graham>ping www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.251.195] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=117
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=117
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=117
Reply from 212.58.251.195: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=117

Ping statistics for 212.58.251.195:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 26ms, Maximum = 28ms, Average = 27ms

C:\Users\Graham>

g statistics for 212.58.253.67:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
roximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 26ms, Maximum = 27ms, Average = 26ms

TRACERT

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Graham>tracert www.bbc.co.uk

Tracing route to www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.251.195]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 10 ms 13 ms 11 ms 10.144.64.1
2 19 ms 16 ms 15 ms 62.31.112.161
3 12 ms 12 ms 14 ms osr02uddi-tenge71.network.virginmedia.net [62.30
.246.45]
4 12 ms 12 ms 12 ms 80.3.16.129
5 16 ms 22 ms 16 ms man-bb-b-so-320-0.network.virginmedia.net [213.1
05.175.193]
6 17 ms 17 ms 17 ms man-bb-a-ae0-0.network.virginmedia.net [62.253.1
87.177]
7 22 ms 24 ms 24 ms gfd-bb-b-ae1-0.network.virginmedia.net [213.105.
175.146]
8 25 ms 26 ms 24 ms 62.253.185.78
9 25 ms 26 ms 25 ms 212.58.239.249
10 25 ms 26 ms 27 ms 212.58.238.133
11 26 ms 30 ms 27 ms 212.58.239.58
12 25 ms 27 ms 26 ms www-vip.telhc.bbc.co.uk [212.58.251.195]

Trace complete.

Thanks webcrawler2050

[webcrawler2050]

I take it you are having issues with the BBC website?

How are you connected? Wireless, wired, direct in the modem or router, then modem?

Can you also power cycle both the modem and the router (if you have a router)

[clueless Graham]

I take it you are having issues with the BBC website?

Having issues with most sites.

Connected - wired via direct modem then router.

Yes I can power cycle both.

[webcrawler2050]

Okay - first thing - power cycle router and modem.

Also, power cycle your PC aswell. Sounds like, something is caching old results. Aswell, before rebooting the machine, close all browsers first.

If you are running Vista, start, search cmd >> right click on cmd.exe "run as administrator"

ipconfig /flushdns

[clueless Graham]

Have done all the power cycles & successfully flushed the DNS resolver cache.

[webcrawler2050]

And the results?

Post power levels, etc please?

[token]

Can you do a tracert to 194.168.4.100?

[clueless Graham]

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 2
Downstream Frequency : 331000000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 5360.537 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps32Increment4
Downstream Receive Power Level : -2.8 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 39.4 dB

Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 1
Upstream Frequency : 18800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 54.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2




Requested Tracert
Tracing route to cache1.service.virginmedia.net [194.168.4.100]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 16 ms 12 ms 14 ms 10.144.64.1
2 11 ms 14 ms 12 ms 62.31.112.161
3 17 ms 15 ms 12 ms osr01uddi-tenge71.network.virginmedia.net [62.30
.246.33]
4 12 ms 12 ms 11 ms 77.96.4.82
5 10 ms 13 ms 12 ms cache1.service.virginmedia.net [194.168.4.100]

Trace complete.

---------- Post added at 19:53 ---------- Previous post was at 18:16 ----------

Should have mentioned still no difference.

[webcrawler2050]

Looks like to me, it;s routing transit issues.

I'd give TS a call. They *may* be able to solve it.

[clueless Graham]

Thanks webcrawler, I will give them a call and see what they say.