Can't find Google!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Adams
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark Adams

I have a peer-to-peer network at home that has been working pretty well.
Now, I have a WinXP (Home) workstation that browses the web just fine,
but can't connect to www.google.com ("can't find server or dns error").
The other machine can get to Google fine with Linux or XP (Pro).

I have disabled firewalls, deleted cookies and files, cleared history,
rebooted, changed the IP config from static to dynamic and back again
checking addresses along the way, made sure the host and lmhost files
are clean, reran the Home Network Wizard, and still can't ping or browse
Google! These machines are both attached to a Linksys router which I
have checked and reset (the XP Home machine in question is attached via
USB wireless adapter, which I have also reset a couple of times), which
is connected to a DSL modem.

How can I troubleshoot this? It's vexing me.
 
I have a peer-to-peer network at home that has been working pretty well.
Now, I have a WinXP (Home) workstation that browses the web just fine,
but can't connect to www.google.com ("can't find server or dns error").
The other machine can get to Google fine with Linux or XP (Pro).

I have disabled firewalls, deleted cookies and files, cleared history,
rebooted, changed the IP config from static to dynamic and back again
checking addresses along the way, made sure the host and lmhost files
are clean, reran the Home Network Wizard, and still can't ping or browse
Google! These machines are both attached to a Linksys router which I
have checked and reset (the XP Home machine in question is attached via
USB wireless adapter, which I have also reset a couple of times), which
is connected to a DSL modem.

How can I troubleshoot this? It's vexing me.
Click to expand...

There are several spyware that hijack your search engine. Try running
spybot search and destroy.
http://www.safer-networking.org/
Also make sure your virus definitions are current.
 
BobC said:
There are several spyware that hijack your search engine. Try running
spybot search and destroy.
http://www.safer-networking.org/
Also make sure your virus definitions are current.
Click to expand...

Okay, virus defs. are up to date and I found almost 400 "problems" with
SS&D. I fixed them, rebooted and still no Google. I was sure Search &
Destroy had it licked.

Any other suggestion?

Oh, and I appreciate your help on this Bob.
 
Mark Adams said:
Okay, virus defs. are up to date and I found almost 400 "problems" with
SS&D. I fixed them, rebooted and still no Google. I was sure Search &
Destroy had it licked.

Any other suggestion?

Oh, and I appreciate your help on this Bob.
Click to expand...

Check that your hosts file does not contain a listing for google. Also,
check you DNS settings, try "nslookup www.google.com" and verify that the
computers get the same address. Also, are you using any popup killers? I've
experienced this problem with some of them. Also, check that you are not
using a proxy.

You could also try a "netsh interface ip reset" to reconfigure all IP
settings.


Arild
 
Arild said:
Check that your hosts file does not contain a listing for google. Also,
check you DNS settings, try "nslookup www.google.com" and verify that the
computers get the same address. Also, are you using any popup killers? I've
experienced this problem with some of them. Also, check that you are not
using a proxy.

You could also try a "netsh interface ip reset" to reconfigure all IP
settings.


Arild
Click to expand...

I checked most of this stuff last night, but rechecked again today: Host
file is clean (includes only this machine and the other machine on the
LAN), nslookup works and I do get the same nameserver for Google on both
machines. There is no pop-up blocker installed or proxy configured
under connections. I reset the interface as described above and still
no joy.

I'm baffled.
 
After a few days of beating my head against this one, I threw in the
towel - reformat, reinstall.

Just wanted to say so.

Mark
 
Check your Windows/Help directory and see if there is a "hosts" file
in there. If so, delete it. That will fix your issue.
 
[posted and mailed]

From BootList Issue 120 (www.bootdisk.com):

3) 404 Not Found Clicking Google In XP

Starting Oct2 I started to have problems
using my search engines.

You have the QHosts Trojan, a new
malicious program that works through IE.
The patch is available for download here:
www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/828750/default.asp

You may first want to read more here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-040.asp

Also, there is a news article at ZDNet.com:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5085861.html
 
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