Computer will not recognize internet after downloading recommended updates

  • Thread starter Thread starter Louise Mobbs
  • Start date Start date
L

Louise Mobbs

I just got on line and downloaded several of the
recommended updates for my windows 2000 computer. I did
not install the service pack 4. After the computer re-
booted, I can longer get on line. I have a DSL
connection, which I know is working fine, because I am
using my other computer to write this post. I called my
internet provider, and they had me check out the internet
connections and that is enabled. I opened up internet
explorer, and the LAN settings are correct. The provider
then had me do a Run command and a DOS window opened. He
had me type "ipconfig" and it came back as bad command or
file name. Then he had me type "ping yahoo.com" and it
came back as bad command or file name. Can anyone help
me? I do not know what to do. The internet provider told
me to call the computer manufacturer. I have a Tiger
electronics computer, and they do not provide technical
help. If you can recommed some thing, please let me
know. Thank you.
 
Hi Louise,

Sorry you are having difficulties. Really would be cautious of downloading M$ hotfixes to make
your computer like new. They (M$) are having to deal with soooo many issues, some of time,
they actually will cause harm to any one system. Please post teh hot patched you installed.
Go to Add/Remove programs and write them down as listed. Don't remove any just yet.

We can make another connection by deleting the other, but that may be like stomping on one of
your feet, because the other hurts. Tha'll just make it harder to get over the pain.

;-(
don
-------------


I just got on line and downloaded several of the
recommended updates for my windows 2000 computer. I did
not install the service pack 4. After the computer re-
booted, I can longer get on line. I have a DSL
connection, which I know is working fine, because I am
using my other computer to write this post. I called my
internet provider, and they had me check out the internet
connections and that is enabled. I opened up internet
explorer, and the LAN settings are correct. The provider
then had me do a Run command and a DOS window opened. He
had me type "ipconfig" and it came back as bad command or
file name. Then he had me type "ping yahoo.com" and it
came back as bad command or file name. Can anyone help
me? I do not know what to do. The internet provider told
me to call the computer manufacturer. I have a Tiger
electronics computer, and they do not provide technical
help. If you can recommed some thing, please let me
know. Thank you.
 
Louise Mobbs said:
I just got on line and downloaded several of the
recommended updates for my windows 2000 computer. I did
not install the service pack 4. After the computer re-
booted, I can longer get on line. I have a DSL
connection, which I know is working fine, because I am
using my other computer to write this post. I called my
internet provider, and they had me check out the internet
connections and that is enabled. I opened up internet
explorer, and the LAN settings are correct. The provider
then had me do a Run command and a DOS window opened. He
had me type "ipconfig" and it came back as bad command or
file name. Then he had me type "ping yahoo.com" and it
came back as bad command or file name. Can anyone help
me? I do not know what to do. The internet provider told
me to call the computer manufacturer. I have a Tiger
electronics computer, and they do not provide technical
help. If you can recommed some thing, please let me
know. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Your ISP is incompetent. It is totally pointless calling the computer
manufacturer on an issue like this.

When you type a command such as "ipconfig", Windows will check
the current folder for the existence of "ipconfig.exe" (amongst others).
If there is no such file in the current folder then Windows will examine
every folder that is listed in the "path". When it finds ipconfig.exe in
one of the listed folders, it will execute it. If it cannot find it anywhere
then it will produce an error message.

Since you get an error message, there are two possibilities:
a) ipconfig.exe does not exist (very unlikely), or
b) your "path" is incorrect.

The file ipconfig.exe is supposed to reside in c:\winnt\system32.
Have a look! Is it there?

Your path is supposed to start with this line:

PATH=C:\WINNT\system32;C:\WINNT;C:\WINNT\system32\WBEM

Click Start, then Run, then type cmd.exe {OK}. Now type

path

What do you see? Do you have the folders I mentioned above? If not
then you must fix it up: Control Panel / System / Advanced /
Environment variables. Locate the "path" statement in the lower
panel, then make sure that the above folders are listed.

Reboot your machine and see if this fixes the problem.
 
Thank you for answering me. I need morre help. When I
click start, then run, then type cmd.exe (ok) then type
path, the following comes up:
C:\windows;C:\windows\command;c:\grs;c:\progra~1\common~1
\folio~1;c:windows\system32;c:windows\system32\WBEM

Then I did the control panel/system/advancd/environment
variables. When I selected path, then edit the following
came up in an edit box which doesn't match the above, so
I do not know what to do. Here is what was listed in
the edit box. %systemroot%,%systemroot%
\command;c:\GRS;c:\progra~1\common~1\folio~1;%systemroot%
\system32;%systemroot%\system32\WBEM.

How do I correct the problem?

Thank you.

Louise
 
The difference you see in the 2 paths has to do with the use of standard environmental variables for windows system folders. %systemroot% is an environmental variable that expands to C:\windows on your computer. If you were to type at the command prompt
echo %systemroot%
you would see the full folder name. If you type
set
at the command prompt you will see a list of all environmental variables, including systemroot.

I see one potential problem in the path, but it may just be a typo in your post. You wrote that the return from the Edit button were:

%systemroot%,%systemroot%\command;...

Is that really a comma between the variables, or actually a semicolon? It must be a semicolon to separate variables. Probably a typo since your results from the path command show the proper string. Copy and paste is your friend for this kind of work.

Do you have a C:\Windows folder? Normally on Windows 2000 the "windows" system folder is named C:\Winnt. Perhaps it stays as C:\Windows on a computer upgraded from Win9x, I don't remember clearly right now.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/
 
Thank you for answering me. Yes, it is a typo, there is
a semicolon between %systemroot%. Yes, I do have a
Windows folder. I do not have a Winnt Folder, It is
missing. When I open up the Windows folder, Winnt is not
in that either. I hope this helps you. Can you tell me
now what to do? Take it step by step, because I need it.
Thank you.

Louise
-----Original Message-----
The difference you see in the 2 paths has to do with the
Click to expand...
use of standard environmental variables for windows
system folders. %systemroot% is an environmental
variable that expands to C:\windows on your computer. If
you were to type at the command prompt
echo %systemroot%
you would see the full folder name. If you type
set
at the command prompt you will see a list of all
Click to expand...
environmental variables, including systemroot.
I see one potential problem in the path, but it may just
Click to expand...
be a typo in your post. You wrote that the return from
the Edit button were:
%systemroot%,%systemroot%\command;...

Is that really a comma between the variables, or
Click to expand...
actually a semicolon? It must be a semicolon to separate
variables. Probably a typo since your results from the
path command show the proper string. Copy and paste is
your friend for this kind of work.
Do you have a C:\Windows folder? Normally on Windows
Click to expand...
2000 the "windows" system folder is named C:\Winnt.
Perhaps it stays as C:\Windows on a computer upgraded
from Win9x, I don't remember clearly right now.
--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

"Louise M." <[email protected]> wrote
Click to expand...
in message news:[email protected]...
 
This is getting quite confusing. Your system appears to be an
upgrade from a Win98 machine, which in itself is not particularly
nice, and it has some Win98 residues, which is worse. Let's
do things in stages:

1. Unhide the file c:\autoexec.bat, and rename it to autoexec.ba.
You do not need it any longer, but it interferes with your
operation.

2. Go back to the Control Panel and modify the path to read
%systemroot%\system32;%systemroot%\system32\WBEM

Now reboot the system, start a Command Prompt, and report
on these things:
- What do you get as a path?
- Do the commands "ping" and "ipconfig" work?
 
I just tried your solution, and it worked!! Thank you
very very much. I had absolutely no idea how to fix the
problem. I am sorry for the delay, I had to bring my
mother to visit her sister this afternoon.

The new path is C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows\system32
\WBEM. It isn't exactly like your line, as it is missing
one "windows". Is it okay that it is windows rather than
WINNT?

It pinged yahoo correctly, and it recognized the ipconfig.

You are correct, this is a computer which was first
upgraded from 98 to ME, then again, to 2000. It is a
Pentium II, 400 MHz. We did not realize ME had a bad
reputation, and had many problems after the first upgrade.

Thanks again, you are great!

Louise
 
I'm glad your problem is fixed. It does not matter if your path
says "Windows" or "WinNT", as long as it points to the actual
location of the Win2000 installation.

How stable your system will be in the long run remains to be
seen. Upgrades from Win98 to Win2000 are possible but not
recommended. Upgrades from WinME to Win2000 are not
really on, because WinME was released after Win2000, and
there is no inbuilt upgrade path. If you're lucky then things
will work out OK. If you're not so lucky then you will continue
to be plagued by all sorts of weird and wonderful problems.
If so then you may have to do a clean installation of Win2000.
 
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