There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
Web & Email
Tag Cloud
access acer asus bios bsod computer crash drive driver drivers error ethernet excel freeze games gaming hard drive hardware hdmi internet java laptop malware memory monitor motherboard music network obp printer problem ram random registry router slow software sound trojan usb video virus vista wifi windows windows 7 windows 7 32 bit windows 7 64 bit windows xp wireless
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > Internet & Networking > Web & Email >
Solved: New laptop with Vista; web browsers won't work

Reply  
Thread Tools
Tezza99's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 5 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
14-Sep-2007, 08:22 PM #1
Solved: New laptop with Vista; web browsers won't work
My brand new Toshiba laptop connects to my ISP via dialup faultlessly but when I run either IE or Firefox, I can't connect to anything. I just get a page not found message.
I haven't yet tried using email, ping or FTP, mainly for logistical reasons I won't bore you with.
The laptop has Vista installed and IE7 and the latest Firefox, with 2GB RAM.
Any suggestions?
Would it in fact be worth my while trying FTP etc?
jbm1991's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 1,231 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Experience: intermediate ~ advanced
14-Sep-2007, 08:49 PM #2
try pinging through a command prompt and see if it can connect, if not then go into network and internet manager and make sure you have a strong connection and its internet and local access, not just local.
Tezza99's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 5 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
16-Sep-2007, 05:15 AM #3
Thanks for the tip. I've now had time to go a-pinging and all seems OK. I pinged my local isp as well as several other URLs and they came back with no losses.
What next?
Cheers.
jbm1991's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 1,231 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK
Experience: intermediate ~ advanced
16-Sep-2007, 08:16 AM #4
look at the "network and connections" manager i think its called its in the main start menu when you click on the windows bubble thing in the corner, and its on the right side of the list.
see what networks your connected to and how good the connection is. if its any less than 4 bars and your receiving wirelessly and your not far from your router then there could be a problem with your network card?
Tezza99's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 5 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
16-Sep-2007, 08:40 AM #5
Thanks mate. I won't have time to try that tonight but I'll check it tomorrow - when I start testing all my wireless and cable settings.

However what I've been having a problem with so far is my dial-up networking. Everything connects faultlessly with the usual buzzing and whirring and growling, then the service checks my user name and password, then connects me, as normal.
Then nothing.
???

BTW, I tried FTPing just now and got this error: "Invalid socket descriptor passed to function". This, according to one site I found, means "you're sending data to socket without being connected to a server".

Does this throw any light on things?

Last edited by Tezza99; 16-Sep-2007 at 09:25 AM..
TerryNet's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 48,385 posts.
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ottawa, IL
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
16-Sep-2007, 10:19 AM #6
Your ability to ping an internet site proves you have a connection and internet access. If you were also able to ping a site by name (e.g., www.yahoo.com) it shows that DNS is working.

So (I don't know Vista so things may look a little different) go into Internet Options - Connections tab - and check your Dial-up Settings to make sure you're not using a proxy or something like that. Also check the Security tab to make sure those settings look OK.

If you have a 3rd party firewall (internet security) running, or if you have enabled Vista's outgoing protection, is it configured to allow your browser to use the internet?
Tezza99's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 5 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
17-Sep-2007, 04:57 AM #7
Thanks, TerryNet. I've double-checked all that and can see nothing untoward anywhere.
TerryNet's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 48,385 posts.
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ottawa, IL
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
17-Sep-2007, 01:50 PM #8
(From a JohnWill post)

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Vista.

Start, Programs\Accessories and right click on Command Prompt, select "Run as Administrator" to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset IPv4 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

Reset IPv6 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.
Tezza99's Avatar
Computer Specs
Junior Member with 5 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
17-Sep-2007, 09:09 PM #9
Thanks TerryNet - your blood's worth bottling!
All is now A-OK, thanks to your suggestion.
I hope you get a warm fuzzy feeling from helping people such as me - you deserve it.
Thanks too to jbm1991 - your suggestions took us a significant part of the way to the eventual solution.
TerryNet's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 48,385 posts.
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Ottawa, IL
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
17-Sep-2007, 10:33 PM #10
You're welcome, Tezza99.
Reply

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Search Tech Support Guy

Find the solution to your
computer problem!




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.
Thread Tools



Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter TechGuy.tv TechGuy.tv Mobile TSG Mobile
You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:50 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2011 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.