Troubleshooting Internet Access when PC can ping, but can't browse.

Ok, so this has been one of my MOST interesting problems to resolve for the last 2 years.

Problem Statement:

• Laptop with XP cannot access the internet.
• Network layers (layers 1-3) working perfectly.
• Can ping any other machine on the network.
• Can access shares on the LAN, can ping sites nationally and internationally.
• Can share a folder and have that shared folder access across the LAN.
• Cannot browse to the internet.

Troubleshooting steps

Did all the normal 1st steps.

Checked network physical layer.
Problem existed whether the wireless network adapter or the wired card was used. The physical layer worked fine for all local connections

Noticed an odd unicode character in the initial output from the ping command, but could not figure out why there would be a unicode value there.

Disabled the network layer, uninstalled, reinstalled - to no avail.

Ran [SFC /SCANNOW] to check for damaged XP files, some files were replaced and updated - still no luck.

Downloaded and installed FireFox - which also could not gain access to the internet.

Tracert did not give me any joy, even though I could ping a remote site. INTERESTING!!!

So I started to think - What layer is giving the problem here? It would appear that the layer responsible for ROUTING is problematic (ie Layer 2), so went over all firewall software.

No firewalls enabled, no virus protection installed - Hmmmmm.

Went into the SERVICES and disabled anything that looked like it would remotely cause the problem. No Luck.

Ran Process Explorer to see if anything looked suspicious - nothing. Hmmmmm.

GOOGLED: "Can ping network can't access internet" - got over 400,000 results. Started to read through posts. Amended my search a little, got more results. Read some more.

Eventually found a thread from about July 2009 where a group of people on one of the forums were struggling with the exact problem. Also found another thread where the exact problem was also being discussed. The last forums pointed me at a downloadable program called WINSOCKXPFIX.EXE.

I downloaded WinSockXPFix.EXE from the following link:
http://www.snapfiles.com/downloads/winsockxpfix/dlwinsockxpfix.html

Copied this over to the machine - and everything works.

I am not happy though - because I still do not understand what went down, so I keep reading the forums.

I eventually start identifying a common thread in the solutions discussed - it appears that Norton, once uninstalled, breaks the network connectivity in a nasty way. Some of the forums discussed using a utility or method to repair it, but I had already repaired my situation, so I could not experiment.

I had completely removed any of the rogue registry entries and all references to applications not installed, so I could not confirm or deny that this machine's problem was related to Norton.

Now my problem is that I cannot replicate the problem, because I do not know what the problem actually was. I know what the symptoms were, but I still do not know the problem.

Also, I know that I used WinSockXPFix.exe, but I do not know what WinSockXPFix did, neither do I know what the NETSH command or any other native command was that I could have used to do whatever WinSockXPFix did.

I do not know what exactly was damaged and I do not know where to start to fix this problem if it occurs again in the future when I do not have internet access - and cannot therefore research or download a program like WinSockXPFix.

In Closing

Yes, I had a problem. Yes I got rid of the problem and the owner of the laptop is grateful.

BUT

I do not know anything about why that problem occured. I do not know what exactly the problem is because I cannot replicate it on demand. As a result, I cannot claim to have done ANYTHING. This is frustrating and leaves me knowing that this field of study is still so vast and that there is still so much to learn.

If you have had this problem and can tell me how you can replicate it inside of a virtual machine I would be very happy to hear from you.

Preparing for the CCNA Exams

There are so many decisions to make about whether you are ready or not for the exams. My best advice is to install the exam simulators that can be found at the back of the ICND2 book and go through them in STUDY mode enough times until you feel comfortable with them.

The first 2 or 3 times you should be trying to stick to a relaxed timing - taking regular breaks. Don't bother to make notes about your weaknesses - the simulator is doing that for you in the background.

Once you have done that and you are comfortable that you are consistently scoring well in STUDY mode, you should be going through them in SIMULATION mode to try and get your timing right.

These are just some thoughts, but what I would really like to know is - WHAT DID YOU DO TO PREPARE???

Please post your thoughts here.

Also, if you have any questions leading up to the exam, please feel free to post your question here as a comment.

Fun at the bleeding edge

For those of you that choose to set up an entire development environment on a 64bit platform using VISTA and wanting to work with ADO, SQL Server and particularly if you are wanting to repeat the classroom exercises for the 2541 course on your own, then this is the blog for you.

This is not a topic that I want to flesh out in its entirety, rather - I would want you to start specific questions or noting some of your findings. If a specific topic starts occupying too much focus on its own, I will start up another blog topic and move those comments over to that new topic.

I know that "D" from Richard's Bay already has had considerable experience in this arena and would like to see him driving this discussion.

2541: Using the labs outside of class

Please note: This is a workshop and is normally configured within a VPC environment. However, that having been said, you can install the entire course at home for practise by doing the following:

1. Install Visual Studio 2005 (you can use the express version
2. Install SQL Server (also express if you cannot get your hands onto STD or Enterprise)
3. Make sure that you have installed the AdventureWorks database from the SQL Server installation disk. If you haven't got the sample database, then GOOGLE for "adventureworks.mdf download" and you will find ample support for downloading & installing the sample DB
4. Using the DVD/CD that came with your training manual, run the LABFILES.EXE file - remembering where it installs all of the modules to.

Remember that each lab starts with a "Setup Procedure" that tries to create a couple of Stored Procs. Since they already exist from the first time you run them, the will give you errors that the Stored Procs already exist. Don't stress about this, just check that the other Stored Procs are created.

If you have any problems, please comment on them here and I will try to answer as soon as possible.

CCNA Training

The most valuable tool that I can recommend for practising and learning is the Boson SImulator. On Saturday past I highlighted the 17 labs that you will need to practise to become comfortable with the environment.

Of particular importance is practising the troubleshooting sections.

I also mentioned that there are several errors in the CCNA (ICND2) manual. If you dropped me an email I will forward an errata document to you with all of the errors with the corrections.

I will also upload the errata here as soon as I get a chance.

Office 2007 training

Welcome back to all of my students that have attended my Office 2007 training programs.

Remember that Practice Makes Perfect.

This section is dedicated to any questions you may have with regards to your problems using Office 2007.

Please remember to give me at least 24 hours to respond since I may be in class at the time that you have asked your questions.

Looking forward to hearing your successes and growth in the use of the MS Office System