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PC connects to internet, but no data transfer

F

flenn

Senior member
I'm trying to help out a neighbor. They have a single PC using Win98 with dialup internet access. The PC connects with the ISP fine (dialup networking icon in tray), but no pages load in IE. It's not just an IE problem because Norton Live Update can't see a connection either. The Norton firewall is disabled. I tried connecting to a different ISP but same problem. Removing/reinstalling TCP/IP doesn't cure it. This is weird, but I'm pretty sure I've seen this before, just can't think of the solution. Anyone have any suggestions? Worse case, we'll wipe the disk clean and reinstall, but I want to try to avoid that.
 
I've had similar problems this week with my isp, though it's still not resolved. I'm positive it's not my side though. After disconnecting and reconnecting I'll get a good connection sometimes.. 😛 And it does work with another isp. :disgust:

When you visit a website does it show any activity on that networking(isp) icon in the system tray? Press escape or cancel in the browser after a few minutes of waiting to see if there was anything received, sometimes it doesn't display what it received if it's not complete. Is it possible to ping or traceroute? What speed do they connect at? Might be line noise. Check the IP and DNS servers if they need to be set.

That's all I can think of. GOod Luck.
 
It does show very little activity (sent/receive bytes) but nothing show up in the browser. I'm assuming that this is the data that transferred when the modem was shaking hands with the ISP. Also, when norton live update tries to access it's site, it reports back that there is no internet connection. In other words, both IE and Norton can't see a connection. I assumed the modem was OK, but maybe there is a driver problem. It's a Diamond Supramax winmodem. I guess it wouldn't hurt to update the drivers, although it does dial out and connect with no problem. I'll also check the line noise, didn't even think of that one. The network settings are right for their ISP. I also set up a separate dialer for a different ISP and it still didn't work.

Thanks for the suggestions and feel free to keep them coming.
 
Had another modem previously been in the system? I had an odd problem with my daughters's computer. Had had a USB modem installed and working, but (because many USB modem drivers are idiosyncratic, and this was now a business machine requiring stability) uninstalled it and installed the PCI supramax. The supramax had the same problem as yours, connecting to the ISP but unable to communicate beyond the ISP's gateway. I reinstalled the USB modem, and then the supramax, when selected as the modem for the DUN connection, worked OK. So, if another modem had previously been installed, you might try reinstalling it. (Or first, more simply, you might try creating a new DUN connection, one that had not been priviously configured to use the old modem.)
 
Boot with a startup disk and make sure you have a 98 cd and then type:
extract /a x:\win98\precopy1.cab wsock32.dll /L c:\windows\system

Just this last weekend I had to clean a virus infected computer that had the same symptoms, it had the W95.Hybris.Gen. After cleaning it out I had to replace the wsock32.dll file, and everything worked. You may or may not have that virus, but id still try replacing wsock.
 
Could be as simple as not being able to resolve dns names. Try pinging some good servers from a dos box. If you can ping out,
you might look into reinstalling tcp/ip, dun, or just creating a new dun connection. Also check to make sure they don't have some old
dns numbers in the tcp/ip properties. Sounds like something simple to me... Could be a virus though, the other guys have some good
ideas as well. Hope this helps.
 
Here's an important question. Did it work before? Have they ever been able to connect to an isp and work properly?
 
OK guys, I appreciate your help. I'm not going to be able to try anything tonight, my neighbor's not around. Supposedly the PC worked fine up until a NIC was installed and a home network was setup. I did this for them about 5 months ago. They have 3 machines and a laptop on the network. They don't have any need for broadband and only occasionally will go online. That's why I just found out about the problem now. One more thing, Norton Firewall was also installed at the same time. Don't ask me why, without broadband and such little internet activity I don't think they have anything to worry about, but it was already installed when I went over to do the network. I have this weird feeling that, even though it's disabled, the firewall may be causing these problems. I'm going to uninstall it just to be sure. Although with Norton, even an uninstall doesn't mean too much.

One quick thought about the DNS server, Norton System Works uses Live Update to search for program and virus definition updates. I would imagine that the program searches using Symantec's IP addresses, right? If Live Update couldn't see the connection, wouldn't that rule out a DNS server problem?

Here's my plan when I go back over:

1. Check for line noise
2. Try pinging - if works, follow up on DNS settings.
3. Uninstall Norton Firewall
4. Reinstall modem drivers
5. Reinstall DUN

I'll keep you guys posted.
 
This happens mabe once or twice a month to me..never figured it out. Suspect it may be an ISP prob.but they never admit to any difficulty.
 
I do not know the details, but win 98 often has problems with the TCP/IP stack configuration after installing a NIC and drivers, and trying to use a modem dial up connection. Sometimes uninstalling the TCP/IP stack, then reinstalling it will cure this, but I have heard that the best policy is not to use a dialup and NIC on a 98 machine. If it is available, win 2k pro does not have these issues at all, and switches readily from dialup to LAN. 🙂
 
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