Tricky internet problem

[ddeder]

We have 9 PCs in our office and a server running Windows 2000 Server. The server is configured as a DNS server. The PCs are all running Windows XP Pro. We have DSL internet access.

One of the PCs does not have internet access - when Internet Explorer is opened, it comes back and says The Page Cannot Be Displayed... The rest of the PCs and the server are able to access the internet without a problem. The PC that cannot access the internet CAN access the shared folders on the server without a problem so this is not a hardware/cabling issue. I have run LSPFix and WinsockXPFix with no luck. I have removed the networking services, protocols, etc... and reinstalled with no luck. I have tried both DHCP and manually configuring IP address with no luck.

Now here's the odd thing... If I disable the network adapter and join a nearby wireless network, the internet works just fine on that network. I then disable the wireless and enable the network adapter. The PC finds an IP address no problem and connects to the server - but still no internet access. I have tried everything I can think of and still no joy. Any suggestions?

 

[ch2]

What do you get from an ipconfig /all on the broken machine? Sounds like maybe it's using a different DNS server for some reason and that the LAN sharing is just working by broadcasts. Can you do an nslookup www.yahoo.com?

 

[Rapidskies]

Assuming DNS is configured properly, if it were me I would drop a different NIC in the box and see what happens. They are cheap and it sounds like it will work if a wireless adapter works ok. You most likely have a protocol stack issue, driver issue so I would put in a different brand of NIC so you get a different driver.

 

[ddeder]

If it were a problem with the network adapter, then the computer would not be able to join the domain and browse mapped network drives on the server.

Doing an IPCONFIG/ ALL returns info identical to info on the working machines (the IP address of the PC is different of course).

nslookup of yahoo.com returns yahoos ip address so it looks like the DNS is working.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: ddeder
Doing an IPCONFIG/ ALL returns info identical to info on the working machines (the IP address of the PC is different of course).

That would be worth double-checking, if you haven't - could save you a big "D'oh!" moment later.

Can you ping your default gateway? (Assuming that pings are allowed to your default gateway.) Can you ping other machines on your LAN (both by name and by IP)?

Also, you mentioned a wireless adapter - is this machine by any chance the only one with wireless (or at least with that particular adapter model)? I could see a typically crappy wireless driver package totally jacking up your routes.

 

[ddeder]

I believe I have found the answer!

The network is behind a SonicWall Tele3 Internet Appliance. This appliance allows 5 PCs to access the internet by default and we purchased a 5 license upgrade a couple of years ago. On a whim, I checked the log for the Tele3 and what do I see? We have exceeded our number of licensed computers on the network!

Now here is my next question. I believe a standard Netgear or Linksys VPN Firewall router puts no limit on how many PCs can join the network and access the internet - no additional licenses required. Has SonicWall got such a great product that they can charge additional bucks for user licenses? Should I ditch the SonicWall and replace it with a Netgear?

 

[Rapidskies]

Yes Sonicwall charges you for each user license and no it's not worth it but it is cheaper than getting another router. I had a customer that had setup a network printer that grabbed an IP from their sonicwall and the printer using one of the sonicwall licenses and preventing a PC from getting on the internet. Give me Cisco anyday. 😛