Zen Internet Support Forum

As stated, I am unable to get  updates or any other  Microsoft web page, including msn.com home page.

I am running both Windows explorer and Opera.

I have tried putting Microsofts IP address in the IE address bar as follows 297.46.130.108.

My last attempt to sort things out was to ipconfig/ flushdns and then trying to ping microsoft.com

Still no joy, oddly my laptop is exhibiting the same problem and is unable to update, and that is after formatting and a clean installation this morning. 

    Both Operating systems are legal.

Not being particularly computer literate and too old to learn I have scoured the Internet trying to solve this problem, that is how I have learnt the steps that I have already taken.

I have applied all antivirus and spyware programmes and would say that both computers are clean. I am not running a network. So with two computers showing the same problem I am left wondering if something has changed on my Linksys WAG354G ?

I would appreciate any help that anyone can offer me. Thank you.

 

Does auto update to microsoft update site work for you apart from visiting the sites?

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Vista-XP forum - xpforum - Windows XP - Vista - HijackThis support

Thanks for replying .

The situation is that I am unable to get any windows updates or access any microsoft web site.       Have tried with main computer and my freshly formatted laptop without success ....           

Any further help or suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi,

When viewing Microsoft websites check several things first:

Check connection related settings first of all, as below

**Check you have the correct Zen IP address's for Zens Primary & secondary DNS. Without the correct DNS settings for your connection you wont get a working internet service. NOTE: ALL internet service are dependant upon a working DNS & name resolution service.

**Does your own connection use a static (Fixed IP address) or dynamic IP (changes every time you connect to the internet). Static IP would be the one given to you by Zen for your own use.

Next Check your web browser related settings, especially check your security settings. This is especially true if your using IE6.

**For MS windows update website & windows update service you MUST HAVE in windowsXP or Win2K windows automatic updates service turned on or enabled (see control panel, system, system services).

**Also make sure you have activeX controls & plugins enabled via IE6 or your web browser, again if thes eare NOT enabled the pages wont load /parse correclty.

Try these and see if you have more success! regards Ivan

ivan@cyteck.co.uk

 

You might also want to check your MTU settings for your adapter and router.  I had an issue with MSN Messenger failing to connect on one machine and it was down to having initially no MTU set in the adapter and then having to set it to less than 1500.   I used 1492 and all was fine after that.

You could check your settings using TCP Optimizer available as a download from this site http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php It shows you what your settings are and lets you change them and keep backups of the previous settings.

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Derek T

At peace with technology in the Moray countryside

Sorry for not replying earlier, but for some reason I have been unable to answer any posts on the Zen forum.

With other sites I have had no problems........Zen Gremlins or my computer again?

The Microsoft problem was indeed my router and after a little tweaking everything is fine again. Once again Thank you all for your constructive comments, it is nice to know that when these problems do occur there is always friendly advice available.  God knows, at my age I need all the help that I can get sometimes.

Once again, my thanks.                                                                                                                                

Allan.

Allan,

Glad you got it sorted.  I presume it was an MTU issue.

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Derek T

At peace with technology in the Moray countryside

Hi im new to this forum.  I also just recenlty bought a new PC with VIsta Premium on and already 2 days of having it I am not happy with Vista its too problematic.

 

Earlier this morning I was happily using MSN messenger and getting vista updates when suddenly I am unable to logon to hotmail or visit any Microsoft site or log on MSN messenger.

 

I read what was said by you guys and it doesnt appear to help.

 

I downloaded the program Thumpert mentioned and when i ran to check the MTU i get this error:

Pinging [66.230.207.58] with 40 bytes ->Request Timed Out
Pinging [66.230.207.58] with 40 bytes ->Request Timed Out
Pinging [66.230.207.58] with 40 bytes ->Request Timed Out
Couldn't determine largest possible MTU due to packets being lost.
 You might want to try a different URL

Also another side question i used to be able to see my housemates PCs on wireless network they all run XP  and all of a sudden i now canot any ideas?

Not so happy with VIsta bring back XP :-)

Any help would be sweet!

 I am so close to going back to when i got the pc from and hitting them with it

Hello Arizolas

Sorry! to hear about your difficulties with your new machine and windows vista. First I would point out that no matter what other people say, I personally think Vista is different in many ways to XP & one of the problems with Vista is its massive and far far more complex than XP. This makes finding your way around the system harder for users, why? because previous windows features have been moved to new locations often several menu layers down. Some features have been changed or removed completely or new features added.

**I sense part of your problems stem from having run a Vista update session, normally windows updates shouldn't  cause any major problems. But sometimes glitches or problems do occur.

**As for the MTU value, I found in reality its better to calculate them manually yourself, I found some very clear and precise explanations on how to calculate your own MTU value. From http://www.kitz.co.uk

**Sorry! no idea why Vista cannot see XP machines on the same local LAN?

Ivan 

Thanks

when i click that link it says page cannot be displayed

Hi,

Sorry! no sure why it didn't work, did have some technical problems inserting that link.

http://www.kitz.co.uk/index.htm 

PS:- Tested this one works!! try again.

Ivan

seventyplus:

As stated, I am unable to get  updates or any other  Microsoft web page, including msn.com home page.

I am running both Windows explorer and Opera.

I have tried putting Microsofts IP address in the IE address bar as follows 297.46.130.108.

My last attempt to sort things out was to ipconfig/ flushdns and then trying to ping microsoft.com

Still no joy, oddly my laptop is exhibiting the same problem and is unable to update, and that is after formatting and a clean installation this morning. 

    Both Operating systems are legal.

Not being particularly computer literate and too old to learn I have scoured the Internet trying to solve this problem, that is how I have learnt the steps that I have already taken.

I have applied all antivirus and spyware programmes and would say that both computers are clean. I am not running a network. So with two computers showing the same problem I am left wondering if something has changed on my Linksys WAG354G ?

I would appreciate any help that anyone can offer me. Thank you.

 

 

I have the same problem. I can access to other web site except those microsoft or related.

Could you find the solution? I am still looking for this occasion ...

Hello,

(ANS) Nobody tells these things BUT in windows you must have the system service "application updates or updates" set to automatic (no disabled or manual), within the windows system services.   i.e. control panel, admin tools, see  computer management, see  system services  (it should be near the top of the long list).

**Also you should have ActiveX controls enabled within Internet explorer, as most Microsoft websites seem to require this otherwise they don't load or display correctly.

hope that helps?

Ivan 

Thank you so much. I had been having trouble not being able to access microsoft's website or any updates. IE page would never load. After downloading speedguide.net and changing my mtu from 1500 to 1492 everything came together. All the secuity updates started coming in and i was able to scan and install a total of 59 updates i had missed over the last two years.

Hi gander,

Thats good news, glad its now working for you. But bear in mind that NOT ALL microsoft windows updates are worth having nor are many of them very important. Frankly, 90% of the updates are a complete waste of time & effort and just take up extra disk space.

**In my experience & in my opinion I would only bother downloading & installing the updates marked as "critical updates & security updates" i.e. those that patch or fix holes in windows itself & those that plug security vulnerabilities that might allow a virus or hacker access through windows.

**If your not careful windows can become very very bloated with even more useless or irrelevant files via the update.

**Most users havent a clue what most of the MS updates do which isnt their fault because Microsoft almost deliberately uses vague or obscure technical jargon to baffle users. So in the end most people just download everything which isnt a good reason bye itself. Such is life!!

Ivan