Cannot open any web page, but MSN Messenger works

I use my computer behind a router. My MSN program can connect to the Internet, but I can not open any web site with my web browser. It seems that this problem is related to DNS because when I input an IP address directly in the address bar of my web browser, the web page can be displayed. However, I don't know how to fix this problem. I choose Google Public DNS server on my computer, this problem still exists. My OS is windows XP. How to fix this problem? Any ideas?

Steven

Posted 2011-01-07T13:34:27.640

Reputation: 147

Answers

There are a few things to try.

If you have a strict firewall / Ougoing rules, make sure that DNS requests are allowed.
Remove the Google DNS settings from your computer, or check that they are correct.
Set the DNS of your computer to the IP of your router and set Google as the DNS provider on the router.

I hope this helps, if it doesn't, can you please go to a command prompt and type ipconfig /all and paste that log in to your question.

William Hilsum

Posted 2011-01-07T13:34:27.640

Reputation: 111 572

My flatmate can open web pages on his computer. We share the same router. – Steven – 2011-01-07T14:05:35.753

@Steven - which shows that it sounds like the problem is to do with point 1 or 2 of my answer... it could be any of three items I said. – William Hilsum – 2011-01-07T14:34:37.407

My big-number ports are blocked on the router. – Steven – 2011-01-10T13:51:55.833

Check to make sure that you hosts file looks correct. It will be located here: %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.txt

It should look similar to the following.

127.0.0.1 localhost loopback

::1 localhost

For more information about the hosts file, refer to this webpage.

David

Posted 2011-01-07T13:34:27.640

Reputation: 6 975

Have you removed any viruses lately that were removed?

If so, check your Proxy settings under internet options, network, proxy if it is filled in and you DON'T use a proxy then remove it, if you do use a proxy ensure that this is your correct one.

Newer threats add a lovely proxy into the mix to generate revenue from clicks through bogus searches.

Dan M.

Posted 2011-01-07T13:34:27.640

Reputation: 1 676