Can ping but can't Google!

[Tefler]

I'm still grappling with this problem, to which I've still not had a satisfatory solution.

Today, I can ping www.google.co.uk successfully, with no loss of packets and no time-out. However, I can't get the Google page to open (Internet Explorer cannot display this page). To confound me even further, I can get to Answerbank. This happens frequently, although not always. Sometimes I can get to any page I request, others I can get no page, still others, like today, I can only access some web pages - and not always the same ones. Nearly always, pinging is successful.

I'm using Windows XP and a Linksys wireless router, which has no time limits set on it.

[Mattk]

Cant provide an exact solution for you but this is a problem i have also had before.the only way i could reach the google page was to enter the ip address in the browser bar.

[vehelpfulguy]

Try to find a file called "hosts" on your computer (it has no extension, it is just called hosts).

In Windows XP it is in a folder called C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc (etc is part of the path name)

On most home computers this should have very little in it, but sometimes rogue programs update this file to try make you go to their web sites.

The only entry should be:

127.0.0.1 localhost

Have a look in yours and see if there is anything else in there.

Read more here, particularly the section on hijacking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file

[vehelpfulguy]

A free program called WinPatrol is worth having running on your PC at all times. Get it here (it is very small):

http://www.winpatrol.com/

It warns you if anyone is trying to update your hosts file, or change your IE home page, or if anyone is trying to install a program without you knowing.

It gives you a warning and asks you if you want to cancel any changes.

[Oneeyedvic]

I had a similar issue where I could look at any website apart from Dell - I found that resetting my router worked - not sure why, but haven't had the issue come up again.

Just try unplugging your router for a few minutes and then turning it back on. (this will change the IP address)

[Tefler]

Thanks for the helpful tips. I'll give vhelpfulguy's advice a try. Resetting the router doesn't work, I'm afraid - although the resetting of the IP address might be the key. Maybe if I give all the computers on the network fixed addresses this might work?
Entering the IP address of the page I'm after hadn't occurred to me either. Thanks.