Internet problem with Laptop

Careful_with_that_Axe

I have a gateway laptop and use i.e.7. Occasionally when I sign on, I get an error message saying that Gateway can't find sites - even google site etc!
Happens also with ad double click. I find that by accessing internet through i.e. direct rather than through a desktop shortcut seems to eliminate the prob most of the time.

I've done things like delete history and cache, but this intermitent problem remains. I'm intrigued what could be causing it wand keen to resolve it once and for all if anyone could possibly help me?

Many thanks
J

fwor

It's possible that your ISP's DNS (the service that converts a URL into an IP address) is not completely reliable, or that you are not using the DNS address that your ISP recommends.

One option (suggested to me by someone else on here) is to use an alternative DNS such as opendns. You can do this by manually setting the DNS address to 208.67.222.222.

This worked well for my parents, who were having similar problems to you.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Remember that this only started happening when I switched from Virgin dial up to Virgin broadband. I only have a vague clue what you are talking about, but I'll give it a go.

Many thanks!

Mercenary

I use OpenDNS and am on VirginMedia Cable Broadband. I got fed up of VM's problems, plus I can make our connection safer.

Go to https://www.opendns.com and register for a free account, then you can customise your connection (ie I block advertising sites from having access to our PCs, among other things),
then go to your Control Panel > double-click on Network Connections, > right-click on your connection (mine's a Local Area Connection ) and select Properties.
In the window shown, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on the Properties button.
Click the 'button' for "Use the following DNS server addresses:"
then in the Preferred DNS Server boxes type in 208.67.222.222
in the Alternate DNS Server type in 208.67.220.220

Click OK all the way out.

You will have to restart your machine.... then test.

HTH :cool: