Cannot access Mircosoft's websites

Hi,
for some reason, I cannot access any Microsoft url. I keep getting that dreaded DNS error. I'm using WinXP Home Edition, and IE6. Recently downloaded the latest patch from Microsoft, and now cannot reach them at all.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
JD

 

Hello jd,

You might want to read thru the front part of this thread http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21293
about MS's changing the update site address, and look at this article on trouble shooting update access http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/troub-08.html and this one
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/#Problem reaching Windows Update

Regards - Charles

 

Charles,
Thanks for your suggestions. I did try all of them, but, still cannot get into any url that begins with www.microsoft . I got into the windows update with the new url (thanks), but can't even get into tech net.
Thanks again,
JD

 

jd0427--I understand you still can get into the Windows Update site, but not a site starting with www.microsoft , correct?
One cause of that could be that www.microsoft somehow got into your HOSTS file, assuming you have one. (This is not HOSTS.sam)
See if you have a HOSTS file and what is in it. It can be edited just like a Word document.
If this is not your problem, how are trying to access www.microsoft sites? Hyperlinks, Favorites, putting the address in the Address bar? What exactly is the message you are getting?

 

Jim,
thanks for responding. I do indeed have www.microsoft in my hosts file. So, do I just delete that line? If that does fix it, can you tell me how that item might have gotten into that file? Is it something I did?
Thanks,
JD

 

jd0427--Yes, just delete that one line including the 127.0.0.1 or 0.0.0.0.
I have no clue how it got into your HOSTS file. Perhaps you or one of the HOSTS file lists that help speed access to domains by linking the domain name to the true IP address goofed and put the 127.0.0.1 block at the start instead.
Good luck!!

 

Hey Jim,

Shouldn't that line with 127.0.0.1 be there? That's standard, I think it will re-generate itself anyway.

In the SpyBot immunize page, bottom panel, there is a lock on the hosts file, to keep this sort of thing happening, although, how effective that is, I don't know.

The IE locks for Home page and Interent tools I know are to keep other users out in a mult-user environment.

There is a writeup about this by Tom Coyote here http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/

Regards - Charles

 

jd0427--Came across an article that says some spyware can write to your HOSTS file. Maybe that is what happened to you and why SpybotS&D locks down HOSTS
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/cws/
So I have learned something, too, because of your question.

charlesvar--In jd0427's case he wants to delete the HOSTS block to www.microsoft. So he needs to delete the entire line.

 

Hi Jim,

You're right, I was thinking about the local host entry.

Regards - Charles