Bewildering connection issue

Destination

Destination

Destination

Soldato
Joined
31 May 2009
Posts
21,468
My folks have a reasonably new windows 7 PC.
All has been functioning nicely until a few days ago my father informed me he couldn't check his email.
The issue currently is browing to googlemail brings an error report in the browser. The standard browser message when you have no internet connection, offering the network connection dialogue and troubleshooter. 'We cannot connect to xxx.' or similar. Same situation you would get if you pulled out your network cable.

After investigation I've found, every single webpage I try works, all fine, outlook works, hotmail works, windows updates works, all net connections seem intact, and google itself works flawlessly, until you click the mail button within google or 'sign in' within google.

Direct browsing to gmail.com or googlemail.com brings the same error, as does using bookmarks to take you there. I am stumped.
I cleared cache, no help.
I reset the browser to basic settings, no help.
I switched all off and reboot the router (which is a BT thing btw), to no avail.
MSE shows no infections, same with superantispyware and malwarebytes.
Windows network diagnostics reports all as fine.

Anyone ever seen this? Any ideas what could be causing it?
 
Can you connect to other SSL sites? No dodgy proxy settings? Tried a different web browser? Also, can you ping gmail or googlemail.com?

I'd have said possibly an ISP issue, but if it's happened over a number of days I find it unlikely. Are there any other computers you could take down there and try?
 
Same router thru wireless using an iPhone can happily connect to gmail.
There are no proxy settings at all, and i reset explorer.

I haven't tried a different browser, which would seem like the next logical step but my technoillerate father of is unlikely to be able to follow the instructions to install one.
As for pinging gmail, didn;t actually try that, would have been a good idea.
 
It hasn't somehow got onto a untrusted list anywhere on the system?

IE i think it's tools\Internet options\ higlight "restricted sites"\ sites

There is nothing running on the machine like Norton or something like that does the same thing?
 
Perhaps try
Code: 
> ipconfig /flushdns
at the command prompt. It may need to be an elevated shell I can't remember off the top of my head.
 
No rogue lists on the system, no norton blocking tool.

I will try the flush dns cmmd when I have the opportunity.

Google to igoogle, I will have to look into that as I don't actually know what it means.

Thanks for suggestions guys
 
Okay flushdns didn't help, and I can ping to google and gmail quite fine.
The issue seems to stem from windows smartscreen filter being disabled.
Or being currently unavailable I should more accurately state, this isn't due to loss of network connection and there is no reason why this should be unavailable.

I've googled and can't find any similar issues, but smartscreen filter is off, so certain websites are unavailable, again MSE and superantispyware are picking up on nothing.

Anyone know an easy method to try to reistall or reenable windows smartscreen filter?
Or any other thing I should try?


-edit it would appear that I am unable to view .php pages within IE, some php, this site is fine, others are not.
 
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This may sound silly - but have you tried simply restarting your router?

edit - ignore, you've tried it already
 
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Aye no worries, just retried it, as well as rerunning superantiapyware MSE and Malware bytes, all found nothing, resetting the router hasn't helped either.

I think reinstalling IE is the next step...
 
Well I am unable to find out how to reinstalled IE8 under W7, no joke, simply can't find how to do it, and downloading the vista version for 64 bit fails.

I did deactivate the windows feature IE8, and then reactivated it with reboots inbetween, but that didn't help the issue either.

Installed firefox which works adequately, and accesses gmail and the other missing sites, but I would truely like to know what is wrong with IE, clearly something in there is set incorrectly or corrupt, and it is likely to do with this 'smartfilter' business.

I would love to know whats going on and how to identify and repair/exclude the problem, any big brains out there able to assist me?
 
out of interest - if you log on to the box as a different user, or indead run IE as admin, does the problem still occur?
 
Good question, i will do so when I next have an opportunity, which will be Monday.
I truely do wish to get to the root of this issue.
It is why i waited so long before installing a new browser.
 
this link is how to reset IE8 on XP and Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/923737

not exactly what you want, but worth trying.

..............................................................

Be sure to do this :

Start - in search box type -> command

at top of list find COMMAND - RIGHT CLICK on it - RUN AS ADMIN

Type the following commands (or copy and paste one at a time), each followed by pressing enter.

ipconfig /flushdns

nbtstat -R

nbtstat -RR

netsh int reset all

netsh int ip reset

netsh winsock reset

REBOOT

That resets your TCP/IP stack
 
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