Sandi's Site
Error: "Page cannot be displayed" (Server or DNS error)
"Internet Explorer could not open the Search page"
Old versions of web pages being displayed
General advice
(click here for advice
specific to shared internet connections)
Do
not use the "Automatic" cache setting - anything but that.
The way the "Automatic" setting works is IE monitors how
often a web page is updated. But, there is a bug in
the feature in that IE will eventually decide, seemingly at
random, that a page is never updated and stop checking.
The only fix is to use the deltree commands below.
Check
your IE cache size. Traditionally Internet Explorer
has set the size of its cache as a percentage of total hard
disk size. That was fine years ago, but now that
hard drives are getting so large Internet Explorer can set
its cache to ridiculously large sizes (2 Gig and more).
This is simply too large for Internet Explorer to be able to
handle. Reduce the size of your IE cache to around 50
Meg (maximum of 150Meg) and empty your existing cache (make
sure you also delete offline content).
You may just have a cache or cookie problem. Export your
cookies using file/import and export.
Shut down all programmes and boot into Dos if you are using
Windows 95 or 98. If using Windows ME use an appropriate
disc to access DOS. Instructions for
2000 and XP users are here. Run the following commands from the
windows directory, typically c:\windows\>
smartdrv
deltree history
deltree tempor~1
deltree cookies
Reboot using ctrl, alt, del if using Windows 95 or 98. If
using Windows ME remember to remove the boot floppy.
Windows 2000 users will have to log in as Administrator to
be able to delete the folders in question directly from
within Windows Explorer.
Windows XP users will be able to delete the folders from
within Windows Explorer, though you may need to log in as
Administrator first.
NOTE:
Different operating systems use different paths to the
history, temporary internet files and cookies folders. Check
your system to make sure that you are using the correct path
for your machine. For example, you may find your folders are
located at ...\documents and settings\{identity}\{dir} or
similar.
Turn off all web accelerators, and search for a file called HOSTS (hosts.sam and lmhosts are simply sample files but are sometimes used in error). If you find it, rename it to HOSTS.OLD or, if you are more experienced, open HOSTS using Notepad and and remove any entries to the problem site(s) or place a # at the start of the line to force Windows to ignore everything on that line.
Try running the following command from a DOS window:
ipconfig /flushdns
This command may work for later versions of IE:
iexplore /rereg
If you are using ADSL or DSL make sure that 'dial whenever a network connection is not present' is not enabled. Use 'never dial a connection' instead.
Shut down all computers. Turn off the modem/router, leave it off for five minutes and then turn it back on. One of my first ADSL modems was quickly fixed by simply disconnecting the modem from the internet wall connection and then plugging it back in after a few minutes. With my current model, which has a 'screw in' connection which is a pain to disconnect, I find it easier to power everything down for a few minutes.
Web site content is not updated or you receive an
unrecoverable error in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812989
"Launch browser windows in a separate process" option missing in IE5.01 or later (registry hack) - setting this option to 'yes' may stop Windows Explorer from trying to access the internet
As per
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;240928,
this option can no longer be adjusted from within IE from
version 5.01 onwards. Sometimes the registry settings which
are meant to be 'automatic' are set incorrectly and can
cause problems such as Internet Explorer trying to access
the internet.
Make sure both of the following registry keys are set to
'yes'. If you have a 'low RAM' machine (less than 128 meg)
the options should be set to 'no'.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software/microsoft/windows/
currentversion/explorer/BrowseNewProcess
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/software/microsoft/windows/
currentversion/explorer/BrowseNewProcess
Earthlink's Accelerator software, if turned off, may
block access to the internet (probably because it uses a
HOSTS file).
Adfilter, Netsetter,
Webhancer and
InternetBoost '99 can cause problems.
Norton Internet
Security is also a known culprit, as is McAfee
firewall and
Gator
(also known as Claria)
Check out my troubleshooting advice. A lot of malware causes this
problem.
Do you have AOL software installed? Look
here and
here
Try disabling ALL other programmes, including your virus
scanner, to make sure that one of your programmes is not
causing the problem.
Running LSPFix may fix your problem.
Following are many KB articles, if you problem still isn't
resolved, read through them.
'500 - Internet Server Error' error message when you use IE
and a cable modem or a DSL connection to try to connect to
an IIS site that is running on Windows 2000 Professional
based server
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=886216
Cannot view a web site that uses an internationalized domain
name
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=842848
Some links in Outlook Express may not work on Windows 2000
or Windows XP
'..page cannot be found...might have been removed... had its
name changed...temporarily unavailable...'
'HTTP error 404 - file or directory not found. Internet
Information Services (IIS)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=841793
"Page cannot be displayed" error message when you try to
start IE:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q326155
"Page cannot be displayed"
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q175722
Windows 2000 (corrupt registry entry):
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q308780
Missing/damaged wsock32.dll file
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q298436
Various Error Messages Caused By MTX or Matrix Virus
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q242191
Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site <Web
address>. A connection with the server could not be
established:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q191064
"Page cannot be displayed"
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q241344
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q812336
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q293402
"Page cannot be displayed" after you upgrade to Windows ME
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q274498
"Page cannot be displayed" after upgrading to XP from ME (ZoneAlarm
installed):
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q313067
"Page cannot be displayed" after upgrading to XP from
Windows ME or Win98:
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q303488
You receive a "Page Cannot Be Displayed" error message when
you post to a site that requires authentication
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q821814
Unable to initialize Windows Socket Interface Code
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q246727
"Page cannot be displayed" when trying to access FTP Server:
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q260156
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5, 5.01 and 5.5 for
Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 and SP6
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q236/1/16.ASP
Finally, as a last resort you can try the following:
Use Registry Editor to export and then delete the following
registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Winsock2
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
VxD Winsock (if
existing)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
VxD Winsock2
Uninstall Dial-Up Networking at Control Panel, Add/Remove
Programmes, Windows Setup, Communications. Restart your
computer then reinstall dial-up networking. If the problem
continues, do a COMPLETE uninstall and reinstall as per the
instructions at the URL below:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q181599
Computer using shared internet connection
How to troubleshooting internet connection sharing
(Win98) - 238135
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q238135
How to troubleshoot internet connection sharing (WinXP) -
308006
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q308006
Troubleshooting home networking (XP) - 308007
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q308007
How to troubleshoot network connectivity problems - 325487
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q325487
Network problems with a Router in XP - 315978
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315978
Using ICS? Look here and here.
Using ICS with Win98 as host and a later OS as client?
http://support.microsoft.com?scid=kb;EN-US;Q305667