Cannot find server or DNS error

[camero]

At intermittent times, I keep getting the "Cannot find server or DNS error" on IE6 and "Page cannot be found error" on Netscape & Firefox. About 5 minutes later, I can access the sites. I tried the Microsoft fixes, adjusting SSL, TLS, etc.., anti-virus programs, spybot, adaware, but no luck. Emptied my cache, temporary internet files and tmp files. Here is a log of my Hijackthis, please help!

Using Windows 98

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 2:40:46 AM, on 7/7/05
Platform: Windows 98 Gold (Win9x 4.10.1998)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\HPLJSW.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SYMANTEC\ACT\ACT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RNAAPP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\TAPISRV.EXE
D:\DREAMVEAVER\DREAMWEAVER MX\DREAMWEAVER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\COREL\GRAPHICS8\PROGRAMS\CORELDRW.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer
F1 - win.ini: load=hpljsw.exe
N3 - Netscape 7: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://home.netscape.com/bookmark/7_0/home.html"); (C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\uvhm7wbs.slt\prefs.js)
N3 - Netscape 7: user_pref("browser.search.defaultengine", "engine://C%3A%5CPROGRAM%20FILES%5CNETSCAPE%5CNETSCAPE%5Csearchplugins%5CSBWeb_01.src"); (C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\uvhm7wbs.slt\prefs.js)
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\windows\googletoolbar2.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\ADOBE\ACROBAT 5.0\READER\ACTIVEX\ACROIEHELPER.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: &RoboForm - {724d43a0-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboForm.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\windows\googletoolbar2.dll
O8 - Extra context menu item: Fill Forms &] - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Save Forms &[ - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Customize Menu &4 - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComCustomizeIEMenu.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Insight NetKnowledge Tools - {102910D3-CF07-4BED-ACDC-D165385B9B66} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\INSIGHT DEVELOPMENT\NET KNOWLEDGE TOOLS\COMMON\INSIGHT NETKNOWLEDGE TOOLS.DLL
O9 - Extra button: RoboForm - {724d43aa-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComShowToolbar.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: RF Toolbar &2 - {724d43aa-0d85-11d4-9908-00400523e39a} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComShowToolbar.html
O9 - Extra button: Fill Forms - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F46} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Fill Forms &] - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F46} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComFillForms.html
O9 - Extra button: Save - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F49} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Save Forms &[ - {320AF880-6646-11D3-ABEE-C5DBF3571F49} - file://C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboFormComSavePass.html
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.corp.mypoints.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.tradedoubler.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.cj.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.linksynergy.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: www.cardoffers.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.nytimes.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.torontostar.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.touchpoints.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.self-service-touchpoints.com
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O18 - Protocol: iwd - {EA5F5649-A6C7-11D4-9E3C-0020AF0FFB56} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\INSIGHT DEVELOPMENT\NET KNOWLEDGE TOOLS\COMMON\IWDPROTOCOL.DLL

I read that someone in this forum had a similar problem and their hosts file was messed up. How do I check mine in Win 98?

[DMR]

1. I see nothing in your log which indicates that malicious infections are the source of the problem.

2. In terms of the hosts file, you can restore it to its original state with a utility called Hoster (although I can't remember if it's designed to work on Win 98).

[camero]

Thanks for the hoster tip but the problem remains. I had a lot of malicious infections about a month ago but I think I cleaned most of them. They related to a hijacked homepage for the most part.

[DMR]

Yeah- I didn't really think the hosts file was a problem, but I thought I'd suggest it since you asked.

Can you give us the specifics of your network setup please (type of connection, makes/models of modem, router, etc.)? The cause of intermittent loss of abilty to reach sites could really lie anywhere in your network chain.

[camero]

I'm on a dial-up connection using a U.S. Robotics 56K Voice Win modem

[DMR]

Dial-up connections can be pretty prone to dropouts and interference from electrical noise on the phone line; you might have a problem in that area.

The next time that you find that you can't reach a site through your browser:

- Open an MS-DOS window: Go to the "Run..." option under your Start menu and type "command" (omit the quotes), and hit Enter.

- At the DOS prompt, type the following command and hit Enter:

ping www.google.com

If the ping works, it should return 4 positive responses and some summary information. If it fails, tell us the exact error that it returns.

If the above ping does fail, try pinging Google by its IP address instead of by its URL:

ping 66.102.7.147

Let us know the results.

[camero]

The ping worked...

[DMR]

Which ping? The one by URL, the one by IP address, or both?

If only the ping by IP address worked, you most likely have a DNS problem, because DNS is responsible for translating the "www.somesite.com" URL into the actual IP address that the computer needs have in order to contact the site.

If both pings worked, your problem lies elsewhere. Is it only certain sites that you're having trouble reaching, or does the problem occur randomly occur regardless of where you're surfing?

[frenemy]

why are you using dial up?

[DMR]

why are you using dial up?

Probably because a lot of people still don't have a choice. :(

[camero]

Both pings worked. The problem randomly occurs regardless of where I am surfing. This is sooooooooooooooooo frustrating.

[camero]

DMR...do you know anyone on the net that can help me solve this problem?

(i.e. the best tech support person you have ever worked with?)

[DMR]

There are talented troubleshooters on many of the online support forums, but there's really no way that I could know who will definitely be able to fix your particular problem. It's obviously usually more difficult for any online person to diagnose a problem than it is for a technician who can physically work on the computer; you might want to find such a person in your area and have them take a look at the problem.

However, since you said that both pings worked while your browser wasn't working, I'd look into that further first:

- Download and install a different browser and see if it exhibits the same symptoms.

- Reinstall/repair your current browser. If you're using Internet Explorer right now, you can try the free IEFix utility.

[camero]

Thanks 4 the tips but I believe I addressed them in my first post...the problem occurs in IE, Netscape & Firefox.

I was hoping you knew someone who specialized in DNS-related problems...

Offline support doesn't work 4 me...i'm on a very tight budget...

Any other thoughts?

[DMR]

... I addressed them in my first post...

My apologies- I've been experiencing some problems accessing this site for the last week or so, which has made it a bit difficult for me to correctly follow all of the threads I've been working on.

However: you mention DNS problems, and determining if your problem lay in that area was exactly why I asked you to try the pings (both by IP and URL) of Google at the times that your browers were not able to reach that site. A ping by URL relies on DNS in the same way that a browser request for a URL does; if a URL ping works, but a browser's site request by URL does not, it's usually indicative of the fact that DNS-related functions are working.

[camero]

Just so you know, I can usually reach Google even when the problem occurs. When I tried pinging Google, it was just after experiencing access problems with 2 other sites, but Google wasn't one of them.