Member Avatar for Rakesh

Hi

I have recently joined the Forum. I have been having some problem with MSN and hotmail signing on one of my computers for about a month now. I have extensively searched he Net for any answers, but found none.

I have two computers at home. Both running Win XP. I have connected the DSL modem to one computer and the other computer is connected through LAN networking for sharing files and internet connection. This system had been working fine for the last two years. Suddenly my other computer has stopped accessing MSN messenger and Hotmail. Every other URL is accessed. I can access both on my computer directly connected to the internet. I tried everything I could think of and then finally formatted both the computers and reinstalled the OS. Pretty sure that this would solve the problem. But NO, the problem remains. Now I am surprised because the system was working fine for 2 years and it has stopped working only now.

The only change I have made it I have installed a RADEON 9100 128MB DDR graphic card in my second computer about two months back. The computer could access MSN and Hotmail for about a month even after this new installation.

Now I really don't know what to do. Any suggessions any one ??

Rakesh

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Dani AI

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Summary and focused troubleshooting for ’s setup (two XP PCs, one directly on the DSL modem, the other via LAN/Internet Connection Sharing). The fact that the directly-connected machine reaches Hotmail/MSN while the LAN client cannot — and that OS reinstalls did not help — points to something between the client and the Internet (hosts/proxy/DNS cache, ICS/router/NAT, or a low-level TCP/IP/Winsock problem), not the Hotmail servers themselves. ’s comment about spyware is relevant because malware commonly tampers with hosts or proxy settings; ’s note about the broken link highlights the value of concrete steps below rather than general suggestions. (support.microsoft.com)

Recommended troubleshooting (ordered, quick and low-risk):

  1. Check the hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) for stray entries that map msn/hotmail domains to wrong IPs; restore the default hosts file if anything suspicious is present. (support.microsoft.com)
  2. Verify Internet Explorer / system proxy settings (Tools → Internet Options → Connections → LAN Settings) and clear any proxy (malware often sets a proxy). (support.microsoft.com)
  3. Confirm DNS and basic path visibility, then clear the DNS cache. Run these from a command prompt (as Admin):
nslookup hotmail.com
ipconfig /all
ipconfig /flushdns
tracert hotmail.com

Use the results to tell whether name resolution or routing is failing. (learn.microsoft.com)

  1. Reset the Windows network stack if DNS/hosts/proxy look normal: reset Winsock and TCP/IP, then reboot:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

Those commands restore corrupted network catalog/registry entries that can produce exactly the symptoms described. (learn.microsoft.com)

  1. Isolate the network path: temporarily connect the problem PC directly to the modem (bypassing the ICS host/router) or put both machines behind a cheap hardware router. If the problem disappears when the PC is on the modem, the ICS host or its firewall/NAT is the likely culprit; inspect the host’s firewall/ICS settings and any third‑party security software. (learn.microsoft.com)

Optional checks if the failure is site‑specific: test for Path‑MTU/fragmentation issues (some sites fail when MTU/MSS is incorrect). A ping test with the DF flag can reveal this; if so, lower the MTU on the router or adjust MSS. (cisco.com)

Notes: the Radeon video card itself is an unlikely direct cause unless extra networking/filter software was installed with its drivers. Because both OS reinstalls preserved the problem, emphasis should be placed on the shared network layer (hosts/proxy/ICS/router/ISP). The steps above follow Microsoft troubleshooting guidance for hosts, proxy, DNS and Winsock and are ordered to minimize disruption while isolating the fault. (support.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for DMR

A few of our members have had similar problems in the past. Look through the threads in the link below for possible solutions:

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/search.php?searchid=67005

Also, your problem could be caused by a spyware/Hijackware program or other similar malicious software. Read through the threads in our Security forum for suggestions on how to check your system for these infections and remove them if they exist.

Member Avatar for Schmakt

I am having this same problem, and, when I clicked on the link above, it said "no matches found"

Anyone have any ideas about this?

Member Avatar for DMR

Strange- the link worked when I posted it. Let me see if I can find the info again and get back to you with it.

Member Avatar for Schmakt

perhaps the problem with the link is related to the problem with hotmail, yahoo, wachovia, etc...

Rakesh, were you ever able to resolve your issue?

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