Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Problem with internet connection on certain Windows 8.1 PC's

Jan 26, 2015 6:18PM PST

I have a perfect internet connection on these Windows 8.1 PC's, I can ping to google.com, I can open up my browser (IE, Firefox, Opera,..), I can search for stuff in google (only in Opera, Firefox)
BUT I can't access any other site. Doing a ping to any other site doesn't work. DNSlookup works. Clicking a result in google doesn't work, I can't open up the site, in all web browsers.

This is weird, because every PC in our room is connected to our Windows Server 2008 R2 SBS and only the Windows 7 PC/laptop their internet work completely without any issues.

Everything is connected through ethernet (1Gbps), I haven't tried Wifi connection yet (no wifi adapter on the w8 pc) But i will, still if anyone knows how to solve this issue, we would be so thankful.

Also the PC's are a custom built W8.1 computer and an MSI all-in-one W8.1 PC. They all have the correct drivers.


Flushing the DNS solved the issue for a brief moment. After a while it would not connect.
But, starting in SAFE MODUS helps, I can connect perfectly.

We took a look at different things, but can't find any solution that works. Only safe modus works for now, so we're pretty sure it's a program that was installed on both PC's or maybe a virus... Oh we did a scan too.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
So your internet is not provided by a classic ISP to PCs?
Jan 26, 2015 11:59PM PST

This sounds like a limitation or issue on the 2008 server. Your IT person needs to get to work.

The safe mode is a little telling in that some app may be interferring. I've seen expired or near to expired antivirus suites do that. It's well discussed about how to test for that.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
Windows Server 2008 R2 SBS
Jan 27, 2015 8:20PM PST

there's the problem. All the computers behind it are attempting to get a DNS service that's not active or empty on the office server. Fix the server problem. Before that, for fun, see if any computer can change it's TCP/IP settings to assign 8.8.8.8 as the DNS for that computer, since you seem able to google, because that's google's DNS server.

- Collapse -
...
Jan 28, 2015 1:15PM PST

Yet the Windows 7 computers can connect to the server.

Techrodd: when the Windows 8.1 computers cannot access the Internet, are they getting APIPA addresses?

Check what protocol stacks are installed on the adapters' Properties in Safe Mode and compare it to Normal Mode.

- Collapse -
...
Jan 28, 2015 1:26PM PST

Actually, compare the ipconfig /all settings on Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

- Collapse -
good thought
Jan 28, 2015 8:40PM PST

The w8 computers might not be getting an IP from the server's DHCP. I wonder if the W8 computers can still see and interact with each other?

- Collapse -
Answer
Software Interference
Jan 30, 2015 6:06PM PST

I also gone through almost same problem and I was not able to browse any website other than Google. I was only able to browse google.com and not any other.
But after a while I found my McAfee Internet Security was causing the issue. I found it was not able to start properly. When I uninstalled it the Internet worked as normal. To make sure it was antivirus fault I tried installing it again and I was not able to browse sites other than Google after few reboot. Anyway, I don't found any problem on Internet after uninstalling it. There are many antivirus software which sometimes do this. Try disabling firewall and see if it works. Also, if it doesn't work for you than try to use Google DNS or Open DNS.

Follow other steps as explained in other answers in this post. It worth.

- Collapse -
Answer
Reset TCP/IP
Feb 17, 2015 1:40PM PST

It sounds like TCP/IP is messed up. Reset TCP/IP using cmd prompt. Run the 'netsh int ip reset' command to reset TCP/IP and then restart your computer. If you still face same problem then reset winsock entries using 'netsh winsock reset catalog' command and restart your computer.