Hello there,

I have linksys router connecting to a desktop (through cable) which is working fine for the internet, but my (Vista) laptop can not go anywhere through web browser (IE and Firefox) through wire card and wireless card (which is connecting to this router). But I do have the network connection for the laptop and I can go to MSN without problem, and I can ping Yahoo! and ww.cnn.com as well. It is cleary that it's not ISP problelm and not the router problem. It seems to me that the TCP port 80 used by web browser on the laptop is blocked. how can i confirm if it's blocked and how can I unblock it? (additional info: I have turn off the firewall, still have the same problem, so it's not the firewall related issue; I have updated Norton virus definiciton and run the full scan and the laptop is clean). Could you help? Thanks a lot. Jim

Note that this is not likely to be due to port 80 being blocked - otherwise you wouldn't manage to log onto MSN Messenger.
This sounds like a DNS issue. In your taskbar, do you see a networking icon with a small yellow triangle?
Also when you visit this link: Google Does anything load?
Finally - we suggest that you do not use any Norton software for many reasons. Ask us about some free, better alternatives.

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Thanks for the response... I do not see networking icon with a small yellow triangle, and I can not go any URLs with the "Page can not be found" message. Of course, same as visiting the Google. I do have Norton antivirus software installed but no any Norton security software installed. And in fact, this Vista laptop doesn't have any problem and it worked for IE just fine and the problem just happened and there is no configuration changed and no any new software installed before the problem happened. I am thinking that port 80 being on the computer, it's because MSN uses different port rather than 80. Here are what h:
1. I have IP assigned from linksys router, and the router has IP assigned from DLS box from ISP.
2. I can ping out side URLs.
3. I can login and use MSN.
4. I can make the VPN connection to my working place
5. But I cannot go any URLs through IE and Firefox
6. The desktop (my another home computer) connected to this linksys router has no problem and IE works just fine.
Thanks.

Did you click on the link shown in the previous message? What loaded up?

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By clicking the link from your previous message IE loaded and but displayed the message "Can not display the web page..."

Try these instructions [you may want to print them]:

1: Open Network Connections by clicking the Start Orb, clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, clicking Network and Sharing Center, and then clicking Manage network connections.
2: Right-click the connection that you want to change [this would be your wireless network adapter], and then click Properties. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3: Click the Networking tab. Under This connection uses the following items, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties.
4: Make sure that both the Obtain an IP address automatically and the Obtain DNS Server automatically options are enabled.
5: Click the Alternate Configuration tab and ensure that the Automatic private IP address option is enabled.
6: Click OK and Close. Whether you are asked to or not, reboot your computer. Once restarted, check to see if you have internet connectivity.

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Ash
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Thanks for the info, I have followed your instructions precisely and all Internet Protocol (TCP/IPv4) are configured as "Obtain and IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS Server automatically", and also under Alternate Configuration tab and the Automatic private IP address option is enabled. Ashley, I still this is the port 80 related issue, not IP or DNS since my laptop does have the IP assiged from router (which is assigned an IP from ISP) and my laptop does have the network connection, and I can get all other networking related things on my laptop work such as making VPN connection, PINGing outside URL, logging into MSN, but using web browsers (IE and FireFox). Thanks and expect to hear more of your opinion.

Here's a simple thing to try - connect the laptop directly to one of the ports on the back of the router, as opposed to connecting wirelessly. Does this have any effect?

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Thanks,
Ash
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I had tried this at the first place, as I explained in my first message, desktop which connects to this router works fine with web browser, but my laptop does not work through wrieless connection and wire connection for web browsers while all other network related things are fine on the laptop. I tested this by unplugged the cable used by the desktop and plugged into my laptop, the problem remains the same: web browsers don't work with the message "Page can not be found..." while the laptop does have the network connected.

Sorry, I didn't remember. This still sounds like a DNS issue to me though, so let's try thos/
Follow the instructions in one of my previous posts that brought up the 'Obtain IP Address/DNS Server Automatically'.
This time, rather than 'Obtain DNS server address automatically', change it to 'Use the following DNS Servers' and enter the following:
Preferred DNS Server: 208.67.222.222
Alternate DNS Server:208.67.220.220

Click OK, then close all of the dialouge boxes. You might need to reboot the computer to see an effect.

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Thanks,
Ash
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I did as you said, but the problem still remained the same. Fortunately, I solved the problem by restoring the system back to 6/12/07. The reason for doing that is that I found that there were nothing added to the laptop but two Windows updates installed on 6/13/07 and 6/14/07. I guess the Windows updates might mess up the registry, and I restored the system back to check point on 6/12/07 and the problem was gone. Anyway, thanks for your effort and help, and I might "see" you here for other computer problem I might experence in the future.

Well, I do hope you will be back. Be sure to tell your friends about us, and consider posting in the off-topic areas if you're not a big fan of technology

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Ash
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