Unable to access the web - elderly PC laptop

[RogerS]

I'm giving away an old Toshiba laptop to a fellow forum member and thought I'd fire it up and delete any old data files.

I notice that I can't access the internet using Explorer (v6) - which is also the only browser on the laptop. I can access the router from the browser which suggests that the browser is working OK. I can ping a website from the cmd prompt which suggests that DNS is working OK. So I'm a bit stumped. It's been a long long long time since I was grubbing around in PC-land. No firewalls are installed at the moment. It's XP Professional but certainly won't have the latest service packs but then again the version of Explorer is of similar vintage.

Probably easiest thing is simply to wipe it clean and reload XP but even so, I'm intrigued as to why.

 

[gidon]

Roger
You haven't got a web proxy configured in IE6 by any chance?
If you can ping an external website then you must have an IP address and DNS is working. Maybe try uninstalling and reinstalling the browser or installing another browser?
Cheers
Gidon

 

[RogerS]

Roger
You haven't got a web proxy configured in IE6 by any chance?
If you can ping an external website then you must have an IP address and DNS is working. Maybe try uninstalling and reinstalling the browser or installing another browser?
Cheers
Gidon

Where would that be set-up in Windows?

No Internet access so i can't download Firefox!

Maybe a re-install is needed.

 

[gidon]

In IE - Tools | Internet Options | Connections | LAN settings
Then untick all boxes ...
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Davon]

Don't know if this will help but download firefox to a cd in your cd drive on the comp you are using at the moment, then install onto the laptop from that.

Davon

 

[RogerS]

Tried that, Gidon.

Davon...good idea but in the end I took the easy option and reloaded XP..Cor...long time since i did that...doesn't it take an age and what a kerfuffle.

All OK now.

 

[John. B]

Remember, just deleting files does not actually delete them,
it just informs the computer that the space the files occupy can now be written on to.

John. B

 

[RogerS]

Remember, just deleting files does not actually delete them,
it just informs the computer that the space the files occupy can now be written on to.

John. B

Yes, I know, John but thanks for the reminder. I reformatted the drive as part of the re-instal and then ran shredit for good measure.