Tip: Run a free scan for common Windows errors ad

re: [NOT a] DNS error Monday, April 27, 2009 at 2:44 pm Posted by gewg_ (4444 messages posted) Here's how your post looks: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1240859931 It's obvious you tried to do better. The first 2 paragraphs here are worth reading: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1217046552 Tracy wrote: |Was unable to get online via Verizon DSL last week |[apparently using XP and a post-IE6 browser...] |I was getting "hard drive failure imminent" messages, |so I installed a new one this week[...] |I only have Win98 disks, so I'm back on that now. | Ah. Yet another someone who has been brainwashed into thinking that Microsoft's is the *only* software that will run on the x86 architecture. More below. |I still can't get online via IE (no other browser installed), | Condolences on having to run Intenet Exploder--especially an ancient version. The easy solution to this problem is to have a non-M$ browser (Firefox or Opera) on removable media so you can install it. |and Verizon said it's not their problem |because 192.168.1.1 in the address bar brings up a DSN error message. | Yes, using a numeric IP address **should** BYPASS DNS. This is a very useful symptom. Something in your networking stack is broken (it's *NOT* DNS). Read this: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/1124596509 ...and I hope I can convince you to avoid M$'s crappy online software and just install a 21st-Century browser and email client. |I was getting "hard drive failure imminent" messages, |so I installed a new one this week. Pre-hard drive change I was using XP, |but I only have Win98 disks, so I'm back on that now. |[. . .] |I'm unemployed and job hunting, |otherwise I'd just hit the store for something newer. | Again, it's NOT necessary to give MSFT money to use a computer --even your current computer. You can boot to this CD and get a fully-useable OS with a graphical desktop that COMES WITH a browser, email client, and office suite --all gratis (and libre) and **installation** is NOT needed: cache of https://shipit.kubuntu.org At that point, all you need is the IP address your ISP assigned you. (Obviously, a bootable Linux CD is *also* a useful diagnostic tool; it's good for repairing broken Windoze boxes as well.) ...and Linux doesn't have any of the Product Key, Product Activation, Windows Genuine DISAdvantage crap when you DO go to install it to your HDD. Not having to run anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-hijacking apps speeds things up too. Your local Linux Users Group could also fix you right up with a modern OS that is more secure than anything that comes from Micros~1--gratis. Linux Mint is noteworthy as it has all the proprietary junk that folks need --and which the USA government's stupid laws have made cumbersome to get. cache of http://distrowatch.com If you're in a tech-related field, learning to use another OS is also a plus. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Monday, April 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm Posted by Tracy (3 messages posted) Thanks for the info. I'm not a tech person at all. Not brainwashed either. I'm just not savvy enough to know what to do in the current situation. I did have Firefox previously and use Google docs for most other things. Will look into what you've proposed. Can't say I understood all the commentary, but I think I'm ok on the action items. Thanks again. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Monday, April 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm Posted by jack hall (308 messages posted) Tracy, since you dropped back from xp to 98 you would have had to install drivers for your ethernet card. Control panel-network, see if it shows. Also look in system for yellow exclamation marks, to see if device manager shows your network adapters, installed properly. On Monday, April 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm, Tracy wrote: >Thanks for the info. I'm not a tech person at all. Not brainwashed either. I'm just >not savvy enough to know what to do in the current situation. I did have Firefox >previously and use Google docs for most other things. > >Will look into what you've proposed. Can't say I understood all the commentary, but >I think I'm ok on the action items. Thanks again. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Friday, May 1, 2009 at 9:51 pm Posted by Ed (741 messages posted) If you have an exclamation mark in Device Manager Look carefully at Device Manager! You will see all your system devices listed there. To open the Device Manager -   START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM > DEVICE MANAGER If the modem has an exclamation mark against it, delete the modem entry. Then reboot. If that device is already broken (as indicated by the Exclamation Mark) this can do no harm. If the correct device driver is actually present on your system, Windows will reinstall it on the reboot. At reboot, you may have to point the install wizard to one of these locations in order for it to find the correct driver:   C:\WINDOWS   C:\WINDOWS\INF   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM   C:\WINDOWS\IOSUBSYS   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS Or you may need to download the driver file for Windows 98 from the modem manufacturer's website, put it on a floppy disk, put that disk in the computer's floppy drive, and point the install wizard to A:\ Ed On Monday, April 27, 2009 at 7:00 pm, jack hall wrote: >Tracy, since you dropped back from xp to 98 you would have had to install drivers >for your ethernet card. >Control panel-network, see if it shows. Also look in system for yellow exclamation >marks, to see if device manager shows your network adapters, installed properly. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 7:42 am Posted by jack hall (308 messages posted) Ed, can't help wondering what happens to these people who just seem to disappear. On Friday, May 1, 2009 at 9:51 pm, Ed wrote: >If you have an exclamation mark in Device Manager > >Look carefully at Device Manager! You will see all your system devices listed there. >To open the Device Manager - > >  START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM > DEVICE MANAGER > >If the modem has an exclamation mark against it, delete the modem entry. Then reboot. >If that device is already broken (as indicated by the Exclamation Mark) this can >do no harm. If the correct device driver is actually present on your system, Windows >will reinstall it on the reboot. > >At reboot, you may have to point the install wizard to one of these locations in >order for it to find the correct driver: > >  C:\WINDOWS >  C:\WINDOWS\INF >  C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM >  C:\WINDOWS\IOSUBSYS >  C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS > >Or you may need to download the driver file for Windows 98 from the modem manufacturer's >website, put it on a floppy disk, put that disk in the computer's floppy drive, and >point the install wizard to A:\ > >Ed > > > > > [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 12:18 pm Posted by Tracy (2 messages posted) Some of us "disappear" because we can't get internet access! In the midst of a job hunt, no less . . . I'm back at the library. I will give these suggestions another try. I've also been trying to install Ubuntu as an alternative, but that keeps freezing up during partitioning. Will let you know what happens next... Thanks [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 12:33 pm Posted by jack hall (308 messages posted) Tracy, if getting an internet connection going is your primary goal, I'd stick with 98 for now. Getting the TCP/IP stack and all the drivers working properly is the only real goal. I don't know Ubunto or what support you can acheive with that system.. I'd check with your ISP as to what's the oldest browser you can use. I think without online capability, it's going to be I.E. 5.5 SP2.. On Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 12:18 pm, Tracy wrote: >Some of us "disappear" because we can't get internet access! In the midst of a job >hunt, no less . . . > >I'm back at the library. I will give these suggestions another try. I've also been >trying to install Ubuntu as an alternative, but that keeps freezing up during partitioning. >Will let you know what happens next... > >Thanks [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 2:01 pm Posted by gewg_ (4444 messages posted) Tracy wrote: |Some of us "disappear" because we can't get internet access! |I'm back at the library. | BTDT. I had a free ISP who managed to delete its subscribers list. All I had to do was sign up again--but I needed access to do that. 8-( |In the midst of a job hunt, no less | My luck wasn't _that_ bad. |I've also been trying to install Ubuntu as an alternative, |but that keeps [freezing up??] during partitioning. | I ASSuME you got the box to boot to the CD and got a working Linux desktop. Does your box meet the minimum requirements? cache of https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements Is all the hardware Linux-compatible? (Like XP--and unlike Win9x--Linux has a hardware compatibility list.)[1] Though the default install can run dog-slow with lesser amounts of RAM, Debian-based Linux (Ubuntu is one of those) *will* run on old boxes. cache of http://www.linux.com/feature/52134?theme=print ...though e.g. Xubuntu might be a better choice. cache of http://www.oreillynet.com/linux/blog/2006/06/meet_the_newest_member_of_the.html Damn Small Linux or Puppy Linux should be do-able on about *any* box. cache of http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Minimal_Linux_distros Got a buddy with a CD burner and a fast connection? [1] Linux has the best hardware compatibility of *any* OS (especially in its out-of-the-box state) but there are some manufacturers that just suck and won't get on board --even though the Linux Driver Project guys will write those drivers for FREE [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 2:31 pm Posted by gewg_ (4444 messages posted) jack hall wrote: |I don't know Ubunto or what support you can acheive with that system. | That's Ubuntu Linux, and the support is the same as for any other user--if you don't have a clueless ISP. If your ISP is a bunch of idiots that can only read from a prepared script which only deals with Windoze, then yes those morons can cause you headaches. |I'd check with your ISP as to what's the oldest browser you can use. | ISPs that tell you **what software you can run** are idiots to be avoided. |I think without online capability, it's going to be I.E. 5.5 SP2.. | Complete nonsense. As stated previously in this thread, all you need from an ISP is an IP address (or a phone number if it's dial-up). http://google.com/search?q=Internet.Options-Connections-Setup-Wizard Running any software that an ISP gives you is STUPID. It bloats up your system with unnecessary crap and is often so poorly written that it causes you problems. A competent ISP **doesn't care** what software you run. THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE INTERNET. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Friday, May 8, 2009 at 8:16 am Posted by jack hall (308 messages posted) gewg_, I suggested windows since in fact most ISP's ARE clueless. Most ISP's will ask whether your running windows or a Mac. Period. Beyond that it's usually sorry we don't support that operating system. My suggestion was if a clean install of windows was successful, many ISP'S will do a manual setup on the phone. FYI my ISP supports only windows and a MAC system, and for windows only back to XP. I was able to setup my 98SE by myself, but only after my ISP had set me up successfully on my XP PRO computer. My observation of this fellow, is he's only interested in basic connectivety on broadband, not experimenting. On Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 2:31 pm, gewg_ wrote: >jack hall wrote: >|I don't know Ubunto or what support you can acheive with that system. >| >That's Ubuntu Linux, >and the support is the same as for any other user--if you don't have a clueless ISP. > >If your ISP is a bunch of idiots that can only read from a prepared script >which only deals with Windoze, then yes those morons can cause you headaches. > >|I'd check with your ISP as to what's the oldest browser you can use. >| >ISPs that tell you **what software you can run** are idiots to be avoided. > >|I think without online capability, it's going to be I.E. 5.5 SP2.. >| >Complete nonsense. As stated previously in this thread, >all you need from an ISP is an IP address (or a phone number if it's dial-up). >http://google.com/search?q=Internet.Options-Connections-Setup-Wizard > >Running any software that an ISP gives you is STUPID. >It bloats up your system with unnecessary crap >and is often so poorly written that it causes you problems. > >A competent ISP **doesn't care** what software you run. >THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE INTERNET. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: [NOT a] DNS error Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 12:42 pm Posted by Tracy (3 messages posted) Checking back in. . . Been sick a lot lately (yes, it just keeps getting better), so I put this aside while I rested and made the odd trip to the library and interviewed for jobs. Am going to work on burning Xubuntu at a friend's place tonight. Many thanks for all the links. Will check back in with the results. On Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 2:01 pm, gewg_ wrote: >Tracy wrote: >|Some of us "disappear" because we can't get internet access! >|I'm back at the library. >| >BTDT. I had a free ISP who managed to delete its subscribers list. >All I had to do was sign up again--but I needed access to do that. 8-( > >|In the midst of a job hunt, no less >| >My luck wasn't _that_ bad. > >|I've also been trying to install Ubuntu as an alternative, >|but that keeps [freezing up??] during partitioning. >| >I ASSuME you got the box to boot to the CD and got a working Linux desktop. > >Does your box meet the minimum requirements? >cache of https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements > >Is all the hardware Linux-compatible? >(Like XP--and unlike Win9x--Linux >has a hardware compatibility list.)[1] > >Though the default install can run dog-slow with lesser amounts of RAM, >Debian-based Linux (Ubuntu is one of those) *will* run on old boxes. >cache of http://www.linux.com/feature/52134?theme=print >...though e.g. Xubuntu might be a better choice. >cache of >http://www.oreillynet.com/linux/blog/2006/06/meet_the_newest_member_of_the.html > >Damn Small Linux or Puppy Linux should be do-able on about *any* box. >cache of http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Minimal_Linux_distros > >Got a buddy with a CD burner and a fast connection? > > >[1] Linux has the best hardware compatibility of *any* OS >(especially in its out-of-the-box state) >but there are some manufacturers that just suck and won't get on board >--even though the Linux Driver Project guys will write those drivers for FREE [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: DNS error Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 5:33 pm Posted by Tracy (2 messages posted) Final message on this one! After trying pretty much everything under the sun with no results, I finally just dug into my rent money this week and bought a new laptop. At least having a working computer at home will help me crank out the job applications more quickly so I can make up the back rent. Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice along the way! [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows 98 Discussion Forum