Troubleshooting Internet Connections

Using Winipcfg to Verify Internet Connections

The IP Configuration utility (Winipcfg) is a troubleshooting utility that displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values for any computer running Microsoft TCP/IP. Network configuration values include the current IP address allocated to the computer and other useful data about the TCP/IP allocation. This utility is of particular use on networks using DHCP, allowing users to determine which TCP/IP configuration values have been configured by DHCP.

The IP Configuration utility does not dynamically update information. If you make any changes, such as disconnecting, you must exit the IP Configuration utility and restart it.

To run Winipcfg, select Run from the Start menu, type winipcfg, and click OK.

For more information about IP addresses on TCP/IP networks, see Chapter 15, "Network Adapters and Protocols."

This following paragraphs describe how to identify and resolve common Internet connection problems.

Your modem does not dial.

Use the troubleshooting aid for modems in online Help. See also the modem troubleshooting section in Chapter 21, "Modems and Communications Tools."

You cannot connect to your Internet service provider.

In Dial-Up Networking, check the Server Types dialog box to make sure your server type is correct.
- If you have a PPP account, make sure the server type is not SLIP or CSLIP.
- If you have a SLIP account, make sure you have the correct type selected, either CSLIP or SLIP. Also, make sure you typed the correct IP address in the SLIP Connection IP Address dialog box.
Select the Network option in Control Panel to make sure TCP/IP is bound to the Dial-Up or network adapter.

You connect to the Internet service provider but cannot obtain information from other Internet sites.

Try using the ping command to connect to other Internet sites.

To test a connection using the ping command

At the command prompt, type ping followed by the name of the host you are trying to reach.
If ping succeeds, your connection to the Internet is working properly.
If ping does not succeed, type ping followed by the IP address of the host.
If this works, you are properly connected to the Internet, but not properly connected to your DNS server.
– Or –
If this does not work, you may not be connected to the Internet. In either case, contact your ISP.

You cannot view or download hypertext documents.

To view or download hypertext documents, such as World Wide Web home pages, you must use an Internet browser, such as the Internet Explorer browsing software. The telnet and FTP utilities provided with Windows 98 support only basic navigation on the Internet.

For more information about troubleshooting Dial-Up Networking connections, see Chapter 19, "Remote Networking and Mobile Computing."

Additional Resources

For more information about	See this resource


Proxy Server	Microsoft Proxy Server Installation and Administration Guide
Windows Scripting Host	http://www.microsoft.com/management/
Java	http://www.microsoft.com/java/
Third-party rating bureaus	http://www.w3.org/pics
Internet Explorer	http://www.microsoft.com/ie/corp/ http://ieak.microsoft.com/ http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie40/download/addon.htm
NetMeeting	http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/
Internet Locator Server Service	http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/ils/
NetShow	http://www.microsoft.com/netshow/
RealPlayer	http://service.real.com/
Data source objects	http://www.microsoft.com/gallery/files/datasrc/
Dynamic HTML scriplets	http://www.microsoft.com/gallery/files/scriptlets/