Is this a DNS problem?

Having upgraded my XP 64 PC to Vista Business I notice I can get to sites
like www.bt.com instantly but not to www.microsoft.com. Configuring my
outlook client my test message fails with an error that it cannot locate the
mail server mail.btinternet.com. However I can send emails out from outlook,
just not receive any. I am totally freaked out by things that sometimes work,
other times don't for no apearent reason. I thought my router acted as a DNS
service. It works fine for this laptop and another home pc all set up
identical. Any suggestions?

Your router does not act as a "DNS service". It just holds the DNS numbers
from your ISP that your PCs, in turn, use. Since other PCs on your home
network seem to work properly, the source of the problem is likely your PC.

I'm not a DNS guru but I would start looking for the simple solutions like
maybe the firewall on your PC...maybe try turning it off and see what
happens. Make sure the incoming/outgoing settings in Outlook are correct. You
didn't mention what version Outlook you have. If it's Outlook 2007, it will
automatically fill in the SMTP/POP3 settings if you use the wizard to setup
the e-mail account (well...it works most of the time anyway).

Or, check your TCP/IP settings to make sure you are using DHCP (i.e. "Obtain
an IP address automatically" is selected) and "Obtain DNS server address
automatically" is selected in TCP/IP Properties.

Lastly, check if you are using TCP/IP Version 6 or TCP/IP Version 4. When I
configured my Vista PCs, I turned off Version 6 and am using just Version 4.
I have no idea if that is at all related (refer back to comment on me not
being a DNS guru) but it's something to try.

Tim


"lasancmt" wrote:

> Having upgraded my XP 64 PC to Vista Business I notice I can get to sites
> like www.bt.com instantly but not to www.microsoft.com. Configuring my
> outlook client my test message fails with an error that it cannot locate the
> mail server mail.btinternet.com. However I can send emails out from outlook,
> just not receive any. I am totally freaked out by things that sometimes work,
> other times don't for no apearent reason. I thought my router acted as a DNS
> service. It works fine for this laptop and another home pc all set up
> identical. Any suggestions?

Just having spent 20 minutes on the BT Broadband help line I can confirm that
this is a DNS problem. The resolution was to add two of BT's preferred DNS
server addresses in the TCP/IP properties: Primary DNS server 1: 194.74.65.69
Alternate DNS server : 217.35.209.180
Now why you have to do this on a Vista PC but not on an XP laptop connected
to the internet via the same router I have no idea. I call it a bug, but
maybe someone will enlighten me. Guess what. My outlook configuration also
started working because it now can resove pop3 server mail.btinternet.com.
Soeone at microsoft should take notice. This whole Vista upgrade process is
far from painless. I am not impressed with the user interface and start to
wonder why I bothered in the first place. I can now start the process of
hunting for numerous drivers so I have audio etc. again.

"lasancmt" wrote:

> Having upgraded my XP 64 PC to Vista Business I notice I can get to sites
> like www.bt.com instantly but not to www.microsoft.com. Configuring my
> outlook client my test message fails with an error that it cannot locate the
> mail server mail.btinternet.com. However I can send emails out from outlook,
> just not receive any. I am totally freaked out by things that sometimes work,
> other times don't for no apearent reason. I thought my router acted as a DNS
> service. It works fine for this laptop and another home pc all set up
> identical. Any suggestions?