Have you ever encountered a situation where a server has a network connection but cannot access the internet or open web pages? I have faced this issue before, and after troubleshooting, I found that changing the DNS settings resolved the problem. Today, I will share the general causes and solutions for this issue, hoping to help you.
Why does the server have a network connection but cannot access the internet?
1. Network Settings Issue
This issue often occurs when you need to manually specify the IP, gateway, and DNS server for internet access, or when using a proxy server. Carefully check the computer's network settings.
2. DNS Server Issue
When IE cannot browse web pages, try accessing a website using its IP address first. If this works, then it is likely a DNS issue. The problem might be due to an error in obtaining the DNS server address when connecting to the network or an issue with the DNS server itself. In this case, you can manually specify the DNS server (the address can be the DNS server provided by your local ISP or another functional DNS server address).
You can configure this in the network properties (Control Panel > Network and Dial-up Connections > Local Area Connection > Right-click Properties > TCP/IP Protocol > Properties > Use the DNS server addresses here). Different ISPs have different DNS addresses. Sometimes, the issue might be with the router or network card, preventing connection to the ISP's DNS service. In such cases, you can try turning the router off for a while and then back on, or reconfigure the router.
Another possibility is a problem with the local DNS cache. To speed up website access, the system automatically stores the IP addresses of visited websites in the local DNS cache. When you revisit the website, it retrieves the IP address from the local DNS cache instead of querying the DNS server. If there is an issue with the local DNS cache, it can prevent website access. You can run ipconfig /flushdns to rebuild the local DNS cache.
3. IE Browser Issues
If there is a fault in the IE browser itself, it will naturally affect browsing. If IE has been maliciously modified or damaged, it can also prevent web browsing. In such cases, you can try using "Huangshan IE Repair Expert" for repair (recommended to do this in safe mode) or reinstall IE.
4. Network Firewall Issues
Improper firewall settings, such as a security level that is too high, accidentally adding IE to the blocked access list, or incorrect firewall policies, can all cause this issue. Try checking the policies, lowering the firewall security level, or turning off the firewall to see if the issue is resolved.
5. Network Protocol and Network Card Driver Issues
IE's inability to browse might be due to corrupted network protocols (especially the TCP/IP protocol) or network card drivers. You can try reinstalling the network card driver and network protocols.
6. Issues with the HOSTS File
If the HOSTS file has been modified, it can also lead to browsing issues. The solution is to clear the contents of the HOSTS file.
