IE7: Page Cannot Be Found

Xodarap777 · 01-24-2009, 04:40 AM

First, hello, I'm new here, nods, intros, all that jazz. :)

Second, I realize that someone just posted a thread with a similar issue and title, but I hate to add my troubleshooting post to someone else's thread for many reasons, especially that it may be a different root problem, but also that advice may differ according to what we've done and what we're working with.

The problem:
Attempting to access any page in Internet Explorer results in a standard "Page Cannot Be found" error, including a button to diagnose connectivity problems, and a collapsed rundown of possible problems. Other programs, including web browsers like Firefox and P2P programs like BitTorrent, work fine. Pinging google from a prompt works fine and quickly.

The system:
I run on a custom-built system with an ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo, an AMD 4200+ dual core, two gigs of dual channel DDR ram, and a WD Caviar 640GB drive with only Windows and Programs on it. I'm using Comcast as my ISP, I have a Motorola SURFboard cable modem, and a TRENDNET Wireless N router, but my computer is hooked up via Cat-5e. All drivers and firmware are up to date on the above parts.
As for the OS, I realize that Windows 7 is in beta, but it has been running smoothly and stably in all other respects. I have Windows Firewall off, Windows Defender off, and no regularly-running internet security or antivirus program. (I only install them, run a scan, and uninstall them, and that's only spybot and AVG anti-virus).

What I've tried:
Well, most of the obvious -- I've power-cycled the modem and router, I've tried plugging straight into the modem, I've tried ipconfig's /release and /renew, I've tried the full IE "reset" under the advanced tools, I've tried it in safe mode with networking, I've read all of the appropriate support links in microsoft.com and followed their instructions, I've tried booting with no unnecessary services (other than "secure" and networking services), booting with no startup programs, basically every option and permutation under MSCONFIG. I've even tried switching NIC cards, rolling back various associated drivers, checking and rechecking that windows updates are up-to-date... am I missing something? At this point I'm pretty convinced that there was a recent nasty IE7 update, because this can't still be on my end. As said, all other connectivity appears to be squeaky clean and working beautifully. However, I need IE7 for several applications that I can't get through with Firefox. IE7 does not appear to search for any page -- there's no indication of loading, and I've tried many, many pages. The error comes up almost instantly no matter how many times I try resetting it. I've disabled add-ons and re-enabled them, I have no BHOs, I'm losing my mind searching for the problem! :P

Thanks in advance for any help, fruitful or not. :)

Xodarap777 · 01-24-2009, 03:10 PM

WTH? Where's the edit button? EDIT: oh, it's just not on the OP.... weird. :P

IMPORTANT EDIT: Well, this is obviously something I should have checked, but I am actually using IE8, the most current beta version. I didn't even know IE8 existed, but then I found it, tried to install it, was told that I already had it, and so I checked the "about" and voila, I have IE8. I can't find any way to roll it back to IE7 in Windows 7, but I'm looking around for ways to do so. In the meantime, yes, I'm using a beta program in a beta OS, and still desperately seeking help for an unknown issue. I'm quite liking Windows 7, and I'd hate to wipe my drive and go back to my XP Pro just for this...

Xodarap777 · 01-24-2009, 04:26 PM

Amazing -- problem solved thanks to Eric Lawrence, IE security guru and god.

ALL I had to do was uncheck "automatically detect settings" in my LAN options in IE8. That's it.

01-24-2009, 04:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Xodarap777 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	IE7: Page Cannot Be Found First, hello, I'm new here, nods, intros, all that jazz. :) Second, I realize that someone just posted a thread with a similar issue and title, but I hate to add my troubleshooting post to someone else's thread for many reasons, especially that it may be a different root problem, but also that advice may differ according to what we've done and what we're working with. The problem: Attempting to access any page in Internet Explorer results in a standard "Page Cannot Be found" error, including a button to diagnose connectivity problems, and a collapsed rundown of possible problems. Other programs, including web browsers like Firefox and P2P programs like BitTorrent, work fine. Pinging google from a prompt works fine and quickly. The system: I run on a custom-built system with an ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo, an AMD 4200+ dual core, two gigs of dual channel DDR ram, and a WD Caviar 640GB drive with only Windows and Programs on it. I'm using Comcast as my ISP, I have a Motorola SURFboard cable modem, and a TRENDNET Wireless N router, but my computer is hooked up via Cat-5e. All drivers and firmware are up to date on the above parts. As for the OS, I realize that Windows 7 is in beta, but it has been running smoothly and stably in all other respects. I have Windows Firewall off, Windows Defender off, and no regularly-running internet security or antivirus program. (I only install them, run a scan, and uninstall them, and that's only spybot and AVG anti-virus). What I've tried: Well, most of the obvious -- I've power-cycled the modem and router, I've tried plugging straight into the modem, I've tried ipconfig's /release and /renew, I've tried the full IE "reset" under the advanced tools, I've tried it in safe mode with networking, I've read all of the appropriate support links in microsoft.com and followed their instructions, I've tried booting with no unnecessary services (other than "secure" and networking services), booting with no startup programs, basically every option and permutation under MSCONFIG. I've even tried switching NIC cards, rolling back various associated drivers, checking and rechecking that windows updates are up-to-date... am I missing something? At this point I'm pretty convinced that there was a recent nasty IE7 update, because this can't still be on my end. As said, all other connectivity appears to be squeaky clean and working beautifully. However, I need IE7 for several applications that I can't get through with Firefox. IE7 does not appear to search for any page -- there's no indication of loading, and I've tried many, many pages. The error comes up almost instantly no matter how many times I try resetting it. I've disabled add-ons and re-enabled them, I have no BHOs, I'm losing my mind searching for the problem! :P Thanks in advance for any help, fruitful or not. :)

01-24-2009, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Xodarap777 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	Re: IE7: Page Cannot Be Found WTH? Where's the edit button? EDIT: oh, it's just not on the OP.... weird. :P IMPORTANT EDIT: Well, this is obviously something I should have checked, but I am actually using IE8, the most current beta version. I didn't even know IE8 existed, but then I found it, tried to install it, was told that I already had it, and so I checked the "about" and voila, I have IE8. I can't find any way to roll it back to IE7 in Windows 7, but I'm looking around for ways to do so. In the meantime, yes, I'm using a beta program in a beta OS, and still desperately seeking help for an unknown issue. I'm quite liking Windows 7, and I'd hate to wipe my drive and go back to my XP Pro just for this...

01-24-2009, 04:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xodarap777 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	Re: IE7: Page Cannot Be Found Amazing -- problem solved thanks to Eric Lawrence, IE security guru and god. ALL I had to do was uncheck "automatically detect settings" in my LAN options in IE8. That's it.