Re: Negative DNS response launches dial-up dialogue

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

Here is my best guess as I know Windows is not supposed to ever change that setting unless you change it.

This sounds like spyware/malware/adware running on your computer & possibly a virus or two.

First I'd download Ad-Aware & Spybot - Search & Destroy. The default install should take care of most problems. Also make sure
you Download all the updates for both programs & immunize the computer
with Spybot - Search & Destroy. Also on the immunize screen in Spybot -
Search & Destroy make sure you check the box that says "Enable permanent
blocking of bad addresses in Internet Explorer" as this will cut down on
the spyware from getting into the computer. Also if any components will not remove in normal mode I strongly suggest restarting the computer into safe mode to remove the other components that won't remove in normal mode.

http://www.download.com/3405-8022-5153545.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5 (This is for Ad-Aware)

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html (This is for
Spybot - Search & Destroy)

For information on starting is safe mode you can check out the following Microsoft KB articles.

180902 How to Start a Windows 98-Based Computer in Safe Mode

202485 Description of Safe Boot Mode in Windows 2000

315222 A Description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP

If you have problems getting either of these programs installed I'd recommend using clean boot to disable the spyware & possibly viruses that are preventing it from installing. This also applies the the virus scanning online. Just be careful about disabling any of the Microsoft services as they are needed.

181966 System Configuration Utility Advanced Troubleshooting Settings

192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

267288 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition

272960 Error Messages Occur When Using Msconfig.exe

281965 How to Troubleshoot Using the Msconfig Utility with Windows 98

281995 How to Troubleshoot Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows ME

310353 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

310560 How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

314448 Msconfig.exe Stops Responding if User Is Not an Administrator

316434 HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

One more thing if you do use msconfig you may want to check out the following site as they list a ton of stuff that shows up on the startup tab of msconfig.

http://www.sysinfo.org/startupinfo.html

To check for a virus I recommend using an online virus scanner as the installed anti virus software is the first target of most viruses. Here is a list of 4 different scanners.

Trend Micro's free online anti-virus scanner (I currently can only get this to work in Firefox)
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Panda Software's free online anti-virus scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

BitDefender Free Online Virus Scan
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php

Symantec's free online anti-virus scanner
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym

A. G. Kozak wrote: 
Yes, that's an interesting one:  I would, in fact, make that setting,
and every time the problem occurred I would check that setting and it
would have changed to "Dial whenever a network connection is not
present."  I could set it back never to dial a connection, but it would
always pop back to the second option when I tried to go to a
non-existent URL.

This all seems to be a problem with my system doing the wrong thing
when informed by the DNS that it isn't having any luck.  The browser
should display an error page, but instead it thinks that the negative
response from the DNS means that it needs to connect to something, and
it disobeys my setting asking that no automatic dial-ups be performed.

The problem is completely reproduceable.  It only happens in the
context of links to non-existent sites.  Clicking on such a link will
reliably cause the problem.  The funny thing is that, if there is no
dial-up connection that the system knows of, everything behaves as it
should.  But I should, of course, like to be able to use my computer
without having to cripple it.


--

Don't pay malware vendors - boycott Sony & Symantec for helping them

Please do not contact me directly or ask me to contact you directly for assistance.

If your question is worth asking, it's worth posting.

If it’s not worth posting you should have done a search on http://www.google.com/ http://www.google.com/grphp?hl=en&tab=wg&q= or http://news.google.com/froogle?hl=en&tab=nf&ned=us&q= before wasting our time.

If I sound hostile or arrogant you need to read the following before posting a question "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way" at http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html (The site I've linked to just has this article I think people should read before posting a technical question.)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: A teetering system!
    ... To clean your system boot into safe mode and run the spyware and virus ... All virus and spyware cleaning should be done from safe mode. ... Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Windows XP using 100% CPU without any applications running
    ... > programs or applications with the task manager, ... Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner ... Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning: ... Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: lose ability to browse non-secure sites
    ... Well since no one else has said it yet I guess I'll say what I think it might be plus give you some more troubleshooting that might help you solve this issue. ... This sounds like spyware/malware/adware running on your computer & possibly a virus or two. ... Also if any components will not remove in normal mode I strongly suggest restarting the computer into safe mode to remove the other components that won't remove in normal mode. ... This means if the online virus scan didn't find any viruses & both Ad-aware & Spybot Search & Destroy didn't find any critical components you should do the clean boot troubleshooting to see if it is another piece of software. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Internet Explorer Shuts Down
    ... Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner ... Online and Downloadable Virus Scanning: ... Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: SVCHOST.EXE application error when using IE
    ... other programs besides just McAfee and Adaware. ... Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner ... Bit Defender Online Virus Scan: ... Symantec Online Virus and Security Scan: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)