Solved Network appears connected but cant reach websites (except google)

[Bill H]

Hi, hoping for some help with Internet problem.
This is an old Acer 5535 laptop with Vista home premium. Its reasonably powerful still with 4GB memory so thought I'd get it out and use it as a web client and upgrade to a letr version of Windows
It used to work fine on our home broadband but it was getting really slow and as there's no data on it I thought I'd reload original software from backup partition.
All appeared to work fine and now its back to its old speed, even the wireless network appeared connected OK - but when I tried to use it I can get to google (with page errors) but most other sites give me error messages, even when I can connect the page isn't loaded correctly.
So I tried using EThernet cable - same thing, no internet but network diagnostics say its OK.
Checked device manager and there are no errors.
All updates are loaded where I can - but as I cant connect to Microsoft Im running out of ideas.
At the same time I was messing about with an old HP Pavillion running Vista - and exactly the same symptoms have occurred.
My thoughts are - it cant be a network adapter as it fails with wireless and with EThernet, (but I reloaded wireless drivers anyway).
I've got a sneaking suspicion there was a line in device driver for networking that doesn't appear there now -
anyone any ideas?
I was thinking of moving to W7 on it but I cant run the hardware checker.......

 

[iko22]

Welcome to the Forum Bill H

Can be a problem with security certificates. What error messages are you seeing? Is the computer's time and date correct?

 

[samuria]

Many sites won't work if you have old browser what are you using as a browser?

 

[Bill H]

Thanks for prompt reply ico22, there is certainly a problem with certificates, time and date are set correctly.
The icon in the tray shows a globe saying its connected - network diagnostics say its connected, but when I try a search I get results but the page hasn't loaded correctly, if I try to follow a link I just a message saying website is unavailable and check my router.
I've just downloaded latest IE (on my main laptop) and updating the browser but not convinced its that

 

[Bill H]

Many sites won't work if you have old browser what are you using as a browser?

Its IE - very old as it reloaded with the original software. Have just downloaded latest version I can for Vista through a different laptop and in process of installing.

 

[Bill H]

Well I installed the latest IE but before I could check it out it said I needed the latest Service Pack KB948465, so I let it install that as well - so its gone off for a couple of hours.
Thats actually quite positive as it must have reached the MSoft website I guess .... will update when its finished .

 

[Snick]

Why are you still on Vista64?

Security Issues!!!

 

[file3456]

Try the browser Chrome portable or Firefox portable. Do they load a website?

Are other computers/devices working on your router/modem?

Go into command prompt by tying

CMD

into search under the start orb bottom left and right click command and chose to open as administrator. In the black dos-like box enter the following:

ipconfig /flushdns

 

[Bill H]

Many thanks for all the replies , I guess its the only way to travel the world now we have Coronavirus

Its now sorted by installing Windows 7.
My interpretation of the problem was like a catch22 - I reset to original old software which couldnt access the modern internet so I couldn't update to latest S/W.
I know windows 7 is also old but this is an old but quite powerful laptop and it was a shame to see it sitting under a desk - but not worth spending ££££s on it. My legal copy of 7 only cost £4 as a downloaded ISO file with product key, so was worth doing and now works - have installed latest Firefox and internet seems OK.