Microsoft KB Archive/153178

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

Err Msg: Cannot Locate The Microsoft Network Data Center
Last reviewed: November 4, 1997

Article ID: Q153178

The information in this article applies to:


 * The Microsoft Network versions 1.2, 1.3, 2.0

SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to connect to MSN, The Microsoft Network, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot locate the Microsoft Network Data Center. The following behavior may also occur:

  Microsoft Internet Explorer version 2.0 may be unable to resolve Web site addresses (such as www.msn.com and www.microsoft.com). When this occurs, you may receive the following error message: Unable to locate the site   When you ping a Domain Name Server (DNS) name (such as www.msn.com or www.microsoft.com), you may receive the following error message: Bad IP Address. However, you can successfully ping numerical DNS and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. 

CAUSE
This behavior may occur for any of the following reasons:


 * There may be an extra Win.com file in the root folder of your hard disk.
 * Your MSN connection settings may not be configured correctly to use the MSN access numbers, or your MSN connection settings may be configured to connect using a Local Area Network (LAN) when you are using a modem to connect to MSN.
 * Dial-Up Networking may not be configured correctly to connect to MSN, or the MSN Dial-Up Networking connections may be damaged.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, follow the steps outlined below in the order in which they are presented. After each section, attempt to connect to MSN. If you are unable to connect to MSN, continue to the next section.

Delete Extra Win.com Files

 * 1) Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
 * 2) In the Named box, type "win.com" (without quotation marks), and then click Find Now.
 * 3) In the list of found files, if more than one Win.com file is found, right-click any file that is not located in the Windows folder, and then click Delete. Repeat this step until only one Win.com file, located in the Windows folder, remains in the list of found files.
 * 4) Close the Find: Files Named Win.com window, and then restart the computer.

Verify that the MSN Connection Settings Are Configured Correctly

 * 1) Right-click the MSN icon on the desktop, and then click Connection Settings.
 * 2) Click the "MSN is my dial-up Internet access provider" check box to select it.
 * 3) Click Access Numbers.
 * 4) Click the appropriate primary and backup access numbers for your region.
 * 5) Click OK until you return to Windows.

Verify that Dial-Up Networking Is Configured Correctly

 * 1) Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Dial-Up Networking.
 * 2) Right-click The Microsoft Network connection, and then click Properties.
 * 3) Under Connect Using, verify that the modem you use to connect to MSN is specified.
 * 4) Click Server Type.
 * 5) In the Type Of Dial-Up Server box, click "PPP: Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Internet."
 * 6) Click OK until you return to Windows.
 * 7) Close the Dial-Up Networking window, and then restart the computer.

Remove and Reinstall Dial-Up Networking
 Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Dial-Up Networking. Right-click an MSN connection, and then click Delete. Repeat this step until all MSN connections are deleted. Close the Dial-Up Networking window. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders. In the Named box, type "pppmac.vxd" (without quotation marks), and then click Find Now.</li> In the list of found files, right-click the Pppmac.vxd file, and then click Delete.</li>  Repeat steps 5-6 to delete the following files: - Splitter.vxd - Wsock.vxd - Winsock.dll </li> Close the Find: Files Named Winsock.dll window.</li> Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.</li> Double-click Network.</li> On the Configuration tab, click a component in the "The following network components are installed" box, and then click Remove. Repeat this step until all installed network components are removed.</li> Click OK. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click No.</li> Double-click Add/Remove Programs.</li> On the Windows Setup tab, click Communications, and then click Details.</li> Click the Dial-Up Networking check box to clear it.</li> Click OK until you return to Control Panel.</li> Close Control Panel, and then restart the computer.</li> Right-click the MSN icon on the desktop, and then click Connection Settings.</li> Click Access Numbers, and then click OK.</li> When you are prompted to configure your system to access the Internet, click Yes, and then click OK. Follow the instructions on the screen. You may be prompted for your Windows CD-ROM or disks.</li> When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.</li></ol>

MORE INFORMATION
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, extract a new copy of the Wsock32.dll file to your Windows\System folder.

The Wsock32.dll file is located in the Win95_11.cab cabinet file on the Windows 95 CD-ROM, in the Win95_12.cab cabinet file on disk 12 of the DMF floppy disk set, and in the Win95_19.cab cabinet file on disk 19 of the non-DMF floppy disk set.

NOTE: If you are prompted to overwrite an existing file, press Y, and then press ENTER.

For information about using the Extract tool, type "extract" (without quotation marks) at a command prompt, or see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q129605 TITLE    : Using the Windows 95 Extract Tool (Extract.exe) If the issue still remains unresolved, check your modem settings to make sure your modem is properly configured to connect to MSN.