1. Internet Explorer starts up, but then doesn't find a page, and gives me an error message about "no DNS entry"
2. Internet Explorer is unable to locate the server
3. I tried to go to a website and I got an error message "404 File Not Found:" or other "File not Found."

Internet Explorer starts up, but then doesn't find a page, and gives me an error message about "no DNS entry."

If you see this, there are a couple of things to look at:

1. What URL (web address, beginning with http://, etc.) are you trying to go to? If it's an off-campus address try changing the address in case the server is down. Click in the Address box to highlight the text, and then type exactly this:

   http://www.hsc.usf.edu/is

   all in lowercase, with no spaces, making sure that the all slashes are forward slashes (on the same key as the question mark). Press Enter and let IE try again.

2. If it's still happening, try restarting your computer.

Internet Explorer is unable to locate the server.

1. The most probable cause of this error message is that the server Internet Explorer (IE) is looking for is down, or is not there. Try another site you know is good, for comparison. If you can get to other sites, that site is down. Try it again later and chances are it will be back up and available.
2. Can you get to several sites, but not to several others? If all the ones you can't get to are outside USF, there's a chance you're just trying to get to several sites that are down, but you should check to see if you are consistently able to get to sites inside USF, while unable to see any sites external to USF. Try to access major commercial or official sites such as CNN or a government page. If you can't get to anything except USF, there may be a problem with USF's connection to the outside world. Call the Support Desk at 974-6288 and report it, giving as many details as possible of what you tried.
3. Whether you're connecting with a modem or directly to the ethernet, you can check to see if you have an IP address by doing the following:
• Windows 98: Click the Start button, choose Run and type: winipcfg and press Enter. You will get a small window named "IP Configuration." One of the fields there is "IP Address." If the computer has an IP address starting with 169.254, or if the address of 0.0.0.0 first click the "Release" button, which should set the address to 0.0.0.0 if it was not that already, then click the "Renew" button and see if you get a valid address.
• Windows 2000/XP: Click the Start button, choose Run and type: command and press Enter.  You will get a small black window with a blinking cursor.  At the cursor type: ipconfig and press Enter.  You will get a response that includes your "IP Address."  If you get the message "Media State: Media disconnected." the your network cable is disconnected.  If the address begins with 169.254 your computer was unable to obtain an address when it connected and chose the default.  If it is 0.0.0.0 it has lost its address for some reason.  In either of these cases first type ipconfig /release and press Enter, this should set the address to 0.0.0.0.  Next enter ipconfig /renew and press Enter.  If your network connection is working properly you should get a new valid address.

I tried to go to a website and I got an error message "404 File Not Found:" or other "File Not Found."

Usually this is a problem with the website you are trying to reach. The link may have been corrupted in some way, the page may have been moved, or it may not even exist anymore. If you're lucky, the web administrator for that site has provided you with either an updated link to click on or an apology and explanation of where else you can look for what you want. Your best bet is to go to the "root URL" of the address.  For example, if the address in the address bar on your browser is "http://www.somesite.com/somepage.html" you might try removing the "somepage.html" and going to the base site.  Then you may be able to find if the page has been moved.