Browser Won’t Open Websites: Proxy Server Connection Error

Read this article to find out what to do if your browser won’t open websites, while Skype, cloud services and other Internet applications do not seem to have any problems.

Browser Won’t Open Websites: Proxy Server Connection Error

This tutorial will be suitable for all popular web browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.

Viruses

First of all, your computer should be checked for malware, adware, and other unwanted programs. Too often, they prevent your browser from working properly and opening websites when you need it.

Browser

You can check the computer for viruses with one of the many popular antivirus products. They are so numerous that it is hardly a good idea to mention all of them. However, you are welcome to watch one of our videos about getting rid of viruses, Trojans and adware.

Configure the proxy server in your browser

If you removed all viruses and unwanted software but your browser is still playing tricks with you by refusing to open any websites, it’s time to check local network settings for your computer. Here is how you do it:

  • Go to Control PanelInternet Options (in Windows 7, this item has the same name).

    Internet Options
  • In the tab Connections click LAN settings. If you have the checked box next to Use a proxy service for your LAN…, uncheck it and check the box next to Automatically detect settings instead.

    Internet Options
    Internet Options

You can also open the proxy server settings menu from the browser. For Google Chrome, Opera and Yandex Browser the steps are similar:

  • go to Menu / Settings / Advanced,

    Google Chrome
  • and click on Change proxy settings. Then follow the steps I have shown before.

    Google Chrome

In Mozilla Firefox:

  • go to MenuOptionsGeneralNetwork SettingsSettings.

    Mozilla Firefox
  • When the menu Connection Settings opens, select Use system proxy settings.

    Mozilla Firefox

In Internet Explorer, go to Service/ Browser Properties.

Internet Explorer

Then follow the instructions above.

Internet Explorer

In Microsoft Edge, go to Menu / Settings / Advanced and click on Open proxy settings.

Microsoft Edge

If manual proxy setup is enabled, turn it off and then go to the tab Automatic proxy setup to activate Automatically detect settings.

Automatically detect settings

Open the registry editor for AppInit_DLLs

If the browser won’t open websites even after proxy setup operations, you should check the entry AppInit_DLLs in the registry editor. Here is how you do it:

  • Run Registry Editor.

    Registry editor
  • Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\.

    Registry editor
  • Right-click on the entry AppInit_DLLs and click Modify.

    Registry editor
  • If in the Value line you can see the path to any .dll file (for example, C:\filename.dll), it should be deleted. Before that, copy the path to that file, clear the line and click ОK.

    Registry editor
  • Then paste this path to the file explorer, enable the option Show hidden files and delete this file as well as any other suspicious .exe files which are in the found folder.

Once again, go to the Registry Editor, find the entry AppInit_DLLs in the section HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\, and repeat the steps I have described above, then restart the computer.

Check the Hosts file

The next step should be checking the file Hosts. It can be found by following this path – C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.

Hosts

Open it with Notepad and read the values. If the last line #::1 localhost is followed by other lines with IP addresses – delete them, save changes in Notepad and restart the computer.

Hosts

DNS Server

If your browser still won’t open any websites, there may be a problem with the DNS server. To check this server, here’s what you do:

Go to Network and Sharing Center, and click on the connection name next to the line Connections.

Network and Sharing Center

Choose Properties and click on IP version 4 / Properties.

Properties

Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter these values:

  • preferred DNS server – 8.8.8.8;
  • alternate DNS server – 8.8.4.4;
Use the following DNS server addresses

After that, try opening any webpage with your browser.

Clear the DNS cache

If nothing helps, try clearing the DNS cache. Here is how you do it:

  • aunch the Command prompt as Administrator and type the following command: ipconfig /flushdns. This command will clear the DNS cache.

    Command prompt
  • Then enter the command route -f. This command will clear the route table from all gateway entries.

    Command prompt
  • When you see the Ok message, close the Command Prompt and restart the computer.

The steps we have described in this article should help you fix the problem with your browser. Yet if none of the methods worked for you, post a comment to let us know, and we can try to find an individual approach to your case.

Vladimir Artiukh

Author: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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