The first step was to connect to SharePoint (2010) using IE9/10/11 to our server internet then switch device over to an external ISP since that’s when the issue crops up. It takes 20 seconds for SharePoint to load but it will load or freaks out only the first time. If it freaks out, refreshing the page will open SharePoint within seconds. This has become a habit with only the symptom computers. Which makes me think the traffic is sent out through secondary DNS (google) and not to our server DNS the first time BUT the second time it connects appropriately. Anytime IE9/10/11 connects to our SharePoint site internally then manually change to an External ISP hotspot, tether, or routerit will continue to work if you stay on the SharePoint page while switching over or until the device either falls asleep or a restart has been established.
*The work-around is:
IE > Tools > Internet Options > Security > Local Intranet > Custom Level...> Prompt for user name and password (we always have it on Automatic login with current user name and password unless this issue happens). It will then prompt for the user name and password allowing the users into SharePoint – Externally through the ISP.
Or if I take our SharePoint site out of Internet Options> Sites> Local Intranet > Advanced > removed the site, it will prompt the credentials pop up window to log into SharePoint.
Otherwise it will try to open the page but fail, almost like it’s using the loopback address or it stops at local TCPIP or DNS is not refreshing properly or keeping the record, read on!
*This is a corporate computer. It automatically logs in with the proper server name and for the Local Intranet settings the security level in this zone the check box for "Enable Protected Mode" is unchecked. It is also added into the trusted site. This has cropped some frustration since Microsoft Developers just randomly change GP that shouldn't be changed. I understand there is a work-around for this as well using IEAK10, right now I choose to not use it since doesn’t fix this issue when I can manually enter it in for testing.
*We have figured out IE8 is the only Browser compatible with our SharePoint. Although the functionality works on IE 9/10/11 for visual aspects, upload center, SL plugins for timecard entry and add-on’s break, especially when SharePoint moves the data into an Excel Spreadsheet. Our work-around for this has been sending people to a Terminal Server where IE8 is still the default. We have tried downgrading back to IE8 on broken devices after 9/10/11 has been installed and it breaks these features forever, unless we reimage or registry edit or upgrade the device to Office 365 2013 Pro.
Guts:
Any of these settings can be on two test devices that are the same and one will exhibit symptoms while the other works fine.
- SharePoint Works internally (locally) at the office where SharePoint is hosted.
- We use the FREE VS of SharePoint.
- On RANDOM OS - doesn't matter if it's Win7 64-bit or Win8 Pro 64-bit.
- On RANDOM IE 9/10/11
- Windows Updates are done regularly.
- Some devices have Microsoft Lync 2013 (which comes from Microsoft Exchange Cloud). Some don't have Lync 2013 - still broke. Exchange is from the Cloud - Office 365 will download with Lync 2013. This contains Office 2013 Upload Center which we don’t have the option to not download – which is why Microsoft should not have downloads bundled like this if it was the issue.
- All devices have Microsoft Office 2010 Pro Pack installed with/without SharePoint Workspace 2010 (same thing - another computer sitting next to it has the same thing and doesn't affect it).
- Comodo Antivirus Software is installed on all computers; we don’t use their firewall since it’s fussy so no traffic is being regulated with it. Instead we use Windows firewall.
- The Vault in User Accounts. No SharePoint input is here.
- ShrewSoft Access Manager for our VPN is used.
- Log on as another user and same issue results on the symptom device.
Here's a list of programs I have figured out we all have yet I uninstall them and makes no difference:
Adobe Flash (which has, in the past, conflicted)
Adobe Reader
Adobe Cloud
Java
Options I have fiddled with but do not make a difference even after restarts:
- Disabled Add-Ons in IE Toolbar and Extensions - Office Document Cache Handler (which, has in the past, conflicted)
- Network card Drivers of a various manufactures but majority are Intel- Turned off IPv6. ALL “automatically obtains” for IPv4 the Address, DNS, DHCP. These are pretty much standard or defaults.
- In control panel > Network and Sharing Center > "View your active networks" > Made sure it was either on Home or Work Network. Some will disagree. But it's been tested - doesn't matter.
- IE > Tools > Internet Options > Browsing History > check boxed Delete browsing history on exit and delete button > Unchecked "Preserve Favorites website data (because we do have it as a favorite) and the rest of the checkboxes are checked and I hit delete.
- Cmd prmt: ipconfig /flushdns and /release then /renew
If device is not already on SharePoint Site while change over to ISP happens, or goes to sleep or a restart happens and still on external wifi (internet), it quits working and states in IE Browser "This page can't be displayed." The traffic stops completely, doesn’t matter what SharePoint page I try to open it comes up with this. This on another device with the SAME settings, sitting right next to it, works. If I try to reload the page, sometimes it will just sit and spin until I select reload the second time then it will show the “This page can’t be displayed.”
From what I have gathered in studies –
DNS on a local device searches three areas TCPIP
Locally in TCPIP hosts files in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\ (which are clean)
Second searches local DNS server (which would be the internet router it’s connected to searches for the IP address – which is why it would work internally since it’s searching on our server), and then thirdly to the public DNS or your ISP.