2. * machine of course exists. it is a router on the way to destination you are tracing. but it is configured not to send an ICMP type 11 packets so you are timed out.
3. in many Unix OS's have whois utility built-in. just use whois microsoft.com, or whois -h whois.internic.com microsoft.com
you can make your life easier by going to web as most whois databases are available on web now.