[br1anstorm]

This seems to be a common problem, with various different causes and solutions. But I am struggling with a problem which seems to lie within one particular computer.

I have three laptops. Two old Dells still run Windows XP, one newer Samsung has Windows 7. All have Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers. The XPs have Avast antivirus and NoScript; the Win7 has Microsoft Security Essentials.

All three access the internet via the same Netgear router - either using an ethernet connection or wifi.

I have recently found it impossible to access a couple of websites via the XP laptop that I still use daily. The sites are well-known and respectable: one is the Linux Lite OS website, the other a charity fundraising site called Easyfundraising.org. If I try using Firefox, the 'connecting' indicator rotates but the site does not load - the screen remains blank. Using IE, I get the 'site unobtainable' message and the "diagnose connection problems" button - which however finds no problem with the connection.

I can reach both these websites without problems on the 'other' Dell XP, and the Samsung - obviously via the Netgear router. I conclude that this proves (a) that the sites are up and healthy; and (b) that my router is not somehow blocking them.

The fact that I cannot load these sites using either FF or IE on the problematic laptop (and I also tried using portable Opera from a USB stick in the same laptop, without succes) suggests to me that it is not a setting in one or other browser which is preventing access, but something else in the actual laptop itself.

I have tried disconnecting and rebooting both router and the problematic laptop. No difference. I have also flushed the DNS cache, after finding this suggested solution online. Also makes no difference.

So I am baffled. What else should I try, or where else should I look, to discover why these two sites cannot be accessed from this particular laptop?

 

[SpywareDr]

1) Check and see if you're using the same Primary and Secondary DNS servers on the Windows XP laptop that you're using on say the Samsung running Windows 7.

2) Also check for differences in the HOSTS files.

3) Boot Windows XP up in "Safe mode with networking" and see if you can get to either site now. If you can, there is something running in Normal mode that is keeping you from getting to those sites.

 

[br1anstorm]

Thanks, Doc.

I have tried to check (1) using ipconfig. On each of my three laptops - the problematic one and the two "good" ones - the listed DNS server is the same. There do not appear to be Primary and Secondary ones.

I have just checked out (3). In Safe mode, there is no problem: the troublesome Dell can access the previously unreachable websites. So this evidently points to an obstacle of some kind in the Normal settings of this particular machine.

I fear I don't understand, or know how to check or modify, the Hosts file(s). Is this where the problem lies? Or are there other settings that could be to blame?

I have Avast antivirus, but no other blockers or parental-type controls that I am aware of which might somehow prevent connection with these - harmless - websites. So what should I now be checking, or re-setting, to overcome this peculiar issue?

 

[SpywareDr]

Thanks, Doc.

You're welcome.

I have tried to check (1) using ipconfig. On each of my three laptops - the problematic one and the two "good" ones - the listed DNS server is the same.

That's good news.

There do not appear to be Primary and Secondary ones.

It would look something like this:

C:\>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Computer
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hsd1.md.comcast.net.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : hsd1.md.comcast.net.
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 33-C8-B4-A3-00-60
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.12(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, December 28, 2015 07:54:49 AM
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 04, 2016 07:54:49 AM
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
   [COLOR=RED][B]DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.67.222.222
                                       208.67.220.220[/B][/COLOR]
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

C:\>

I have just checked out (3). In Safe mode, there is no problem: the troublesome Dell can access the previously unreachable websites. So this evidently points to an obstacle of some kind in the Normal settings of this particular machine.

First step would be to start Firefox in its Safe mode, (not Windows Safe mode), and see if the problem disaapears. If so, its probably one of the Add-ons you have running in Firefox. To Start Firefox in Safe mode, while in Firefox, click Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled..., then click the Restart button that appears, then click the "Start in Safe Mode" button that appears. Now try those problem web sites.

I fear I don't understand, or know how to check or modify, the Hosts file(s).

To edit the HOSTS file in Windows XP, click Start > Run, type in:

c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts​

and press [Enter]. The default content of the HOSTS file is:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

127.0.0.1       localhost

If you see additional lines, highlight them all and delete them.

Is this where the problem lies?

Probably not, but we don't know for sure yet.

Or are there other settings that could be to blame?

Could be, yes.

I have Avast antivirus, but no other blockers or parental-type controls that I am aware of which might somehow prevent connection with these - harmless - websites. So what should I now be checking, or re-setting, to overcome this peculiar issue?

Start with what I posted above about Firefox's Safe Mode, then check to see what all is in the HOSTS file, and let us know what you find.

 

[br1anstorm]

Well, this gets a bit weirder. I have just tried in Normal mode to visit the two websites that were previously inaccessible. I connected to both without difficulty!

So I have been reviewing what else I might have done (apart from the DNS check and the session in Windows Safe mode) that might have affected the lapptop's status - apart from switching it off and on. The only other thing I have done - late yesterday - is update (upgrade) my free Avast antivirus from the 2015 to the 2016 edition. Maybe that has done it.... and Avast was somehow obstructing access to these two sites? If so, there is now no way of checking.

So for the moment, all is well again and I don't think I need to run Firefox in Safe mode or mess with the HOSTS file or do any more checks, unless the issue reappears. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I apologise, Doc, for taking up your time on something which seems to have resolved itself. I greatly appreciate the advice and help, and I'm hugely grateful. I'll bookmark this for future reference if the problem recurs. Happy new year when it arrives!

 

[SpywareDr]

Excellent news.

And a Happy New Year to you and yours as well!