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A couple days ago my computer started basically refusing to load certain webpages. At first I simply assumed that the page(s) were having troubles on their end...but, as the problems continued through yesterday...and I started testing some stuff today...I realized that the problems are definitely on my side.
Some of the sites that I've had the problem with are:
www.ign.com
www.gamefaqs.com
www.mapquest.comThose aren't the only "problem sites,"...just the few that I can think of off the top of my head.
When I try to open one of these sites, the browser starts to load it ("Opening page http://www.whatever.com..." in the corner of the window), and the title of the page loads at the top of the window...but the actual window stays white. Nine times out of ten, waiting it out will yield a "page cannot be found" message...but, if I keep refreshing, every once in a while the page will actually load after a very long (5+ minute) wait. Luckily, the problem sites seem to be few and far between...as most sites load just as quickly as ever.
Some things that I have done (either because I thought it would be a good idea...or because a google search suggested it) include:
Running numerous spyware scans with Spybot S&D and AdAware
Running a full system scan w/Norton AntiVirus
Disabling Norton AntiVirus while I try to connect to one of the sites
Trying a different browser (Firefox)
Checking my HOSTS file (c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts) for blocked sites
Resetting security levels in IE
Getting the latest version of Java software
Releasing/Renewing my ip address
Doing a system restore to a week ago
Running a tcp/ip configurer from speedguide.net
Deleting all temporary internet files & cookies
Probably some other stuff that I can't think of off the top of my headSome more basic info:
My default browser is IE6. I'm connected to the internet through a college LAN. My roommate, who accesses the internet through the same switch that I use, has absolutely no trouble accessing any of the sites that give me problems. I know that the problem isn't my internet connection as a whole...because I still get great download speeds from the sites that do load correctly.Any ideas at all would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help and time.
-Aut
No. I don't have a software firewall outside of anything that my antivirus may be blocking...but, even with it turned off, I couldn't access them. Along with this, the sites were working a week ago perfectly fine even with my antivirus enabled. All hardware firewalls that I'm behind would also affect my roommate's computer...and he hasn't any problems connecting to any site.
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I'm afraid so.
I don't think it's a problem with an IE setting...because I had the exact same results when I used a different browser (Mozilla Firefox).
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I guess it's a possibility...but I updated to SP2 around a week before the problems started. I also updated my windows entirely after the problems happened...so any known bugs w/SP2 should have been fixed during that process.
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SP 2 is not bug free in its self.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/17/xp_sp2_glitches/
200 apps clash with XP SP2
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Ouch, didn't know about all of that.
Still though, I was browsing fine for a time after upgrading to SP2 before this stuff started happening. I guess it certainly can't be ruled out as the problem...as it's a huge part of my system now, but I don't understand why it'd work one day and then just stop working the next.
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There is a fix for Winsoc errors under XP that you can use.
Do a search here in this forum for the link.Larry
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I have had this same problem. Some webpages just don't work on my computer. THey seem like they ahve loaded fully, but the page is just white. I also have windows Xp SP2, using IE. I live in a dorm and the funny thing is others on my dorm have reported the same thing with different websites. The websites i cannot access on my computer, i can access on theirs. Wierd huh?
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@Larry
Tried the xp winsock repair utility to no avail. Thanks for the suggestion, though.@fbvolpb89
That is really weird. Too much of a coincidence to just dismiss. Let me know if you ever find a solution...and I'll do the same for you.
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There's a Registry hack for recently visited sites.
Do a search in these froum for that also.
Larry
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First go to restore to at least 2 months ago,when everything was working perfectly. Also uninstall the the spybot & destroy; just to make sure it usn't settings the internet or blocking it.
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The oldest restore point that I have is 11 days ago...which is the point that I used when I tried the system restore previously. It's no two months...but, at that time, everything was working fine. Of course, it still didn't work for me.
Just uninstalled spybot, restarted and tried again...to no avail.
Thanks for the suggestions though, I do appreciate them.
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I have a similar problem in that the same thing happened to me about a year ago. Certain webpages stopped loading (it seemed like my computer wouldn't SEND any data once the page started to load). The problem got worse and I started using Avant, which let me save opened webpages and restart the whole browser (this generally helped). Well, it's a year later and now the only webpage that I can load on occasion is Google, I can't receive e-mail, and some other applications that access the internet (like Valve's Steam) don't work. I went so far as to buy a new harddrive and install a new OS, but that STILL didn't work! My laptop, which is on the same network, works absolutely fine.
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I'm glad I found this site.
The wierd thing is that I cannot load one site and that is my own. The one I use to run my business from, and that includes downloading any emails onto outlook.
This is a totally random happening however. Example: Last night it worked fine, then I wake up this morning computer still on and it doesnt work. For some reason it only happens after I have left the computer on all night and I think it has something to do with when the DHCP redoes IP addresses...
Though today I am still trying to conenct to my site and cannot. Went to my friends house earlier and connected just fine. I use wireless so its easy for me to jump networks...
But here at home no go!
FRUSTRATED!!
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Alternative Google Site:
www.466453.comQhost trojan, removal program fixqhost. Qhost changes XP registry to point to another location of the HOSTS file.
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Similiar problem with a pwd protected site, can access from all computers on the network but one.
Opens fine in Mozilla, and I checked all the goodies, like cleared cache, cookies, reset to default etc..., but everytime we try toaccess this one site it tells us no permission to access this site;
looks like IE isn't passing on what is entered in the usr/pwd boxes
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I too have had this problem, about a week after installing SP2. Now I use MSN 6 explorer (buterfly), and my comp is on a internet connection sharing Windows XP network. Anther comp on the network is also having difficulties accessing certain webpages.
Here is the kicker: Both my comp and the other comp on our system had experienced this issue,(neither one is the host server), and yet the same afflictions happened after a SP2 install.
For instance, we both ebay. So shortcuts to a webpage on my machine stopped working. I had to first visit ebay, then click on the myebay to go to the desired page. Sometimes it would go.. mostly it would hang for a long time then load the page. Refreshing a couple times after it timed out sometimes worked. To be fair, my machine seemed to overcome its hiccups, and is loading webpages from shortcuts ok. BUT, not those original shortcuts which still refuse to work anymore.
On the second machine, the ebay website refuses to load, as does paypal, and messenger quit accepting the username and password. Now one of the shortcuts to "ebay items to sell" link still works... BIZARRE.
To summ up, the SP2 on the second machine had a faulty install. It took out the NTFS.sys file and I had to manually repair the system file.
I believe SP2 is largely responsible, and possibly thru the .net passport framework.
the common threads are: ebay paypal are both .net passport sites, signins not working(again .net), I have had trouble getting my hotmail(again .net) and while this occuring, none of these issues has affected the host server, which is home xp with sp2.
I am going to do a clean install on the comp with the faulty sp2 install... and see what happens.
Perhaps the SP2 is affecting the network adversly in the host server...
I will post my results.. Good luck people. Your not alone.
Furb
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I have sp1 and still experience same problem. I had same prob. a month ago, and after 5-6 hours of trying it resolved itself. I pinpoined problem and thought it was linked with norton. Now im on kaspersky and zone alarm, and same thing happens again. Still looking for the help :(
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