I am unable to access one particular website. I have tried on both Firefox 3.6.8 and IE8. On Firefox, the website just stops loading and on IE it tells me that it cannot load the website. I've tried on other computers using the same wireless connection, and I can access it there. Those computers are Windows 7 and XP, so maybe it's just a Vista thing?
It's actually very likely that it IS a vista thing. I had XP and went to vista and there were a couple of sites I could never get to work. It would work on other computers that did not have vista and not on mine. I went back to XP and they work again. It doesn't mean vista is 100% to blame...but it's enough proof for me.
Is there some way to make Vista behave and let me on the website I need to get on?
It's not a restricted site. And how do I know if I'm using a hosts file?
A hosts issue now seems unlikely as you obviously haven't put anything in there yourself. It is possible for the website to have been put in there without you knowing but it would be unusual. If you want to take a peek you will find the hosts file in the "etc" folder here:
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etcOpen the "hosts" file with NotePad and make sure that your website does not appear anywhere against 127.0.0.1 (which is the loop back to your own machine and disbles access to any websites that are listed). If the website is shown then delete that line.
For your Restricted Sites list, open IE and go to:
Tools > Internet Options > Security tab > Restricted Sites icon.
Click the button marked "Sites" and see if the website is in the list.
If it is, then remove it.Note:
If you happen to be using "SpywareBlaster" this will put a lot of websites in Restricted Sites. If you are using "SpyBot Search & Destroy" this can also block websites, using either hosts or Restricted Sites registry entries.If none these suggestions apply then we must think again. Are you prepared to let us know the website - maybe that will give some sort of clue? I have both Vista and XP so I can check it on both. I am not aware of any Vista specific problem of this nature.