Random sites won't work!

[Bells]

After getting back from holiday, I tried to use the Internet but it wouldn’t work. Turns out something was up with the modem and it got fixed. However, I still can’t get onto some random sites - e.g. MSN, Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Myspace… and I use those often usually so it’s a bit difficult.

It mentions something to do with a firewall – but I used Norton to get rid of any such problems. I’m thinking it must be a virus, but I’m not sure what to do next. I tried downloading a different AntiVirus software and the site seems to be preventing me from doing so.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

[andybigbro]

Well i have AVG antivirus?


And Comodo Firewall

I dont know if they would help. Sorry if i have just been useless

[Bells]

No - thanks for that Andy. AVG was one I tried to download, but it wouldn't let me. Slowly more and more sites aren't working.

So I think the best thing to do would be to wipe everything off the computer and start over?
That way the virus can't keep messing up the system.

[Bells]

^ We did exactly that and they still don't work. The computer was taken to a professional and he wiped everything off. I've just now effectively got a brand new computer since everything's started again, but those sites won't work. I feel as if I've tried absolutely everything, even enabling cookies! I'm wondering if there's some sort of weird link between the sites that aren't working, but there's quite a few. It's frustrating because I don't know what to do next - so if anyone knows anything at all it would be of great help... thanks.

[spitfire]

Have a look at your security settings,they may be on high,if so change to medium.

[Bells]

They're always on medium; I checked, and it still doesn't work... but thanks for the suggestion. :thumbs:

I really am baffled now though. It's frustrating because even professionals can't seem to help, either on the phone, or if we get someone to wipe everything off the computer as mentioned before. Since my last post, we figured if it's nothing to do with the computer and laptop, it must be to do with the modem. So we bought a new modem - even that didn't work!

Then, my dad bought me a new laptop (he was going to for my birthday anyway), but thought that at least that would work. But the same thing is still happening. I'm thinking the only option left now is to buy a modem from some other company or something.

[MarkWaldorf]

Are you sure it isn't your router or the thing that's connecting you to the net?

[Bells]

Quite sure! But I guess there's no harm in trying again, so I'll let you know what happens.

[Conor]

You may have to buy a whole new computer, or send it to someone to check it out.

[Bells]

We did get a laptop, Conor. And although we sent the computer to a professional, it was more to get rid of everything rather than check it out. The whole thing's getting really annoying, but I think as Mark says the router probably may need re-checking. Let's see how that goes.

[Conor]

Ah, OK. I'm afraid I probably won't be able to give you any more advice then, sorry.

[Bells]

That's OK - you've given much better advice than I would've been able to give anyone about this sort of stuff! Hopefully it'll be sorted soon enough, anyway...

[MarkWaldorf]

That's a really weird problem, I don't know what to say. :conf:

I can only think of your connection, but that doesn't seem to be it. Technology aye? :bored:

[Legend]

About 18 months back that happened to me, I weren't able to get onto hotmail, MSN etc, everytime I would go on it I would be re-directed to another site which mentioned something to do with firewall/virus', I can't remember what made it work again though but I'll ask my mum and she if she remembers tomorrow.

Hope you manage to sort it out, it is a pain.

Oh also, if it is something to do with your modem or router then try getting on the websites you want using a Proxy, it may work and if it does then it's a temporary solution.

[Bells]

That's a great suggestion - thanks for that, I'll mention it. Even if it is temporary it'd be extremely useful.

And if you can, it'd be brilliant if you could find out from your mum how you fixed yours - I'd really appreciate it. :spin2:

[Dan_]

I had a similar problem a few years ago, it all seemed to sort itself out once I changed from dial-up to broadband but that's not really any help to you.

[Mark]

A few days ago after I got my internet reconnected I had a problem where certain sites weren't loading, and some were. I'm usually pretty quick to sort out problems, and I had a look through my internet settings and firewall and everything seemed ok. After about an hour I finally realised that my 'c' key wasn't working, and every time I typed in a URL with a 'c' in it, it didn't load it -- and I was manually typing in the URL's so fast I didn't realise the 'c' was being missed out. Obviuosly this isn't the case for you since you got a new laptop.

Only things I can suggest are to google the error you are getting about the firewall... chances are lots of people have had the same error as you are getting and there are a lot of sites out there with good solutions

Restart your router and/or check the router settings. A while ago my housemate logged into the router to set up some port-forwarding for a game he was playing online. Turned out after he set it up, it stopped all our access to all websites. You'd probably need to consult your router manual for that type of stuff, but a lot can be reached by typing http://192.168.0.1 and looking around for any blocking settings (incase its your router firewall and not software firewall that's playing up)

Another silly question that might not be relevant, but... what browser are you using. There are so many problems with Internet Explorer, I wouldn't b e surprised if certain pages aren't loading. www.getfirefox.com is very good :thumbs:

Are other computers in your house getting those pages loaded too... or just your laptop?

Sorry can't be more help, just got internet back myself after a 3 week absence thanks to BT's incompetence :pat:

- Mark

[Bells]

Thanks a lot for all that advice. The 'c' key not working is actually a really interesting point - it's not happened to me before, but I'll watch out for that.

We've disabled both the router firewall and Norton firewall. I'm not that brainy when it comes to computers, but I do know we've done that but still to no avail. I reckon I'm going to give Firefox a try and see what happens. And, to answer your question, it's happening to the laptop and computer, which is what confirmed in my mind that the problem was something to do with the modem.

I think we're one step closer to figuring it out though. After ringing the modem's company's customer services, it turns out that the link between the sites that aren't working is that they're secure sites. Apparently it's a common problem, yet we followed the instructions they told us to and the sites still didn't load. But they said they'd get someone more experienced to give us a ring and then give us some instructions, so right now I'm awaiting their call.