[Diablo]

I probably shouldn't post this here but i'm looking for someone who can help me

For the last 3 weeks I have been unable to access one particular website.. I can access it fine on any other computer than my home pc..

I have tried a couple of troubleshooting guides but nothing..

I keep geting this page cannot be displayed message

I dont understand it because I was a regular on the site and then one day - nothing.. just like that for no apparent reason.

Any ideas anyone??

[Lauren]

Do you use a different internet client on the other computers than the one at home?
Perhaps you've accidentally firewalled this particular site?

[Diablo]

I dont know what you mean by internet client? lol.. ( i;m a dunce with computers)

Its not blocked at this end.. as far as we can see anyway...

[Lauren]

Originally posted by Diablo
I dont know what you mean by internet client? lol.. ( i;m a dunce with computers)

Its not blocked at this end.. as far as we can see anyway...

Like Internet Explorer or Firefox?

Sorry I'm pretty thick with technology LOL. My knowledge extends to typing letters on my keypad.

[Diablo]

no its all internet explorer... i didnt know anything else existed.. LOL.. I know zilch about the technical side..

I've emailed my broadband provider

[James]

There's one of the moderators here that has got that problem with this site...

This advice is mainly copied from another site...

You need to edit a file on the computer called 'hosts'...

Make sure you can see all system and hidden files - Open up My Computer, go to 'Tools' menu, 'Folder Options', 'View' tab and select 'Show hidden files and folder' and untick 'Hide protected operating system files'.

In Windows Explorer go to 'windows' folder (usually inside the C: drive on 'My Computer' then 'system32' then 'drivers' then 'etc' and look for the file there called 'hosts'.

It may be read-only, right-click it, select Properties and untick read-only, then hit Apply/OK.

Go to 'Start' then 'Run' then type notepad and click OK. The notepad program should open.

Drag the hosts file into the Notepad window and it will open.

There should be only one entry in there (apart from lines starting with #):
127.0.0.1 localhost

Delete everything under that line.

-----

If that doesn't work go to 'Start' then 'Run' then type cmd then click OK

Then type ipconfig /flushdns in the black window

-----

If the site still doesn't work after that go to http://www.zoneedit.com/lookup.html and find the ip address (which will be something like 111.222.111.222) of your site...

Where it says 'Enter a host name for Forward DNS Lookup' enter the domain name of the site you can't access. eg. mysitename.com and click 'Look it up'

Copy the number under 'DNS Lookup Results' (a number like 111.222.111.222).

Go back to the hosts file and add 2 entries to it (with and without the www bit) for the site you can't access with its IP address - after the '127.0.0.1 localhost' line.

eg. The bottom of the text should then read...
127.0.0.1 localhost
111.222.111.222 mysitename.com
111.222.111.222 www.mysitename.com

-----

Maybe re-boot the computer, and hopefully it will work. If this site ever changes server though you will have to re-edit the hosts file again.

Mainly taken from here - http://forum.statcounter.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24506

[Lauren]

^ Pff, I knew that.

Shoulda known it was something so basic!

(Sarcasm )

[James]

[Diablo]

Ok. i'll give it a try.. I'll pop back in and let you know if it worked.. ta muchly

[Diablo]

I'm in the windows folder in the C drvie, but I cant find the hosts file... am i looking in the right place

[Diablo]

ignore that ^^^ i found it.. lol.. i'm terrible with this sort of stuff.

[James]

Once you are in the Windows folder double-click on the 'system32' folder then 'drivers' then 'etc' and the 'hosts' file should be in the 'etc' folder.

[Lauren]

Originally posted by Diablo
I'm in the windows folder in the C drvie, but I cant find the hosts file... am i looking in the right place

Remember to go to system 32, drivers, etc.

Edit: James beat me. Gah, haha.

[Diablo]

well the first 2 options didn't make a difference.. I will try the third option, switch my computer off and go to bed and try the website in the morning..

[Diablo]

How do i get into the hosts file to add the 2 entries?? do I do it via the notepad thing? cos I cant open the hosts file..

[James]

Yeah, with the Notepad thing. Just like in the first step where you viewed the file.

Make sure to go to File menu - Save after you've added the two entries.

[Diablo]

Ok Cheers James

Done all of the above.. I'm going to bed now so i;ll try it in the morning..

Thanks

[Lauren]

Ooh, the last option might work. Just realised thats what I do to access blocked sites from the college network.

[Siouxsie]

omg thats riveting stuff James

[Diablo]

none of it worked.. this is soooo annoying

[SiMoN!]

lol
'one particular website'

lol keep it to youself