Solved Unusual & Perplexing Page Not Found Behavior

B

boweasel

Member
A friend with a Dell Vista Home Basic desktop PC (Inspiron 518, 32-bit) has had 'page not found' errors occurring at about a 50% rate in both IE8 and Firefox. He uses AOL webmail and even when the main page displays he is almost never able to actually display his Inbox - he just gets the 'Loading Mail' screen with the blue circle which eventually gives way to 'Problem accessing your webmail - try later'.

His ISP is Comcast and they have come out and rewired his connections, both outside and in. They have hooked up a new modem (he is NOT working wirelessly), and their efforts have not made a bit of difference.

I have run sfc /scannow, Full MalwareBytes scan, TDSSkiller and chkdsk /r /f. No change.

He just bought a new 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium laptop and I hooked it up for him, using the same cable and same modem he'd been using with his desktop.

Everything works perfectly.

I reconnected his desktop. Same bad behavior.

I brought his desktop tower to my place and connected it to my modem (my ISP is Windstream). It works perfectly with my equipment. I had 6 IE and 2 Firefox Windows open and tried to access his AOL mail, and it came up instantly.

I am at a complete loss. I really don't know what to attempt next. Although I'm perfectly willing to reinstall the OS, I have no idea if that will correct the problem.

Any ideas? Thoughts? Has anyone ever encountered behavior like this? Where a PC is slow and gives a lot connection problem pages through one ISP, but works perfectly with another? And another PC works perfectly with the original provider?
 

My Computer

System One

Regarless of what Comcast says, it appears the problem is at their end. Be a friend, take your computer to his place to test.
If it works at your place I doubt if a new OS will help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Cannot Download After Fresh Install

I originally had this problem with a Dell Inspiron 518 Vista Home Premium tower
http://www.vistax64.com/browsers-mail/295527-unusual-perplexing-page-not-found-behavior.html

I decided to reinstall the OS, but I could not get the PC to boot off the CD - F12 to change the boot order or F2 to access Setup did nothing. So I ran Windows Vista setup from within Vista which created the folder Windows.old on the C: drive.

The first weird wrinkle was that I could not access the internet - the was a yellow ! on the network adapter in device manager. Uninstalling it and letting Windows reinstall didn't help, so I downloaded what Dell said was the correct driver - Realtek RTL8168C (the one w/ the yellow ! lacked the letter C). Once I fixed that I could connect.

Then I noticed that I couldn't right click on an empty area below the address bar in IE - I wanted to get the Menu Bar and remove the Favorites Bar. Right clicking did nothing. The mouse works fine, and I can use the right mouse for other things - right clicking Computer, then left clicking properties, righ-clicking a document, then left-clicking Explore, or Open, etc.... I did get the bars fixed by left clicking Tools, then Toolbars, and checking and unchecking what I wanted, but right-clicking on the Menu Bar still does nothing.

I also cannot send shortcuts anywhere. I used to click File\Send\Shortcut to Desktop to get a desktop icon for my email. I can do those steps, but no shortcut appears. I had to drag from the left of the address bar to the desktop to create a shortcut.

I cannot open a folder anymore without it opening in a new window - the option in Control Panel/Folder options is set correctly, and I even checked the registry. I dunno - it's got the right valuesin CabinetState.

But the biggest problem is that I cannot download... usually. I easily downloaded Security Essentials, but when I tried to downloader Adobe Reader X nothing happened. No little clickable bar below the tabs line at the top, no download box. Same thing happened with Malwarebytes from CNET. That one l downloaded using a thumb drive on another PC. It installed perfectly, and found no errors on a full scan.

I also ran sfc /scannow which found no integrity violations.

Do I have to reinstall again? And how do I do it (see paragraph 2)?
 

My Computer

System One

Re: Cannot Download After Fresh Install

May I suggest that you try again with the clean install (boot off CD and format) any other installation may just bring your old problems to the new OS

Hard Disc Controller must be set to IDE in BIOS and Bios must be set to boot from the CD Boot Priority - Change

Did you set the controller to IDE?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Re: Cannot Download After Fresh Install

Thanks, but I don't know how to do a clean install since I can't get the PC to boot off the CD. I mentioned this in the beginning of my post. I get the Dell screen which says F2-Setup and F12-Boot menu, but F2 and F12 no longer work - the PC just boots normally. If I pull the plug I can get the system to go into Startup Repair - it's been there now for about 10 minutes with the blue indicator going from left to right while it says 'Startup Repair is checking your system for problems...' 'Attempting repairs'.
 

My Computer

System One

Yes, I know and I have added the comment that setting to IDE is necessary. Did you take that step?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
And then, of course, I got Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically. After which I could, of course, boot normally. But, of course, I still cannot boot from the CD.
 

My Computer

System One

How do I set it to IDE, please? See, the only way I know to do that is to get into the BIOS, and the only way I know to get into the BIOS is by using F2-Setup on a Dell PC, and since F2 does nothing on this PC I'm in a bit of a quandary. Hence my post to this forum.
 

My Computer

System One

I went back to IE7 and I can now right click, can now download Adobe Reader X, and can send shortcuts to my desktop. Needless to say it did nothing for my inability to access the BIOS.
 

My Computer

System One

Depending on your computer it may be done via device manager
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
Depending on your computer it may be done via device manager
Click to expand...
You might as well be saying that it may be done by squeezing my eyes shut and clicking my heels 3 times.

I have gone into device manager. I have even used the Help screens. I see nothing that enables me to get into the machine BIOS. Dell Inspiron 518.
 

My Computer

System One

From the link you provided:

Entering the System Setup Program

notice.gif
NOTICE: Unless you are an expert computer user, don't change the settings in the system setup program. Certain changes might make your computer work incorrectly. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
When the blue DELL™ logo appears, press <F2>.

If you wait too long and the operating system begins to load into memory, let the computer complete the load operation. Then shut down the computer and try again.

Unless I'm missing something, you've still gotta get some sort of response with the F2 key - which ain't happening...
 

My Computer

System One

Im out of ideas. Hopefully, someone with more experience in this area will come by. I do wish you luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I think that you will be better off just keeping it the way it is. Those that have been helping know where you are and you will be easier to find. If you repost all the history will be gone.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
I think that you will be better off just keeping it the way it is. Those that have been helping know where you are
Click to expand...
I appreciate your input richc, but as far as 'those that have been helping' goes, so far it's just been you and me buddy.

And as long as I've got your ear, any ideas on why IE8 was the root cause of (almost) all my problems? Going back to IE7 even stopped Explorer from opening each folder in a new window - I fail to see how a browser would have any effect on Windows' folder options. I'd update to IE9... but I really dislike it.

And if memory serves, I remember reading somewhere once that Dell PCs can occassionally be balky when using a non-Dell USB keyboard. I'm using a Logitech USB keyboard, and although I've got a couple PS2 mouses, this Dell has no PS2 ports.
 

My Computer

System One

If you feel that way start a new thread with a title that is more pertintent to your current situation. I do wish you luck.

Regarding IE8, I cant give specifics, but many members have had problems while updating browsers; especially to IE 9.

LOL you are right about the other members helping. I was confused with another thread.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
On my Dell, I use F12 and then select the BIOS Setup.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
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