Please help! IE and Firefox won't let me come to this forum!

[Peppurr101]

Hi all,
I have a really urgent and really wierd problem.
I have been reading and posting on this forum for a while now.. probably 2 months?
All of a sudden, starting yesterday, when I try to browse here to this forum, IE and Firefox both tell me they can't find this site.
If fact, it takes me to a site with a similiar name.. vista64.com with no x.
This only happens with this forum and one other and only from home on this computer.
I can browse all over the place on the internet without a problem. I have no problem browsing here from work.
I have made no changes or updates on the computer within the last 48 hours.
I downloaded the latest IE security update from Windows this morning which allowed me here for one session and then went back to telling me the site didn't exist.
Windows Defender full scan says all clear, Norton says all clear.
I have also cleared my cache on both browsers and cookies as well.

The only reason I got here now is because I accessed a cached site on a google search, which sometimes works and sometimes not.

Can anyone please help? I have my notifications enabled so I should see any replies in my email.

Thank you!

The only reason I am here right now is that after tr

 

[jfacteau]

Hi all,
I have a really urgent and really wierd problem.
I have been reading and posting on this forum for a while now.. probably 2 months?
All of a sudden, starting yesterday, when I try to browse here to this forum, IE and Firefox both tell me they can't find this site.
If fact, it takes me to a site with a similiar name.. vista64.com with no x.
This only happens with this forum and one other and only from home on this computer.
I can browse all over the place on the internet without a problem. I have no problem browsing here from work.
I have made no changes or updates on the computer within the last 48 hours.
I downloaded the latest IE security update from Windows this morning which allowed me here for one session and then went back to telling me the site didn't exist.
Windows Defender full scan says all clear, Norton says all clear.
I have also cleared my cache on both browsers and cookies as well.

The only reason I got here now is because I accessed a cached site on a google search, which sometimes works and sometimes not.

Can anyone please help? I have my notifications enabled so I should see any replies in my email.

Thank you!

The only reason I am here right now is that after tr

I'm using Firefox 3 and I am here right now! using Vista Business 64-bit version

 

[SIW2]

Hi peppurr,

Did you try flushing the dns cache? Negative, i.e. incorrect entries should only be kept for 24 hours by default, but it's worth trying.

Open an elevated command prompt by typing cmd in the start search box. When it pops up, right click and run as admin.

At the prompt, type ipconfig /flushdns then press enter. It looks like this:

C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /flushdns

Windows IP Configuration

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

C:\Windows\system32>

Then close cmd prompt.

Try pasting this into your browser:

http://www.vistax64.com/

- if it brings you to the Forum, Bookmark the page.

Hope it helps

SIW2

 

[Peppurr101]

Hi SIW2
Sorry I have not been able to reply. I still cannot get here, even using the google cached page trick.
I have been to another forum and they have suggested the same thing that you did. I tried hooking up my old laptop running windows ME and I still can't connect to these two forums. I tried calling my ISP and they responded with their usual "it's not on our end, there must be something wrong with your computer" line.
The techie then tried to have me reset my IE settings to default even though I had told them I was having the same problem with Firefox. Then they said they cannot block websites and blamed the forums for blocking me.
Two browsers on one computer, the second computer all have the same problem where I have no trouble connecting out here (at work).
I suspect my connection with my ISP is at fault?
I'll try the flush dns thing when I get home. That won't affect my connection to other websites?
Thanks
Peppurr

 

[SIW2]

Hi Pepurr,

It's perfectly safe to flush the dns cache.

I am not sure you can use broadband with ME - did you use a dial - up modem for that - and your broadband connection
for your other machine ?

Both your machines at home have this problem ?

SIW2

 

[Joan Archer]

Hi Pepurr,

It's perfectly safe to flush the dns cache.

I am not sure you can use broadband with ME - did you use a dial - up modem for that - and your broadband connection
for your other machine ?

Both your machines at home have this problem ?

SIW2

You can use WinME on broadband I have one on my network connecting via wireless to my router and the Internet.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Peppurr,

Are you using a router? If so, enter the router settings and on the appropriate page, set the DNS settings as follows. This changes the DNS server from the one used by your ISP to the OpenDNS servers. It might solve your problem if your ISP DNS servers have been compromised.

I should point out that I normally have the setting Get Automatically From ISP enabled and only use the alternative if there is a problem.

 

[Peppurr101]

Hi guys,
Sorry but I still cannot connect from home.
SIW2, yes, both my desktop running Vista, IE7 and Firefox, and my laptop with Win ME and IE 6 all on broadband. I also tried dial up from my Win ME laptop and that was a no go as well.
I tried flushing the dns cache on my vista machine and that didn't work.

Dwarf, direct broadband connection.. no router

Today, and just today, I can connect the the other forum I have been having a problem with, but not here.

I have a sneaky suspicion that since this problem seems to be present from any computer I connect to from that location, and that I haven't made any changes
that the answer lies with my ISP. I have tried calling them, and they insisted on tweaking the IE settings on my Vista box, even when I told them that Firefox and my laptop are having the same problems. Theyeven told me to reset my IE settings to default (where there was a big note on the menu saying not to do this unless my IE was 'in an unusable state'. Needless to say, I politely declined, and their next option was that the sites themselves were blocking my IP address.
Have you guys heard of any such thing?

Anyway, I'm out of guesses and really frustrated. Of all the sites to be blocked, it would have to be this one where I want to come often!

I should be able to read replies from the emails I get when someone replies to a post and will post back as soon as I can get to a computer that will connect here.
Any ideas.. please let me know..
Thanks
Peppurr

 

[SIW2]

Hi Liz,

Dwarf's suggestion about Open DNS is worth trying - in case it's to do with the server your ISP is using.

It's easy to set it up, it's free - and you don't need to register, just follow the screenshots here :

https://www.opendns.com/start/device/windows-vista

Hope it helps

SIW2

 

[mattinahat]

Try using a proxy.

http://www.ferncraft.com/

Does your ISP filter any content?

Has this happened to anyone, you know, before?

 

[Peppurr101]

Try using a proxy.

http://www.ferncraft.com/

Does your ISP filter any content?

Has this happened to anyone, you know, before?

Hi mattinahat
My ISP denies any filtering of internet content.

Nope, nobody else I know has ever had this issue with just 2 websites.

 

[mattinahat]

Try Down for everyone or just me?

It is a really great site. :D

EDIT: Denial is a confirmation of sorts.

 

[Peppurr101]

EDIT: Denial is a confirmation of sorts.

You got that right.. especially from my ISP!

 

[Peppurr101]

Hello all,
Just an update.
Since this morning, I have been able to connect to the two sites (this one and another forum) that I have been having a problem with.
Funny thing is, all I did was send a rather strongly worded email to my ISP regarding their DNS servers and the quality of their tech support.
Funny that.:sa:
Thank you for all your help and support. I did learn a few thingsL!:D

 

[mattinahat]

Excellent. I am glad you sorted the problem out. :D

 

[Joan Archer]

Glad you have things sorted out now, and it's always nice to learn new things along the way

 

[Peppurr101]

Hello Joan and mattinahat,
Thank you.. it was time well spent. And also especially nice because I think the thing sorted itself out- I didn't have to do too much work at all! I like those kind of problems