Help FP with his weird browser problem

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 06:12

For no discernable reason my PC has been acting very strangely over the past 24 hours. General surfing of websites works as normal, but a few glaring errors have appeared that are extremely irritating.

When I check my e-mail (fastmail.fm account) I can log-in, read any old or new messages in my inbox and I can download attachments. However, what I CAN’T do is view any folders other than the inbox or send any mail. I get a “Cannot find server” error with both of these, even though I plainly still have access to the server because I can read mail and download attachments.
This identical problem occurs in both IE and Opera.

A similar problem happens with Hotmail.
Using Opera I can get onto the front page, but when I click to login it never makes it to the Inbox. It just gets stuck loading for a while before timing out.
Using IE I can view the Inbox, but if I try and open any e-mails in the parent window the page gets stuck loading before timing out. However, if I shift-click and try to open an e-mail in a new window it works fine. Weird.

I am also unable to make any posts on any forum, although I can login and view threads as normal. This isn’t related to ‘poly’s server glitches because it also happens at CGN, which runs fast and reliably.
This too happens both in Opera and IE.

The problem isn’t related to the individual websites involved, because I’ve also tested it on my parent’s PC (IE) and my work machine (Opera and IE) and everything works perfectly on those. I'm at work now, btw.

OS = XP Home

I haven’t done anything unusual to the computer over the past 24 hours such as installing/uninstalling weird programs or messing around with the settings. My brother also has access to it, though, and I don’t know if he’s done anything.

I’ve run Adaware, SpybotSD and an AVG virus scan – no problems found on any of them.

What’s going on?

Urban Ranger · July 2, 2003, 06:35

Do your parent's machine and your machine share the same Internet connection?

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 06:43

Nope.

Urban Ranger · July 2, 2003, 07:14

I think that's the problem right there. It's your ISP.

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 11:11

bump to see if anyone else has any ideas.

Kuciwalker · July 2, 2003, 11:49

Exorcism?

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 11:51

I need an old priest and a young priest.

The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 12:16

test

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 12:17

hmmm ... I'm at home now.

I just tested Fastmail, Hotmail and CGN - they are all still not working properly for me. Clearly Apolyton is, though.

/edit: I can post normally at the Candle'Bre forums too. Curiouser and curiouser.

If this is a problem with my ISP it doesn't make any sense to me. Some sites are only effected when I attempt certain actions, whereas the rest of them are fine. The vast majority of sites are working perfectly.

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 12:39

And then it just cut out again. Kept giving me "Connection closed by remote server" errors.

I've rebooted the computer and now it works again. WTF?!?

alva · July 2, 2003, 12:43

Nice conversation you've got going there FP

Alex · July 2, 2003, 13:52

Try to use the "system restoration" feature (or whatever it is called in English) and restore your system to a previous restoration point where everything was ok. It might help.

alva · July 2, 2003, 13:53

Why would he do that now everything is all well

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 14:00

Everything isn't well. Hotmail, fastmail and CGN still aren't working properly. Apolyton keeps coming in and out.

I'll check to see when the last restore point was set.

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 14:05

Would I be able to change back to my current settings if the system restore didn't fix the problem?

Alex · July 2, 2003, 14:11

I think you would, I remember that I did it once -- i.e., I restored the system to a previous point and then I reverted that restoration...

But check it in the Windows Help, it will tell you all about it.

Harry Seldon · July 2, 2003, 14:52

I can't believe the Opera guy hasn't been here yet. You even have browser in the thread title.

Alex · July 2, 2003, 16:54

hey, I use Opera too, but I sympathize with his pain.

FrustratedPoet · July 2, 2003, 17:15

Did a system restore to last week, when this problem did not exist.

It didn't work.

Same old errors keep coming back.

Urban Ranger · July 2, 2003, 22:58

Apolyton comes in and out all the time when there's a huge number of people.

Run a traceroute to your other websites to see if the path is clear. Bring up a DOS box and type "traceroute URL". E.g. traceroute apolyton.net.

Fve Crathva · July 3, 2003, 00:54

Might have something to do with https? I had trouble logging into email accounts a while ago, and I fixed it by letting https traffic through my firewall. Although I don't know what that would have to do with forums, or why it happened (unless your ISP blocked https

).

SP

FrustratedPoet · July 3, 2003, 08:36

And now the problem has completely disappeared.

I wonder how long it will take before it comes back?

Skanky Burns · July 3, 2003, 09:02

It must have been ISP related, as UR through. Good to know its gone (for the time being).

FrustratedPoet · July 3, 2003, 09:08

Yeah, I didn't take any action today so it must have been a problem external to my computer (ie. the ISP).