Tech Support: How to log in during FreeRepublic DNS problem (3 easy steps on Windows)

FreeRepublic | 4/5/2016 | Self

[20yearsofinternet]

So I noticed a bunch of people have been able to find the trick to getting to FR using the IP in their browser, but can't log in.

Here's a step-by-step guide for Windows on how to log in. NOTE: You need to be an administrator on your machine. You don't have to do anything scary, but you need admin privileges to do the following simple task in step 1.

Step 1: Open Notepad as Administrator

Navigate to Notepad. If you don't have a shortcut handy you can just click the Windows Start button (or in Windows 8+ just press the Windows key) and start typing notepad and it will show as the result. Right-click on it and choose run as administrator.



NOTE: If "run as administrator" is not an option, you aren't an administrator and can't make this change. Sorry!

Step 2: Open hosts file

Once notepad is open, choose to open a file, and then navigate to the path depicted in the screenshot. BE SURE TO CHANGE THE DROPDOWN TO ALL FILES! Open the file called simply "hosts".

Step 3: Add FreeRepublic

Add the IP and domain. Note: You should use the TAB key to create the space between the IP and the domain. If there are other entries in your file, just add the line as depicted in the screenshot at the bottom on its own line. Make sure you DON'T start the line with the # symbol (it's used to "comment out" all the other text in the file).

Then save the file and close notepad.

Step 4: Go to FreeRepublic

For good measure, close and re-open your browser. FR should now load fine and you'll be able to login.

Should there ever be notice that the problem is fixed, just repeat the steps and delete the line you added.

Happy FReeping!

[sparklite2]

right click on the file name,
select properties, then uncheck ‘read only’
remember to recheck it when done.

[Fresh Wind]

Uh, we’re talking Android here.

[jazusamo]

I don’t log off and when I fired up this morning I couldn’t get on the site, then when I checked FR facebook I copied a number and got on FR but couldn’t log in.

What a nightmare, I’m puter illiterate but with 20yearsofinternet instructions I finally got logged in. :-)

[AustinBill]

According to Whois the DNS record for freerepublic.com was updated yesterday. One of the features of the Internet is that DNS changes take 24-48 hours to propagate worldwide. As that happens DNS resolution will be back to normal following the IP address change.

[goodnesswins]

Thanks....worked!

[Iron Munro]

Thank you for taking the time to explain this.
I’ve been reluctant to try a fix but your step by step instructions made it simple.

I did exactly as you demonstrated and it worked first time.

Signed:

A Poor Soul

[20yearsofinternet]

To all the thank-you's, no problem, and you're all welcome. :)

I thought of one other thing since posting. If you have file extensions hidden (which is the default I believe), there will be two "hosts" files. Just make sure, per the screenshot, you open the one with the blank page icon, not the calendar icon.

Just putting that out there into the ether since people who opened the wrong file probably still can't post about their problems. :P

[steve86]

I’ve dealt with lots of domain record propagations (although 15 years ago) and don’t remember another where the domain resolution status was so ephemeral (here one minute and gone the next). There were some errors in the file maintained by the registrar, but I’m not convinced this is completely routine.

[patlin]

A HUGE THANK YOU!!! I have been fighting this on and off for days.

[kjam22]

Went through Facebook FR and found these instructions. Thanks much! I’m back in. BTW... my provider is COX and I was unable to access with MS EDGE or Google. These instructions fixed the problem. Thanks again!

[Iron Munro]

When we find out what caused this DNS issue

Jim Robinmson said here:

https://www.facebook.com/Free-Republic-141344792800/

That this problem might be related to the screwed up Frontier Communications takeover of various telephone service areas.

See This:

"Can Frontier regroup after its bungled Verizon FiOS takeover? Or will this get ugly?"

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/can-frontier-communications-get-over-its-fumbling-takeover-of-verizon-fios/2271934

[doorgunner69]

Glad I found this thread by hook and crook, it worked great as long as I remembered to add the WWW to Freerepublic.

[Dajjal]

It worked! Thanks!

[ConjunctionJunction]

Your step-by-step instructions worked great! Thank you very much!

[Reeses]

According to Whois the DNS record for freerepublic.com was updated yesterday

What got updated is the domain status was set to clientHold which means:

"This status code tells your domain's registry to not activate your domain in the DNS and as a consequence, it will not resolve. It is an uncommon status that is usually enacted during legal disputes, non-payment, or when your domain is subject to deletion. Often, this status indicates an issue with your domain that needs resolution. If so, you should contact your registrar to resolve the issue. If your domain does not have any issues, but you need it to resolve, you must first contact your registrar and request that they remove this status code."

[snarkpup]

If you want to check if your DNS is OK with FR again you’ll have to remove the FR hosts file entry.

What I've been doing every couple of hours is testing "freerepublic.com" at the W3C Markup Validation Service. It's been coming back with "500 Can't connect to freerepublic.com:80" all day. (Other site names work fine.) If the W3C can't access the site, that's a fairly definitive indication that things are hosed.

[DiogenesLamp]

Jim Robinmson said here:

https://www.facebook.com/Free-Republic-141344792800/

That this problem might be related to the screwed up Frontier Communications takeover of various telephone service areas.

And yet I see no evidence that any other site is affected. Does anyone know of any other affected sites?

I'm still betting Homosexual hacker or administrator somewhere.

[snarkpup]

If you have file extensions hidden (which is the default I believe), ...

I go out of my way to make sure file extensions are shown. That way if some miscreant sends me a file named, for example, "readme.txt.exe" it doesn't show up as "readme.txt". Where I used to work many years ago, I prepared a diskette with a file named "readme.txt.bat", which simply echoed a warning message to the screen. I was able to fool everyone in the group with it. And these were software engineers. None of them had Windows Explorer set to display file extensions.

[snarkpup]

What is at ICANN right now is:

Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibitedDomain Status: clientHold https://icann.org/epp#clientHoldDomain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibitedDomain Status: clientUpdateProhibited

Is this what is fundamentally screwed up?

[SelmaLee]

Thank you EVER so much for posting this!

So simple, even I could follow along, and get back to posting on FR. Sorry to hear that there’s no fix for the iPad, as mine’s not been jailbroken.

I’ll just have to run back to the PC if I have a burning need to comment :)