Perplexing browser problem "Page not available" errors on good links <vanity>

self

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks in advance for your time and help.... By the way... I have attempted to post this thread several times now, it previews fine, but "Post" is sent me to the Philadelphia Zoo webpage the first time, The Antique Tractor Shed the second time, and some other places I can't identify, with generic 404 errors on other attempts. I am trying to remain composed.

FRegards!

[HairOfTheDog]

FYI...

By the way, when trying to post this reply I got this lovely error:

HTTP/1.0 404 Az objektum nem található.

[HairOfTheDog]

It is funny when it isn't you, I can see that potential...

I hope someone here has an answer too! It is particularly bad today... Replying to you the first time I tried redirected me to the US food and Drug Administration...

I blew out my IP stack and rebooted again and so far so good.

[HairOfTheDog]

Pinging some folk from computer threads... is there a ping list for stuff like this?

[HairOfTheDog]

Boy what a freudian slip... I tried to ping you above, and you are the one I meant to ping... had to search to remember MS users on all those computer threads... Got the name confused.

Plea for help ping!

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

[HairOfTheDog]

John, is there a ping list or a more complete set of Keywords for technical stuff like this?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If you are going to run repairs in XP, don't forget to disable the System Restore feature before doing so. Risky in case the repair doesn't work, but if you don't, then the repair won't "stick", if you know what I mean. On XP boxes I work on, I leave System Restore disabled for good. What about running IE repair (Add/Remove programs, Installed Programs, select IE and then Advanced...)? Has that worked?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

indexed

[HairOfTheDog]

I haven't done IE repair.... I didn't know about it.

What is the risk really with System Restore disabled? That the system won't restore if the whole system collapses? Would I be worried that only the repair wont be restored or that my whole show is gonna explode when I run the repair... Is it risky? I am willing to play good odds.

Shall I go run the IE repair or do you have any other warnings I should know about?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Lets use Fr mail...you got a message coming.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks!

[fnord]

Some ideas to try and pin down the problem:

- Have you tried another browser on this computer?

- Have you hooked up another computer to this connection?

- Have you hooked up this computer to another connection?

- Have you tried another modem?

Appears to be a DNS problem, but could be your computer, your browser, your connection, or somewhere upstream.

Good luck.

[Uncle Sausage]

You may indeed have an adware/spyware problem. Go to www.langa.com and use the site's search engine and search for 'adware'. The Langa List, both the free one and the pay site, is a user level bi-weekly news letter about hadrware, software and browsing problems.

[HairOfTheDog]

I have not run a lot of those tests to isolate the problem, because I only have one of each... the only thing I could do is use my emergency dialup account to see if I have the problem outside of my cable connection, but my lines are so bad I don't have the patience....

Thanks for your suggestions... I may bring a laptop home from work and see if it breaks when connected....

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for the site... I will check it out... I don't think that is why I am broken, but it never hurts to look.

Curiously enough, after running the IE repair RBA recommended this afternoon, it has been behaving, but it has behaved for a time before....

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Wow, after reading the full description of the problem, I'll admit it's a real puzzler. I've discussed it with my Rose (she works tech support for Dell) but no obvious solution suggests itself. I'm pinging her so she can find this tomorrow; she's going to ask at work and see if anyone there has any ideas. Meanwhile, I'll do some thinking out loud....

The troubleshooting ideas suggested by fnord were all good ones. A few additional questions... did you upgrade to XP, or reformat and install XP? Have you always used the same firewall, or has the problem existed while using different firewalls? Have you tried running without the firewall? (Dangerous, I know...)

If you can download one of the freeware/shareware browsers and have it ready, then start it when IE starts acting up, this will tell you something... if the other browser works while IE is messing up, then you know the problem is IE; if both browsers screw up, then the problem is elsewhere... OS or network connection, most likely.

If you can bring home a laptop and hook it up to your cable modem, or run your home system on a dial-up link for a while, that will tell you if the problem is in your OS or your network connection. Once you know that, you'll know what steps to take to fix the problem.

That's all I can think of tonight... how's that for a start?

[Rose in RoseBear]

Hair ...

If you haven't already reformatted your HDD, I have a few alternatives for you. I'm typing them up, and hope to post 'em tomorrow. Right now, I have to go to bed!

Take care!

[HairOfTheDog]

I am not going to reformat my Hard Drive! - Was never part of the plan.... I have a little bug, not a terminal cancer. Thanks for thinking about me... look forward to your suggestions.