Author Topic: Trouble connecting with websites (Read 370 times)

ComicsLover · « **on:** January 31, 2013, 02:10:17 PM »

I started having a little trouble connecting with websites last night. Would get that Can't Connect error message, but if I tried again it would work.
Considered that it had been awhile since I used OldTimerTool for cleaning my files so did that and rebooted.
Every single bookmark then came up with an error. Upon a second click, the website would either immediately load or would load all but some pictures. Another click would clear that. Two bookmarks refused to load at all and I had to physically type in the addresses to create new bookmarks for them.

I'm still getting quite a lot of random error messages that the network can't find a website.
MS Network Diagnostic says nothing is wrong, but even MSE now requires me to click on it twice before it can find complete an update search.

Sibling did not have any problems, but restarted the modem just in case. Still slow like dial up slow on a busy day. (Yes, I know that the net is typically slow during business hours, but not like this.)

Any ideas? Don't recall OldTimerTools doing this before and really the problem started before I used it.
Maybe I need to do a cold start of my computer?

ComicsLover · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2013, 02:38:53 PM »

Never mind. Still slow to load sometimes, but I'm not getting the error message so much now.

Corrine · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2013, 05:57:01 PM »

Old Timer's TFC doesn't clear cookies/bookmarks so wouldn't have been the problem.

If the problem continues, you may want to flush your DNS cache and restore the HOSTS file. Instructions follow.

Please copy/paste the lines in bold below to Notepad:

@Echo on
pushd\windows\system32\drivers\etc
attrib -h -s -r hosts
echo 127.0.0.1 localhost>HOSTS
attrib +r +h +s hosts
popd
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset all
netsh int ip reset all
shutdown -r -t 1
del %0

Save as flush.bat to your desktop.
Double-click flush.bat file to run it. Your computer will reboot.

Note: For Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click flush.bat and select "Run as Administrator".

ComicsLover · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2013, 04:04:56 PM »

Weirdness. (I will never understand the workings of the Net.)

Same as original post except never get the Can't Find... error message. I don't remember what I did last time that fixed it, but it wasn't Corrine's as I found the other solution before she could respond, but...can't find that one again on Google Search.

PROBLEM
Anyway, this time it's one website that refuses to load pages most of the time. Note the most of the time. Either they load right away, I have to click the link a second time, or it just keeps trying to connect forever.

This site had networking issues as of the 6th of this month due to a server attack.

These were all pages that I could connect to with no problem as of last Thursday.

The pages have just as much a problem when using IE as they do using Firefox

** If I go to another computer and try loading at the same time as with the problem computer, all the pages load up just dandy and pretty darn quick. It is just my computer that is having a problem getting this website to load each time and on time. **

** Other users of the site have commented on social sites that they also have been having many issues with the website since Thursday.**

Had Firefox freeze up on me during a Google Search on website problems. Had to use Scotty to close down Firefox.

Rebooted Firefox and now fine, but that one, single site of many that I visit daily still is having issues.

ALREADY TRIED:

Emptied Firefox's temp folders and history.
Ran OldTimer Tools (just in case)
Ran the flush.bat file per Corrine's instructions above.
Updated optional updates of 2 (except that the oldest of those two has refused to load since last year. Error code is one of those "I dunno; your guess is good as mine" types from Microsoft that give no help whatsoever.)
Rebooted like a professional shoe maker.

No effect with any of the above.

Clearly the issue is with my comp as the laptop has no problems and also has the same isp provider. Both computers are Windows 7 though one is a Gateway laptop and the other is a HP desktop. I'm assuming the website fixed the networking issue since the laptop loads it okay.

At a complete loss here. All I can think of is that it was a Windows Important Update since I've been avoiding Optional ones until today.

btw the optional driver update that refuses to load on any family computer is:

Intel Corporation - Storage Controller - Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller

Download size: 6.9 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Optional

Intel Corporation Storage Controller software update released in September, 2012

More information:
http://sysdev.microsoft.com/support/default.aspx

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub

Error code is: 80070103 for that. I gave up trying to install it around Christmas so doubt it's the foundation of the problem.

Corrine · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2013, 04:46:18 PM »

The easiest issue first: It is generally best to get driver updates from the device manufacturer. In fact, in a quick search, you are not the only person who has been having the identical problem with this particular optional driver update. The best answer is this Microsoft KB article, Error 0x80070103 appears when you use the Windows Update or Microsoft Update Web sites to install updates, which indicates you can hide the update.

As to the website you are having problems accessing on your computer but no problem with the laptop, it certainly sounds as though you have done all the trouble-shooting possible, although I didn't see where you have deleted cookies for the website in question. If you haven't done that yet, I give it a try and see if it helps. A Microsoft update (Important or Optional) would no have any connection to problems accessing a particular website that I can comes to mind.

ComicsLover · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2013, 08:35:10 PM »

The best answer is this Microsoft KB article, Error 0x80070103 appears when you use the Windows Update or Microsoft Update Web sites to install updates, which indicates you can hide the update.

I don't know whether to be amused or not that Microsoft's best answer is to hide the problem under the rug.

In fact I'd say it was highly unprofessional....but then I work for a major company too so...not terribly surprised.

Did clear the cookies and other snacks and thought all the crumbs as well (you know how bugs love cookie crumbs), but I'm still getting that weird: This link works, but that one won't unless clicked on at least twice, while this sausage over here is totally unresponsive.

At this point guess the best can hope for is to notify the support link they have and maybe they'll resolve something at their end.
(Oh, god, I'm doomed to using the laptop for that site....)

Thanks, Corrine. At least I know all known angles have been tried.

Corrine · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2013, 08:45:31 PM »

When we check the box to have Microsoft check for optional updates, that includes drivers provided to Microsoft by third party device manufacturers. Those drivers are generally provided to Microsoft much later than they are available on the vendor site. When provided, Microsoft includes the driver update for systems with that manufacturer's device. It is generally recommended to check the vendor site for drivers in order to get the most recent rather than relying on the vendor to provide updates to Microsoft. Then there those in the old school, like me. I prefer not to update drivers unless there is a problem and, even though drivers can be rolled back, always create a restore point before installing a driver update.

ComicsLover · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2013, 08:42:27 AM »

Problem solved.

I ran ESET's online scan and was clean, then sent an email to the site owners, but just afterwards found a MS Security (not MSE) update on Important updates and installed it. Went to bed.

:blink:Low and behold this morning the wayward site now runs beautifully. No idea if it was their past security update that mucked something up, but glad now don't have to go to my laptop every day.

Aaron Hulett [MSFT] · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2013, 01:29:13 AM »

The very first post has me thinking it's DNS related. If you ask for a web page, your computer asks a DNS server for that web site's IP address so that your computer can go talk to that server. Think of it as needing to get a phone number - you want to order pizza and you need a phone book or such for the number before you call.

If your DNS server doesn't answer fast enough, you can experience what you did here. In some cases, a web page may have content from multiple servers/addresses, and when your DNS request for the server having the main webpage completes and you start getting the web page, your browser then "learns" it needs to ask for content from other sites. If DNS is still slow, you get a busted-looking webpage that only partially loads. Once the DNS request comes back for the other servers and you refresh, then everything loads just fine.

One computer on your network could be 'messed up' while another just fine simply because they're each set to ask different DNS servers for the IP information. If, for example, you run OpenDNS on one system, and on the other system you don't, they'll likely be asking different DNS server for IP information.

Not sure if this is what's happening in your case, but it did cross my mind as a possible reason. I ran into it at my mom's office a bit ago - the network DNS server was set to ask root servers for IP information and the requests were taking too long, they would have to refresh the page after about 4 seconds to get it to load. I changed it to the internet company's DNS servers and everything's lightning fast now.

Regards,
Aaron

This information is provided "AS IS" without warranty, and confers no rights.

LandzDown Forum

News:

Author Topic: Trouble connecting with websites (Read 370 times)

ComicsLover

Trouble connecting with websites

ComicsLover

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

Corrine

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

ComicsLover

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

Corrine

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

ComicsLover

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

Corrine

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

ComicsLover

Re: Trouble connecting with websites

Aaron Hulett [MSFT]

Re: Trouble connecting with websites