weird website access issues - help!

[Talie]

Ok - I've never come across anything like this before.

My mothers computer is having problems accessing webpages. Email is fine. Some webpages load fine - often ones from big companies etc - google works wonderfully, but when i try to load most websites, they simply don't work - the weird bit is it doesn't time out and come up with a page error or anything - it just seems to stall - it's very bizzare that some sites work fine - but not others. I know it's not the internet connection because I'm using the same connection (we have the two computers networked)

MSN messanger also wont' log in but hotmail works fine (at least it does through outlook express, didn't try through a webpage interface)

I've run ad aware and spy bot and I've tried with norton internet security both enabled and disabled.

I'm usually pretty good at resolving computer problems but this one has me stumped

Not sure anyone here will be able to help, and if that's the case... a referal to somewhere that can would be welcome

 

[Spurgeon]

Well, I'd need more information.
What version of Windows (XP home? with Service Pack 1 or 2?)
What Browser (Internet Explorer? Version 6?)
You mentioned Norton Internet Security? What about Norton Antivirus? Are your Virus Definitions up to date?

If you do not have anti-virus software (or your norton subscription is out of date), you might try AVG free from grisoft.com
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Assuming you have up to date virus definitions, you might try running Windows Update to see if you have everything up-to-date -- however, if you are on Windows XP, you might skip Service Pack 2... "It's a work in progress".
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Hopefully, you updated Adaware's definitions, and you are using Adaware SE version 1.05, right?
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Assuming Windows is up to par, if you are on XP, check to see if the windows personal firewall is running and disable it.
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you might consider trying another browser. There are many execellent choices, including Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, and Opera.
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Other than that, it could be a CPU issue: on XP, right click the taskbar and go to task manager and see how high a percent the CPU seems to average. Ideally, it should be in single digit usage, before running IE.
(the same is true for 2K and NT) on 98/ME, right click my computer and choose properties and check the performance tab. 98/ME should be 80%+ to be in its "happy-zone".

Hopefully, your anomaly will resolve itself...

 

[Talie]

Well, I'd need more information.
What version of Windows (XP home? with Service Pack 1 or 2?)
What Browser (Internet Explorer? Version 6?)
You mentioned Norton Internet Security? What about Norton Antivirus? Are your Virus Definitions up to date?

Windows XP home (I think, could possibly be pro) service pack 1 - have avoided updating to 2
IE6 - but i also tried Firefox - same thing happened
NIS has Anti Virus too - and yup, definitions are keep up to date every day or two.

If you do not have anti-virus software (or your norton subscription is out of date), you might try AVG free from grisoft.com
----
Assuming you have up to date virus definitions, you might try running Windows Update to see if you have everything up-to-date -- however, if you are on Windows XP, you might skip Service Pack 2... "It's a work in progress".
----

Windows update is one of the sites I can't access

Hopefully, you updated Adaware's definitions, and you are using Adaware SE version 1.05, right?
----

Yup, downloaded the latest from the lavasoft site

Assuming Windows is up to par, if you are on XP, check to see if the windows personal firewall is running and disable it.

yup, checked that

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you might consider trying another browser. There are many execellent choices, including Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, and Opera.
-----

yup, tried that

Other than that, it could be a CPU issue: on XP, right click the taskbar and go to task manager and see how high a percent the CPU seems to average. Ideally, it should be in single digit usage, before running IE.
(the same is true for 2K and NT) on 98/ME, right click my computer and choose properties and check the performance tab. 98/ME should be 80%+ to be in its "happy-zone".

already checked that too


You can probably see why I'm so frustrated

 

[askbros]

Try downloading win update on another computer and copy the files over.