Cockney Rebel needs IT help!

[MissKitty]

I'm posting this for my hubby, who is unable to access the internet at the moment. Here's the deal.

Around the middle of this past week he couldn't access the woxy message boards, so he emailed me to ask if I was having any trouble. I wasn't. So he rang up his local server in the UK to find out of there were any problems. There weren't. He didn't believe them so he checked using a neighbors pc, and could access it just fine. He then discovered that he couldn't access ANY website with a "66" beginning to the IP address. (at least I think that is what it is called anyway--I don't know that much about it) He can't access woxy or any other of his "favorite" sites. He tried uninstalling/reinstalling Windows 98, which didn't work. He rang Microsoft (at a cost of .8P per minute) and was on the phone for over two hours and they coudn't help him. He's tried uninstalling/reinstalling ALL of his software, and is now having even more troubles than he did to start with, because now he can't access the internet at all.

He's at wits end and ready to chuck the Dell Latitude into the garden and burn it. Is this wise? Is there anything else he should try before torching it in a funeral pyre?

I've looked around on Symantec's site for a possible virus that would do this but it's just waaaaay over MK's head. Can anyone please give me some suggestions to pass along to CR? He is a web designer by trade, and every day his pc is down is another day there is no revenue coming in. HELP!!

[kcneon]

Hey, girl~ did you check cnet? I found this info....it's probably not the same problem CR has, but it's interesting what it says about hosts. That might help him a little bit. If you haven't tried cnet, try a few different searches & maybe even post on the message board (http://forums.cnet.zdnet.com/group/zd.Call.for.Help/cnet/oviewnt.tpt/@thread@first@F@75@D-,D@all?ROS=1).

Here's the specific thread (http://forums.zdnet.com/group/zd.Call.for.Help/cnet/cnetnt.tpt/@thread@204745@F@1@D-,D@ALL/@article@mark@204745?ROS=1&OC=75) --GOOD LUCK!

[RichmondVA]

If he is running a firewall program (Norton internet security, Zone Alarm, etc.) that's the most likely culprit. The other problem might be if his hosts file is blocking the address.

The thing is, someone is blocking the address. If it isn't his machine, then it's the ISP server he's going through. If CR's neighbor is on the same ISP then that isn't the problem.

[CtJester]

Tell him to delete cookies and history too. Especially if he visits a lot of sites that have him autologged on.....

....they're tricky I tells ya.

-ct

[MissKitty]

Originally posted by RichmondVA
If he is running a firewall program (Norton internet security, Zone Alarm, etc.) that's the most likely culprit.

Yes, he is running Zone Alarm and Norton Anti-Virus (or Auntie V Norton as we call her). I got an email from him this morning telling me that although he is now able to log on, he still can't get to any of his fave sites. He has not been able to reinstall Zone Alarm without a lot of craziness happening. Could ZA be corrupted? Any suggestions as to what he should do? He really isn't comfortable being online without firewall protection.

[RichmondVA]

So if I am reading you correctly, CR can connect to his ISP. He can get to some web sites but not others. And the websites he can't get to all start with 66 in their IP address. So he should be able to get to the bbc (bbc.co.uk) website, for example.

If Zone Alarm is uninstalled I don't know what is going on. I was thinking that Zone Alarm Pro (if he has pro) might be blocking the IP addresses. But if ZA is not installed or not working then he can't get in to check.

Two things to try:

1) I assume he is able to Ping the sites if he knows their IP addresses? If he hasn't been Pinging the sites, do START>RUN and type in "Ping www.woxy.com" It should open up a window that reveals woxy's IP address and something like "Response from 66.xxx.xx.xxx."

2) Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc (Windows XP) or just run a search for a file called HOSTS. Open it up in Notepad.
See if there is a stray 66 in there somewhere, or a bunch of 66 IP addresses, or if msg.woxy.com or www.woxy.com is listed.

It would be helpful if CR could tell you the exact error message he is getting when he tries to access woxy? The standard "Cannot Find Server/Page Cannot be Displayed" page or something different?

[drworm8]

wait a minute....you're married to CR? Wow....is anyone else here couples that I should know about? Wouldn't want to send anyone ELSE dirty PMs.......;)

[cockney rebel]

Hi kids & kinkers

well, I'm back.

shitty few days.

failed to sort the problem myself, despite knowing a lot - I obviously didn't know enough?!

failed to sort the problem with help from various peeps on these boards (thanx to those who know who they are! mucho appreciato!)

seemed to be several references to similar problems - specific sites 'barred' by IE5/6 - at various online message boards, but no-one wanted to express a definite solution.... or at least one that worked.

after close to a week, i passed the problem - and my precious laptop 'baby' - on to a senior IT pal'o'mine here in the UK who was also stumped by the hassle, so we agreed he would wipe the sucker clean and reinstall a new OS etc etc.

I now have an interestingly-speedier machine, but hours ahead of me reinstating programmes, files, settings etc!!

thnx again to all those who kindly offered me & MK the benefit of their experience and knowledge

[MissKitty]

Originally posted by drworm8
wait a minute....you're married to CR? Wow....is anyone else here couples that I should know about? Wouldn't want to send anyone ELSE dirty PMs.......;)

OOoer! Hey, he's in the UK so send me all the dirty PMs you want! ;)