Help!!!

[Currie]

Hello Paula,

Most of the following will probably be completely useless but will give you something to do while you’re waiting. In no particular order, do the easiest first if you like. Sometimes computers can do all sorts of strange things and change settings all by themselves. Sometimes other users, especially cats, can change things unintentionally.

Double click My Computer, right click your C drive and click properties. Do you have plenty of free space?

Does AVG scan for spyware? Try a scan using Spybot or Spyware Terminator or something else reputable. http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/spywar ... nator.html If you’re really worried try the free version of Malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/

I don’t use AVG. Does it have an option to blacklist particular web sites? Have a dig through the options to see if there is a list of same.

Are your Windows Updates up to date? Check using Belarc Advisor. http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Belarc ... elarc.html

Do you have the latest version of Flash? http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Do you have the latest version of Firefox? Click on Help & Check for Updates.

Do you have the latest version of Internet Explorer IE8? Click on Help / About. See http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/r ... pe=s_basic

If you already have IE8 some sites may be incompatible. There’s a compatibility button on the toolbar. If you have the latest Firefox you may need an Add-on such as Coral IE Tab to see some sites properly https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10909 Disable the old IE Tab version first if you have it.

In Firefox Tools/Options/Privacy do you have ‘Accept Cookies from Sites’ ticked? Click the exceptions button to see if anything is inside.

In Internet Explorer Tools/Internet Options/ on the Security tab is your security setting higher than Medium/High? Note the four icons, click on each in turn and on the sites button. Anything odd there, particularly the red icon? On the Privacy tab is your setting higher than medium.

If all of the above fails and you’re feeling absolutely depressed try a Firefox Persona. The Snowman in Most Popular is very cool and will cheer you up. After installation use the Fox on the bottom status bar to get some snow. ://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10909 LATER - I'm sorry I'll say that again https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10900

If you feel you’re really going off the deep end you could give Google Chrome a try. You can have as many Web Browsers as you like but only one default. See if the problem persists. http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/google ... hrome.html

Hope there’s something useful there,
Alan

[LesleyB]

Sometimes other users, especially cats, can change things unintentionally.

It only takes a wee wander across the keyboard and all sorts can happen!

[joette]

Or a resident ghost-we have one at the local Police Station where I work & all sorts of weird & wonderful things happen when there is nobody around ! I haven't seen him but I have heard him-allegedly an old Sergeant who was living there in the 1901 Census.

[PaulaD]

Thanks for your suggestions Alan!

Have spent nearly the whole day fiddling and getting nowhere fast.
My pc has 43.8gb free space.
Have latest Adobe flash.
Have checked firewall - medium security and no exceptions which would stop access.
Tried to download Malwarebytes but site wouldn't load. Installed spyware terminator which only found a couple of tracking cookies and clam av which said I have no viruses.
Didn't really want IE8 so have been ignoring updates for that. Last security update for IE7 was on 22nd - the last day my pc was working properly.
In desperation (having read quite a bit about how to do it) I did a system restore to the 21st and all that has happened is spyware terminator has gone. Still can't access Ancestry, IGI, Microsoft, my online bank
Really don't understand why some web sites are fine and on the others the box on the bottom right hand corner either stays blank or brings up 4 green bars then stops.

[LesleyB]

Hi Paula

I use Windows XP & Firefox if that helps.

I use Windows XP & Firefox 3.5.7, I'm in the UK as you are and I'm having no problem at all with Ancestry, Family Search or Ellis Island, so I'm really puzzled as to why you are experiencing such problems.

Could it be something to do with your ISP maybe? Or a filter - have you recently either installed a filter or has your ISP updated filters? I've had problems in the past at work with filters deciding I'm not allowed to see Family Search or SP for instance, because the word "sex" may be used on these sites to indicate gender - could it be anything to do with something like that??

Is it just a Firefox issue? Can you access the sites with IE?

Best wishes
Lesley

[PaulaD]

Hi Lesley,

No its exactly the same with IE I can't get certain sites.
How on earth can I tell if its my ISP? As far as I know I've not installed a filter.
I can understand "sex" could mean a naughty site but that shouldn't include my bank!

[LesleyB]

Hi Paula

How on earth can I tell if its my ISP? As far as I know I've not installed a filter.

I was thinking about ISPs such as AOL who certainly used to, don't know if they still do, provide their own filtering software, but I'm sure if it was something like that, then you would have been notified that they had "upgraded".

One way to find out if it is/is not an ISP related issue would be to tell us who your ISP is and see if any of our members who also use that ISP is having similar problems. I kinda think we might have heard about it by now though if another member was finding the same problems as you are...
My ISP is Pipex at present. (Pipex were once Pipex, were taken over by Tiscali for home users and now Pipex domestic accounts are part of TalkTalk... ) If you are with any of those, I reckon we can rule out ISP problems as I'd most likely be having the same issues. Or phone/check your ISP's web site to find out if there are any known issues at the moment.

I can understand "sex" could mean a naughty site but that shouldn't include my bank!

No, it shouldn't, you are quite right. I'd forgotten you were also having problems with the bank site- i thought it was all family history sites of one sort or another.

Best wishes
Lesley

[PaulaD]

Thats a slight problem as I've no idea who my ISP is! I don't pay the bill and the person who does is on holiday abroad at the moment.

[Currie]

Hello Paula,

Are you getting anywhere with this? Here’s a few more ideas.

The ISP may be at the tail end of the computers main email address.

Do you have a spare computer tucked away somewhere that you can plug into the system to see if it works?

Have you checked all your wiring connections?

Any luck with Google Chrome?

Do you have the IE Tab add-on to your Firefox. Problems with IE would mirror in Firefox if IE Tab is used for the problem pages.

Do you have other Firefox Add-ons? You can disable them via tools/add-ons/extensions and see if that makes any difference.

Is there anything unusual and/or consistent about the address of the pages that won’t load? Are they https:// as distinct from http:// (probably not)

Is you computer on a network and are you plugged into or connected to another computer which acts as a gateway to the internet?

If it was my computer I’d probably try booting using a live Linux CD and try to connect to the internet via Linux. That would at least tell you whether it is a problem with Windows and/or its software or whether it’s Hardware and/or ISP related. But that’s not always trouble free and you probably would have to be into that sort of thing.

I’m running out of ideas,

All the best,
Alan

[PaulaD]

Hi All,

Just to let you know I've at last managed to get my computer working properly again.
Someone suggested I download a programme called Winsockxpfix to see if that would cure it. Within 5 minutes of installing it hey presto everything was working beautifully!!! No idea what was wrong or what it fixed but thank goodness I can get back on IGI & Ancestry. Was getting withdrawal symptoms!
Thank you very much everyone who made suggestions!

Paula

PS Alan - I did try Google chrome, its very pretty but I prefer firefox.