Can`t get web site 2

[Bob2c]

Hello all, I think I have been the victim of a virus/ spyware attack on my laptop running XP home. The site started taking a long time to load and now I cannot get it at all. I have Norton antivirus and firewall and have just installed windows derfender. I can get all other sites without a problem but cannot access

http://www.shootingtalk.com.

I get it from a local internet cafe on their machines but when I connected up my laptop to their Lan connection, I still could not get it. I got all other pages and so I suspect the cookie could have been damaged, but my antivirus and windows defender both fail to find a virus or fault. Should I delete all the site cookies to sort the problem out?

Many thanks in advance
bob2c

 

[linney]

Which Browser are you using, in any case, look at the various checklists in these articles and try some of the cleaning suggested?

You Cannot Access Your MSN E-mail Account or Authenticate with a Web Site in Various Programs

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813951

Troubleshoot Situations Where You Cannot Connect to Secure Web Sites by Using Internet Explorer in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;813444

This site also has some good thoughts on the issue:

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/17.html

You Receive a "Page Cannot Be Displayed" Error Message When You Post to a Site That Requires Authentication

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;821814

 

[Bob2c]

Thanks alot I will give it a go.

 

[Bob2c]

Well I have tried most of this and the computer is still unable to get to

http://www.shootingtalk.com.

Any more suggestions?

 

[linney]

Is the site being blocked by third party software, such as any security software you are running? Is it blocked in, or mentioned in your Hosts file?

Can you reach the site if you boot in to "Safe Mode With Networking"?

Have you tried adding the Site as a Trusted Site in your Browser?

This thread talks about (at the end) enabling Cookies for a Site.

thread779-601162

 

[Bob2c]

I was getting the site in the normal way and it just went slow at first and then I stopped getting it all together, so I don't think it's anything to do with either anti virus or firewall. All the normal checks come up O.K. and device manager says everything is working fine ???

 

[linney]

Things like Spybot S+D, some other virus scanners with hidden firewall components, or anything along those lines may be blocking the site. I wonder if the word "shooting" is sounding alarm bells? Can you go to any other Site with that word in the URL address?

See what this site says about corrupted Index.dat files, especially in the Cookies folder.

Safely Delete the Temporary Internet Files

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

 

[Bob2c]

Well I have deleted the files in Explorer properties and it has made things a bit worse. A site that went slow but came back to normal is now cannot be found except for one instance when it came back as normal and as I tried to login I got the password wrong and it has now gone back to being unreachable. This makes me suspect that my network connection is at least partly to blame as it came back without warning or any abnormal input on my part. I can ping and tracert it but cannot get normal access. The site that originally gave problems is still unreachable in everyway. very annoying

 

[Bob2c]

The second site which I could ping and racert has now come back from a link in my history list and is now working fine. That just leaves the original problem. No ping or tracert result and no access to the site. Google do return a chached page but it leads to nothing ?? HEEEEEELP

 

[linney]

Can you run your Browser with No Add-ons and see if that makes any difference?

You could try resetting Internet Explorer settings. (Help and Support article)

"If disabling add-ons doesn't solve the problem, try resetting Internet Explorer back to its default settings. This removes all changes that have been made to Internet Explorer since it was installed, but it does not delete your favorites or feeds.

Close all Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer windows.

Click to open Internet Explorer.

Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.

Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.

Click Reset.

When you are done, click Close, and then click OK.

Close Internet Explorer and reopen it for the changes to take effect.

 

[Bob2c]

No luck I am afraid. The only other thing I can think of is a fdisk reset and reinstall Xp however, which, I think is a bit drastic.

 

[Freestone]

I am at work so no time to read all of linney's links, but do any of them address the possiblity of a rogue HOSTS file?

Results of a ping from here:
>ping

http://www.shootingtalk.com

Reply from 65.98.5.81: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=57

 

[linney]

Yes. this one, and probably some of the embedded links, but to be honest, it is a while since I read them myself.

"linney (TechnicalUser) 1 Dec 07 14:54
Is the site being blocked by third party software, such as any security software you are running? Is it blocked in, or mentioned in your Hosts file?"

 

[Freestone]

Sorry Linney...that's what I get for quickly browsing between putting out of fires.

 

[ArizonaGeek]

I have a few questions, are you using a static IP address? Shouldn't matter but stranger things have happened.

How is your connection firewalled, I mean does it have a real firewall or just some consumer brand router/firewall? Do you have access to the firewall? Can you get to other gun sites, like

http://www.gunbroker.com?

What is the EXACT error message you are getting when you try the site? That might help narrow a solution down quite a bit.

Have you tried another browser like Mozilla, Opera or something else?

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!