Cannot connect to specific website

[Kim S.]

I am using IE6 to try to connect to a website
(www.classmates.com). I can connect to any other website
in the world that I can think of except this one. After
less than two seconds of trying I get "Cannot find
server". I don't have a firewall, I don't have cookies
blocked from this site, I can ping it, tracert it, and I
know from talking to friends online that the website is up
and running. My ISP says the problem is on my side. What
could be causing my computer to be unable to find this one
website?

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

I am using IE6 to try to connect to a website
(www.classmates.com). I can connect to any other website
in the world that I can think of except this one. After
less than two seconds of trying I get "Cannot find
server". I don't have a firewall, I don't have cookies
blocked from this site, I can ping it, tracert it, and I
know from talking to friends online that the website is up
and running. My ISP says the problem is on my side. What
could be causing my computer to be unable to find this one
website?

Well, you should have a firewall. The latest viruses don't use email to
spread.

Check for a file named HOSTS with no extension (not Hosts.sam). It may be a
hidden file. Open it with Notepad and remove any line referencing the site.
Or, rename HOSTS to OLDHOSTS

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

The HOSTS file worked, thanks so much! I guess I'll go try to get a
firewall again....

-Kim S.

If you have WinXP its firewall is good enough to stop these viruses.