A REALLY strange problem - for experts only.

[Jose]

Geeeze, Jose. I think he means the computer cannot access Google, eBay, or
MSN Hotmail with either IE or Firefox. Thus, "the result of using either
browser is the same". No Google, eBay, or MSN Hotmail on either browser.

So, sorry.

It seems the equivalent of reporting things like: "My Internet isn't
working, I'm getting an error message" and expecting some immediate
satisfaction. There just isn't enough information.

It is usually a simple matter for even a novice to copy/paste the
message, type some details in by hand, or post a screen shot on some
free WWW site.

If there is a message and it really says "cannot access" that would be
most peculiar. There are 217,000,000 Google results for that string,
16,000,000 for firefox cannot access, depending on your search
criteria.

To reduce the guessing, checking, trying, might-bees and may-bees, the
exact message would be most helpful.

And yes, it is possible to uninstall SP3.

 

[Tom Willett]

Since it explicitly says "for experts only", it's necessary to wait for an
expert. The non-experts that know the answer are afraid to reply. Oh, and it
it's such a "simple Q", I wonder why it would take experts only?

: Yeah, Can't belive this ? Simple Q! Comme on, man!

 

[Tom Willett]

:
: Your type of 'help' is of no use and is not required.
:
: --
: Regards, Gary Wooding
: (To reply by email, change gug to goog in my address)

That's what happens when there are no experts around.

 

[SC Tom]

He didn't say it was a "simple A". LOL!!

 

[Tom Willett]

You're right!
: He didn't say it was a "simple A". LOL!!
:
:
: : > Since it explicitly says "for experts only", it's necessary to wait for
an
: > expert. The non-experts that know the answer are afraid to reply. Oh,
and
: > it
: > it's such a "simple Q", I wonder why it would take experts only?
: >
: > : > : Yeah, Can't belive this ? Simple Q! Comme on, man!
: >
: >
:
:

 

[James Watkins]

I have a friend running XP Pro+SP3 on a laptop. She connects to the net
via a 3G modem (made by Huawei) that plugs into a USB port.
All was fine for almost a year, but about 6 weeks ago the problem
occurred. She cannot access 3 websites: Google, eBay, and MSN Hotmail.
She can access all other sites she's tried, but not these 3. She's tried
IE and Firefox, but gets the same with either one.
I've tried unplugging the 3G modem and connecting wirelessly via my ADSL
router, and that works fine. She took the modem back to where she bought
it; they tried it out on another machine, it worked fine and she was
able to access those 3 sites.
I installed the latest firmware to the modem, complete with the latest
driver, the problem remains.
She is using McAfee for protection.
The only thing she can think of that changed about 6 weeks ago was the
upgrading to SP3.

Does anybody have any ideas as to how to fix it? Could it be SP3? Is it
possible to remove SP3?

Like I said: a REALLY strange problem!

The "Subject line" of your post should be a short, relevant synopsis of your
problem - see here: http://66.39.69.143/goodpost.htm. You broke this rule by
saying nothing whatsoever about your problem but instead forcing respondents
to declare themselves as "experts". The result was entirely predictable:
Some self-appointed experts replied and lots of smart-arse readers chipped
in with their usual silly comments.

If you had posted your question under a descriptive header such as "Unable
to access some web sites" then your problem would most likely be solved by
now.

 

[Kelly]

Which version of IE?

Some info for FireFox and SP3:
http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?locale=fr&comments_parentId=108593&forumId=1

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Mark Adams]

The "Subject line" of your post should be a short, relevant synopsis of your
problem - see here: http://66.39.69.143/goodpost.htm. You broke this rule by
saying nothing whatsoever about your problem but instead forcing respondents
to declare themselves as "experts". The result was entirely predictable:
Some self-appointed experts replied and lots of smart-arse readers chipped
in with their usual silly comments.

James; glad to see that you provided some relevant input regarding the OP's
problem. We can all use a few more "experts" such as yourself.

 

[lemel_man]

She brought the laptop round again last night.
We tried switching all Firewalls/AVs off, but no joy. I then removed SP3
(which reverted it to the same state it had when last it worked
properly) and still those 3 websites wouldn't load. They just churn away
and eventually produce a message suggesting that the web address is
incorrect.
I then borrowed another laptop with XP Pro+SP2, which works fine on my
wireless LAN, switched the wireless connector off and plugged the 3G
modem in. After setting up the driver etc. I had high hopes, but still
those 3 websites refused to load. So, despite the supplier's insistence
that it worked, I'm forced to conclude that the fault really is in the
modem.
My friend tells me that she actually saw it work properly at the shop,
so I guess it was an intermittent fault that has now gone hard. Next
step is to change the modem.
Many thanks to all the good and sensible suggestions; I'll just ignore
the others.

 

[Bennett Marco]

She brought the laptop round again last night.
We tried switching all Firewalls/AVs off, but no joy. I then removed SP3
(which reverted it to the same state it had when last it worked
properly) and still those 3 websites wouldn't load. They just churn away
and eventually produce a message suggesting that the web address is
incorrect.
I then borrowed another laptop with XP Pro+SP2, which works fine on my
wireless LAN, switched the wireless connector off and plugged the 3G
modem in. After setting up the driver etc. I had high hopes, but still
those 3 websites refused to load. So, despite the supplier's insistence
that it worked, I'm forced to conclude that the fault really is in the
modem.
My friend tells me that she actually saw it work properly at the shop,
so I guess it was an intermittent fault that has now gone hard. Next
step is to change the modem.
Many thanks to all the good and sensible suggestions; I'll just ignore
the others.

It is NOT the modem. If you can connect to ANY site, the modem is
working fine.

DID you find the hosts file? Find it. Open it. See if those sites
are listed.

 

[Monitor]

James; glad to see that you provided some relevant input regarding the
OP's
problem. We can all use a few more "experts" such as yourself.

Sigh - yet another smart-arse who cannot see that the overall problem in
this thread is the OP's terrible subject line. With a meaningful Subject the
technical side would be solved by now - there are thousands of threads in
this group that prove it.

 

[lemel_man]

It is NOT the modem. If you can connect to ANY site, the modem is
working fine.

DID you find the hosts file? Find it. Open it. See if those sites
are listed.

Hi Bennett,
I confess that I didn't even look for the hosts file. My friend will be
coming round again this evening so I'll check then.
I'm also rather puzzled. Both laptops can access the 3 websites when
going through my ADSL router via a wireless connection, but neither can
do it when using the 3G modem. Is the hosts file selective in that it
works differently with different modems? If so, where/how does it change
'personalities', if not, why does it work with one modem and not
another? (By 'modem' I actually mean a channel through which the
computer accesses the net.)

 

[Jose]

Hi Bennett,
I confess that I didn't even look for the hosts file. My friend will be
coming round again this evening so I'll check then.
I'm also rather puzzled. Both laptops can access the 3 websites when
going through my ADSL router via a wireless connection, but neither can
do it when using the 3G modem. Is the hosts file selective in that it
works differently with different modems? If so, where/how does it change
'personalities', if not, why does it work with one modem and not
another? (By 'modem' I actually mean a channel through which the
computer accesses the net.)

I do not fully understand this:

a message suggesting that the web address is incorrect.

Is it possible to get the exact message you are seeing?

It is not the hosts file or it would afflict all methods. If it was
blocked in the hosts file, you would have that problem with another
certain kind of suggesting message.

If you have any question, only put this default line in your hosts
file which is this:

127.0.0.1 localhost

Is gmail.com (which is really Google) also blocked with the
unspecified suggesting message?

Are you able to most specifics regarding your modem - things like the
model number would be good. It's not the charming Esomething series
is it?

Who is your Internet Service Provider?

 

[lemel_man]

...snip...

I do not fully understand this:

a message suggesting that the web address is incorrect.

Is it possible to get the exact message you are seeing?

It is not the hosts file or it would afflict all methods. If it was
blocked in the hosts file, you would have that problem with another
certain kind of suggesting message.

If you have any question, only put this default line in your hosts
file which is this:

127.0.0.1 localhost

Is gmail.com (which is really Google) also blocked with the
unspecified suggesting message?

Are you able to most specifics regarding your modem - things like the
model number would be good. It's not the charming Esomething series
is it?

Who is your Internet Service Provider?

The ISP is "3" - just that "3". I admit, I'd not previously heard of
them as being as ISP.
The 3G USB modem is a Huawei E220.

Typically, the error manifests itself as follows...
Start IE 8 (its not really relevant because both IE 7 and Firefox 3 get
the same error), select eBay from the Favorites, Login screen is
displayed, userid and password are entered, press enter and the flag
waves, and waves, and waves. Eventually get the message that IE cannot
display the web page - possible causes are...
Click here to diagnose the connection problem...
We click "here" and after a while get another message saying There is no
problem with your connection, check that you spelled the website name
correctly, and some other equally useless suggestions.

If we navigate to any other web page than eBay, Google and Hotmail, then
it works just fine. Of course, there may be others we haven't checked,
but those we have checked, apart from those three, work fine.

She didn't come round today so I can't test Gmail.
Sorry, I don't understand...

 

[Jose]

The ISP is "3" - just that "3". I admit, I'd not previously heard of
them as being as ISP.
The 3G USB modem is a Huawei E220.

Typically, the error manifests itself as follows...
Start IE 8 (its not really relevant because both IE 7 and Firefox 3 get
the same error), select eBay from the Favorites, Login screen is
displayed, userid and password are entered, press enter and the flag
waves, and waves, and waves. Eventually get the message that IE cannot
display the web page - possible causes are...
Click here to diagnose the connection problem...
We click "here" and after a while get another message saying There is no
problem with your connection, check that you spelled the website name
correctly, and some other equally useless suggestions.

If we navigate to any other web page than eBay, Google and Hotmail, then
it works just fine. Of course, there may be others we haven't checked,
but those we have checked, apart from those three, work fine.

She didn't come round today so I can't test Gmail.
Sorry, I don't understand...

 > If you have any question, only put this default line in your hosts
 > file which is this:
 >
 > 127.0.0.1       localhost

I suspected Esomething would turn out to be E220, but didn't want to
lead you on with too many hints.

I don't think gmail.com will work either.

Is all this happening in the United States of America?

 

[Guest]

It is NOT the modem. If you can connect to ANY site, the modem is
working fine.

DID you find the hosts file? Find it. Open it. See if those sites
are listed.

This is a long shot but if you said that you could get to the sites
using the wireless card but not the 3G one then that would mean hosts
file is not part of the mix since it would apply to the wireless as
well as the 3G.

Try this:

Go to "Documents and Settings\All Users\Application
Data\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk"

There should be a file there called "rasphone.pbk". This is actually a
text file that holds all your dial-up settings and EVDO cards also
throw theirs in there.

So, first suggestion would be to back up rasphone.pbk, and remove your
3G card.

Now delete the original rasphone.pbk and insert your card. Maybe it
will re-populate the settings like it's brand new on that laptop.

If you get into trouble, just put the backed up rasphone.pbk back to
where you started.

Next set of tests woull involve using notepad to open rasphone.pbk
(you still have the backup, right?) and nose around for the [xxx]
header that represents your card and see if any of the settings look
strange.

HTH

 

[lemel_man]

...snip...

I suspected Esomething would turn out to be E220, but didn't want to
lead you on with too many hints.

I don't think gmail.com will work either.

Is all this happening in the United States of America?

No. I didn't think it mattered where I was, but I'm in UK.

 

[Jose]

No. I didn't think it mattered where I was, but I'm in UK.

I ask for good reason.

I suspected that (or Australia), hence my asking.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

All was fine for almost a year, but about 6 weeks ago the problem

occurred...
She is using McAfee for protection.
The only thing she can think of that changed about 6 weeks ago was the
upgrading to SP3.

What McAfee application is installed and is her subscription current
(assuming it's not that crappy McAfee Security Center freebie from her ISP)?

Has another McAfee application or a Norton application ever been installed
on this machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when she
bought it)?

Did she disable McAfee VirusScan and Firewall and then enable the Windows
Firewall prior to installing SP3? cf.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

...She connects to the net
via a 3G modem (made by Huawei) that plugs into a USB port.

Possibilities include...

Device Manager may not show any devices and Network Connections may not show
any network connections after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953979

A Windows XP SP3-based computer loses wireless connectivity when it resumes
from standby or from hibernation...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951447

NB: Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 was
available from 14 April 2008 thru mid-May 2009. Such support will cost
you/her US$59 per incident now.

 

[Jose]

No. I didn't think it mattered where I was, but I'm in UK.

3 for your ISP sounds likely but let's make sure. Is it 3 or Three?

When you say google do you mean google.com or google.co.uk?

Try some other sites (.com implied):

guglemail
google
aol
skype
youtube
badoo
bbc
msn
ji5
kiwibox
facepartry
myspace
facebook
jaiku
playboy (NSFW)

Get to a command prompt and ping some of the afflicted sites to
determine their IP address as nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn.:

ping www.google.com

Try pinging known good sites and troublesome sites. Describe the
results of the ping if it fails.

If ping fails, ping from a configuration that does not have the
problem to get the IP address.

Enter the returned IP address into the browser address bar and
describe the results.

You listed 3 sites that don't work. Tell me 3 sites that you know do
work okay in the afflicted environment.