Cannot view certain websites

[Alex]

Whenever I attempt to access certain websites
(http://www.gecko-games.com)and (http://www.gamespot.com)
that annoying "Page cannot be displayed" message comes up.
Now, the websites are definately online, because I can
access them on a different computer in my house. The
problem? That computer is 6 years old and on the brink of
annihalation. I already checked the hosts file on
the "good" computer (this one) and reset it. Still no
results. Could someone help me? Thanks in advance.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Do you have any ad blocking or popup blocking software, if yes, try turning
them off and see if you can access the site. NOTE: many firewalls and
antivirus applications now include such a feature so you may need to check
the options of such applications to see if they might be the source of the
issue.

 

[Alex]

no, still no luck.... I could post the dns servers for
each computer, because they are different, if need be....
what should I do?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Did you clear the cache and reboot before checking those sites again. In
Control Panel, go to Internet Options, click Delete Cookies (By the way, if
you are blocking cookies that could be the reason as well), Delete Files
(Accept the option to Delete all offline files) and click Clear History,
then reboot and try the sites again.

If that doesn't resolve it, you might try checking your security level in
IE, go to the above in Control Panel, go to the Privacy tab and lower the
settings below their current specified level and see if that resolves it.

Beyond that, you have made mention of the Hosts file, have you been rotting
around in their, are you using an application that makes changes in the
Hosts file. Once this file gets screwed up, even if you try to restore it,
it can cause a lot of misery.

 

[Alex]

Tried those steps, still no luck....... yes, I have been
working on the hosts file.... using apps that add lots of
sites to the restricted internet zone..... so, how do I
get the original hosts file back, or at least solve this
(if there is even a way?)

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

I can't give you much information in that regard. You might try the
following sites:

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/