Internet / browser / software problem

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mojouk

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Hi. I am having on and off trouble with my broadband ISP.

Basically, it works for most of the time, but after I've been doing alot of searches on the internet (for example on google), after a while (say half an hour to an hour), the page will come up as saying 'page cannot be displayed'.

The only way I can get the internet to work again is by rebooting the computer.

Can anyone suggest why this is happening? It's really getting on my nerves and my ISP is of NO help whatsoever.

I assume it has something to do with my browser settings, but I don't really know much about it.
 
Would help if you told us a little more information ...

Who is the ISP? What OS & Browser are you using? Modem?

You do have an AV program and have tried Ad-aware & SpywareBlaster?
 
I'm with Tiscali Broadband using a speedtouch adsl modem. I'm using Windows XP home edition. Internet Explorer 6.

Using Norton AV and Firewall (at lowest settings with script blocking, intrusion detection, privacy control;, ad blocking OFF). Broadband doesn't work AT ALL if these are turned on.
 
Hi mojouk,

I used to have a Tiscali dial-up account in the distant past, originally Lineone, a paid for service with no free connection, but then I remember paying over £20 a month for AOL back in the Internet's virgin days and still having to pay for phone calls. Anyway, getting back to the point, when Lineone changed to Tiscali I had nothing but problems with the service, I don't know if problems still occur and I can't comment on their Broadband service.

I have BT Broadband and in January a similar problem happened to me. I could connect but no pages would display. I think this was to do with PC Cillin but am not sure. I uninstalled it, re-installed Windows and it worked fine.

I now use Mcafee Virus scan professional which I find much better than any other AV software, including Norton which, when it found a virus couldn't remove it.
 
I find that everything works fine when I have rebooted my PC. But after a while, the page says 'page cannot be displayed' 'cannot find server', even though the connection to the internet is fine.

I don't know if it has something to do with my LAN settings in my Internet Options window, under 'connections'. I've looked at my LAN settings and it says that my 'proxy server' is 'http://www-cache.freeserve.com' even though I'm with tiscali. (not sure if this is the problem)

I've discussed all of my problems with tiscali technical helpline, but they are no use. And they hung up on me last time I was on the phone to them.

I can't see how Norton AV or Firewall would have anything to do with the problem, since the settings on both have been to a minimum.

If anyone else has had these problems with Tiscali Broadband I'd really appreciate any advice you can give.........and if you are or aren't having these problems.

Thanks
 
Why not just cancel your account with tiscali and move to someone else? Ive been with BT broadband for about a year now and not had any problems.
 
Uninstall Norton Firewall ... turn on XPs own Firewall ... If they are both on, turn one off.
 
Do you think that it is only a Firewall problem then?? Will my computer be OK with only Xp's firewall enabled and Norton's Firewall disabled? Shall I keep Norton Anti Virus?

When I first connected to Broadband I didn't have ANY firewall enabled and I got 4 major viruses in 1 day. So I am always wary of disabling firewall. Is XP's own firewall better than Norton's?

Cheers for your advice.
 
The reason I can't cancel with Tiscali is because I'm on a 12 month contract with them. I'm only paying 15.99 a month (this included a free adsl modem). But I will have to try and cancel with them if I keep on getting these problems, but it's more tricky since they don't really allow anyone to cancel with them unless they are having real problems.

I was stupid enough to sign up to a 12 month contract because I thought that I wouldn't have any problems (and I was lured into it by their cheap price). But in reality it has been one headache after the other....and their technical helpline is useless (and expensive)!!!!
 
Have you tried looking at the Tiscali Forums?

I remember they were inundated with complaints, threats of people leaving etc. when they were having problems with their dial-up about 4 years ago. At the time, Tiscali were not replying to people’s requests about the state of the service and many jumped ship (I was one of them). They continued to report that the service was functioning ok yet hundreds (maybe thousands) were obviously reporting otherwise. Connecting was awful and checking emails was impossible.

I run Mcafee instead of Norton. I had Norton and had many problems with it (mainly with my home network) I find Mcafee much better. If you do decide to uninstall Norton, it would be a good idea to clean any reference to it from the registry. It's a bit like Nero when you uninstall it, it hangs around the registry like a bad smell.

As I have said previously, I don’t know if Tiscali have got their act together since. I like their adverts though (eggs, ice-cream, bald blokes)!
 
Well, im not a lawyer, but you are paying which means you are fulfilling your side of the contract, but they don't seem to be meeting theirs! Especially if they hang up on you when you ask for technical help! Bet if you phone up and speak to a supervisor and get really angry he will allow you to cancel! I'll do it, i love a good argument! :-)

Also, £15.99 isn't that cheap anymore i dont think, i believe its only £19.99 a month for BT now.
 
Oh, and i just use the windows XP firewall and AVX Pro, and i havn't had a virus yet. Although, i probably will now i've said that! :-(
 
I find that the standard XP firewall does not allow me to connect to my home network.

I did however install XP Service Pack 2 yesterday and it seems to be vastly better!

I still use NPF 2003 with latest updates - i figured it has to be the best availiable.
 
Just had a thought - nothing to do with the firmware on the Router is? ie not set to time out after a certain period?

Have a DG814 and i updated to the 4.9 firmware and i get the page cannot be displayed occasionaly...requires a reboot of either PC or router...
 
How do I know if the firmware or Router is set to time out after a certain period??? How do I check this???

I've uninstalled Norton Firewall now, so I'm testing it out at the moment just using Xp's own Firewall.......will see how it goes.......

I'd like to try to solve the problem if I can before I cancel my ISP as it's a headache to set up a new connection. I didn't used to mind arguing about my rights over the phone, but I've become mentally exhausted over this issue!!!!
 
I highly doubt it is anything to do with the modem - free ones ISP provide are usually USB Alcatel Speedtouch ones or similar.

Did you try cleaning registry, checking for spyware, adware etc etc?

Installed all the latest windows updates?
 
Did you get it sorted?

I would turn off the proxy server to Freeserve. When I moved away from freeserve I had a similar problem.

Freeserve don't like being proxy to another ISP.
 
Try getting rid of all settings such as the proxy settings and starting from scratch. I'm on the same tiscali deal as you but running win2k and it's fine, infact it's been great! Firewalls tend to cause problems, when more than one is trying to do the job it gets even worse. you can normally log into your router via it's i.p addy i.e 192.168.0.1 , depends what you've got though.

Phil

p.s

can tell you my settings if you want to compare?!?
 
Hi all

I've uninstalled Norton Firewall (I still have Norton AV) and I have turned on Windows XP's own firewall. I now have no problems with accessing web pages.

I can't believe that Norton Firewall was the cause of my ISP to stop working.........what's the point in Norton Firewall??? Maybe it's just a Tiscali thing.

Anyway........Now I have problems with ALOT of ads and messages coming up. I don't know how to block these ads without causing the web pages to stop displaying again.

Any ideas??
 
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