Unable to access web during download ?

[Patrick]

I just bought a Vista machine.

I find that whenever I download software from the web, I am not able to
access web page and even sending / receiving mail.

When accessing web page, I get the message - Internet Explorer cannot
display the webpage. However, when I try "Diagnose Connection Problems", it
reports that there is no problem.

Your advice is sought.

 

[Gareth Erskine-Jones]

I just bought a Vista machine.

I find that whenever I download software from the web, I am not able to
access web page and even sending / receiving mail.

are you downloading more than one file at a time? there are limits to
the number of connections IE can make at a time - but you can change
these in the registry (plenty of pages describe the technique - e.g.
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_registry_maxconnectionsperserver.htm)

You don't say how you're sending / receiving email - if you're using a
standalone email tool then the number of IE connections probably isn't
your problem.

Another possibility is that you are saturating your uplink - what
speed is your ADSL (each way)? It's possible that even if you aren't
using all of your download bandwidth, your uplink is congested, and so
it's difficult to establish additional connections.

When accessing web page, I get the message - Internet Explorer cannot
display the webpage.

However, when I try "Diagnose Connection Problems", it
reports that there is no problem.

I must say that I don't ever recall a single occasion when the
"Diagnose Connection Problems" or "Get help solving this problem" (or
whatever it used to be called buttons in any version of Windows was
ever any actual use....

 

[Patrick]

Dear Gareth,

Thank you for your advice.

There is no problem for having more than 1 file download.

The link I am using is 1024/256.

Thanks

 

[Michael Walraven]

A possible related item. Recently needed to fix a XP SP3 machine that would
not access the internet although everything seemed fine. Bottom line was
that a MS security update was pending, it had been started but stopped by
the owner. After I let the update complete, all was well with his system.
This is the only time I have seen this but then I normally let updates
complete.

Michael