Can't connect to certain websites

[w4mps]

I'm having problems connecting to certain websites. We have 3 computers in the house, all running W7, all going through the same router. Only one is having the problem; the other 2 connect without issue. On the affected machine, I can connect to all websites without problem when the machine is first turned on. After the initial connections, certain websites time out when try subsequent connections. Occasionally (but rarely), they will connect after multiple re-tries. Two sites that experience this problem are: www.zerohedge.com and SOTAwatch2 The vast majority of websites I go to do not have a problem. This has been going on for about 6 months. I've tried every anti virus support I can find, a bunch of on line suggestions, but nothing seems to help. Very strange. Any suggestions appreciated.
Regards
Marc Sullivan

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Best I can say is concentrate on 1 browser at a time and test,
I would prefer to turn off a setting in Chrome and try to use Internet explorer at first
Open Chrome and go to settings and advanced settings,
All the way at the bottom see if Continue running background apps when Chrome is closed is checked if so Uncheck it and save and close Chrome.

Then open ie like this,
Click start and type in the search box
internet explorer and click on the No Add-ons suggestion on the list
or type in
iexplore.exe -extoff
Test the site for a while and report back.

If it helps a bit review your ie browser add-ons and Chrome's Extensions.

 

[w4mps]

Thanks for replying to my post. Background apps was previously turned off. Neither IE or Chrome have any extensions or add ons. Still no joy. What's weird to me is that I can click on one of the sites continuously and get nothing. But once in a while (when least expected) it will connect. It's like something is blocking those sites. 95% of my other bookmarks work without a problem. If I run a path test on the problem sites neither Chrome or IE finds any problem. Frustrating.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Run this,
SAS is safe to remove anything it finds
http://www.superantispyware.com/?tag=SUPERANTISPYWARE

Which antivirus and any other security utility do you have installed ?

Does the issue reoccur using clean boot ?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/179159-troubleshoot-application-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html
Click Start and type in the search box,
msconfig
Click on the suggestion on top or hit the Enter key,
Go to the Startup section and take some screen shots for a complete list,
Go to the Services section and on the bottom left Check the box to Hide All Microsoft services,
Repeat the screen shots,
See the links above my signature on how to take and upload screen shots here,
Cheers.

 

[w4mps]

Completed both suggestions. Nothing serious found in the virus scan. Second suggestion completed, rebooted. Same result: first click to the problem websites worked no problem. After that ---- the dreaded timeout screen pops up.
The good news is that I can connect to this site instantly.
Aaargh

 

[w4mps]

Here are two of the sites I'm having trouble with. Tell me if you have any problem connecting to them:

SOTAwatch2

http://www.zerohedge.com/

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You didn't post any of my requested msconfig screen shots
Please review my post #4 again

That message does not look like Internet explorer produced it :/

 

[GokAy]

From what you tell, it looks like DNS cache is somewhat corrupted?

Run the command after failing to connect: ipconfig -flushdns
then try again. Also stop "DNS Client" service (run services.msc) and try again.

 

[JustCall]

Can you connect to them with Tor?
If you can't, your ISP is probably blocking those sites.

 

[w4mps]

ThrashZone- I'll get those screenshots for your tomorrow, sorry. You're right, that was a Chrome message, but I also get the IE version.
Gokay- Thanks, I believe I've tried that previously, but will try again
JustCall- I'm not familiar with Tor, can you tell me more please.
Thanks all for responding.

 

[ThrashZone]

Try option 3
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/350941-internet-explorer-no-add-ons-open.html

 

[w4mps]

I'm really starting to understand why so many people hate the windows operating system. Now that I have been fiddling with umpteen potential fixes for my website problem, changing settings in windows has caused other problems to appear. I'm a ham radio operator. Computers have become an integral part of that hobby. For example, I run a program called Dimension 4. It is used to accurately set the computer clock which must be dead on correct for certain ham radio applications. Now I can't load that program. I get the attached error message. So, just do what it says, you might say. Well, clicking the Allow button does nothing. Going through procedure to "elevate" the program does nothing. Now, because I've been farting around with all the other stuff, I've crated a new problem that I can't seem to fix. I'm a retired banker, not a computer tekkie. I'm intelligent enough to follow instructions but not knowledgeable enough to unravel the quagmire of potential windows glitches. Really gets me PO'd. Sorry for ranting.

 

[CountryBumkin]

This article says Chrome is now blocking some torrent sites. Could this be your problem?
Chrome blocking major torrent sites - Myce.com

 

[JustCall]

Tor is a free browser where you can surf the web anonymously, but in your case, it can also be used to go to blocked sites.
If you want to try it, here's the link.

 

[GokAy]

Regarding Dimension 4 issue;

...
Does the issue reoccur using clean boot ?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/179159-troubleshoot-application-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html
Click Start and type in the search box,
msconfig
Click on the suggestion on top or hit the Enter key,
Go to the Startup section and take some screen shots for a complete list,
Go to the Services section and on the bottom left Check the box to Hide All Microsoft services,
Repeat the screen shots,
...

If you are still running with a clean boot then it is possible Dimension4 service/s are disabled. Open msconfig again and enable (tick) relevant services and startup items, restart and see if ok afterwards.

 

[w4mps]

ThrashZone - Here are the screen shots you requested

 

[w4mps]

Gokay - Yes, that worked. Dimension 4 is now running. Many thanks !

 

[ThrashZone]

Did you use disable all on the services section ?
I might need to review the clean boot tutorial myself

 

[GokAy]

We are that community!

To be honest I still think this is a DNS cache issue. Can you try stopping DNS Client service please? Sorry from your reply I don't understand you actually tried.

Also try changing to a different DNS server.

Another thing I would try is go to https://zenmate.com with Firefox or Chrome (IE doesn't work) and install it. No registration needed, free browser based VPN service. It is as simlple as clicking one button to enable/disable from within the browser. See if you can connect reliably.

 

[ThrashZone]

(IE doesn't work) .

Unless I missed something here neither does Chrome
Throwing Firefox in the mix ?

It's tough enough to get the op to concentrate on 1 browser at a time now

Safe mode with networking would be a better final test.