Solved Router's Web UI access issue

[macca]

Hi.

I've run into an odd problem in not being able to load certain pages in my router's Web UI. Some pages load up in the browser while others are just stuck on trying to connect, forever. The weird thing is; This issue only happens when this PC is connected through the LAN. If I connect with Wifi, the router's Web UI works as expected.

This PC used to be able to access this router's Web UI just fine. I took this PC to a mates place a couple of weeks back. Perhaps connecting to their LAN has bungled something up?
This problem does not occur for any other PC accessing the router on the network (LAN or WLAN).

So far I've tried disabling the firewall & resetting Winsock & resetting TCP/IP stack & flushing DNS. I've also tried connecting with both static and dynamic IPs. I've reinstalled drivers for the NIC. I also factory reset the router. Nothing's worked yet.
Please help.

Problem PC: Win7 Pro 64bit.
Router: D-Link G604T.
Browser: Firefox <latest> (All PCs).
Firewall: Windows default.

Cheers.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

What browser are you using too get to the UI? IE11 has caused some weird issues getting to such devices. Sometimes IE11 works from one computer, but not from others.

 

[macca]

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

Thank you.

What browser are you using too get to the UI?

Problem PC: Win7 Pro 64bit.
Router: D-Link G604T.
Browser: Firefox <latest> (All PCs).
Firewall: Windows default.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Doh! That's what I get for watching a movie too.

I even look in your system spec area ... but missed it in the body of the post.

What happens when you try IE?

 

[macca]

hehe

I don't have IE installed. Would it make a difference though? I can access the UI normally from the same PC using the same browser when i connect to the router through WiFi. The problem only arises when i connect through the LAN. If you still believe it will make a difference, I will download and install IE.

EDIT:
OK, so i installed IE8 through "Turn Windows features on or off". I can now access those pages, but they load slower than the pages that didn't have a problem loading. So firstly I want to thank you for your help with that.
So my question now is... What would cause this problem to happen in Firefox all of a sudden, and only while connected through a LAN?

 

[UsernameIssues]

It does not have to be IE, I was just looking for a second browser to do the same thing. If two browsers have issues via LAN jack, then it is time to play with hardware:
...swap cables around
...try different router port
...try new network adapter

 

[macca]

Sorry. Made a late edit to my previous post...

EDIT:
OK, so i installed IE8 through "Turn Windows features on or off". I can now access those pages, but they load slower than the pages that didn't have a problem loading. So firstly I want to thank you for your help with that.
So my question now is... What would cause this problem to happen in Firefox all of a sudden, and only while connected through a LAN?

Do I take this question to Mozilla?

 

[UsernameIssues]

There could still be an issue with hardware... maybe IE just handles the issue a bit better than Firefox. You might try the hardware stuff that I posted before. A completely different LAN cable and router port might cure the issue.

 

[macca]

OK, so I swapped cables and ports of this PC and another PC. The other PC works as expected. But this PC still has the issues. But only when using Firefox.

EDIT: Oh i forgot about the adapter. It's a laptop. I'll try and see if my other laptop has a compatible card and install and report back.

EDIT2: Silly me. Forgot that the modular card is WiFi, not LAN. :/

 

[UsernameIssues]

You might also try another (temporary) user account with a fresh install of Firefox. Start with on older version of Firefox and test your way up to 27.

Download Firefox 21.0 - FileHippo.com

 

[macca]

So I installed the different versions of Firefox on a new user account. Versions 21-24 worked properly, while 25-27 did not.

I also lost all my Firefox profile data. Didn't think installing FF on a different user account would interfere with FF on my original account.

 

[UsernameIssues]

That is interesting news about the versions. I wonder what has changed at version 25. I did not see anything obvious in the change log history... but - I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

Sorry about the profiles loss. I would not have expected that or I would have suggested backing it up.

Perhaps the hardware is failing on the Ethernet network adapter. Maybe some noise or intermittent connection is starting to develop. Maybe the timing of some things within Firefox has changed to speed things up. If info does not come in when expected, some process fails. Just vague conjectures :-(

As a matter of curiosity, you could pursue this in the Mozilla forums - but don't expect any changes to the browser - just maybe answers as to what has changed. It might also be interesting to see how IE9, IE10 and IE11 handle the state of your Ethernet network adapter.

 

[macca]

IE v8-9 worked normally.
IE v10 was hit and miss, even in compatibility view.
IE v11 randomly struggled to get to the router's home page after login, but if it randomly did get through (after a few refreshes), everything worked fine. But if I enable compatiblity view, it logs in normally and everything works fine. How weird is that...
All versions worked normally through wifi.

Looks like you may be right about a failing network adapter. :/

 

[UsernameIssues]

Thanks for testing the IE versions. You are not the first person to have this issue with newer browsers having trouble with Routers and NAS devices. And I seem to recall another thread where the OP had the same Wi-Fi/Ethernet issue that you see (but I cannot find the thread).

Hopefully, you can just stick with using Wi-Fi. If Ethernet must be used, use another computer. It does not seem worth the time/effort/money to replace the laptop's Ethernet network adapter just for this issue.

 

[macca]

Well IE11 in compatiblility mode seems to be working fine so far (AFAICS). I'll keep it installed for accessing router config.

I appreciate your time and help on the matter.

Cheers.

 

[UsernameIssues]

IE11 (with 64bit tabs) has some nice security features. I use it for important stuff.

 

[macca]

IE11 (with 64bit tabs) has some nice security features. I use it for important stuff.

Yeah, IE11 seems to be pretty good. I'm just too used to using FF after so many years.

BTW, do I now mark this thread as "SOLVED"?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Sure, you can mark it as solved

 

[macca]

Oh dear... Just intalled an update for IE11. Now it won't get past login to main page, whether it's in compatibility mode or not. Downgraded to IE9. All good again. Hope no updates screw with IE9 else its down to IE8. LOL

 

[UsernameIssues]

Thanks for the update.