Help!! Can't access certain websites

Question

I brought my inspiron 700m a month ago and everything was fine. But a few days ago, I couldn't access some websites (yahoo.com, cnet.com, download.com). My DSL internet connection is functional and I can access other websites, but these don't work at all. I used someone else's computer and was able to access the websites but I can't on my own. I do spend most of the time on yahoo.com and cnet.com. Can that be the problem? I'm sure it isn't a firewall problem because other websites work fine. This been going on for several days now. Please help me?

volcano11 · Answer

First, open Internet Explorer and go to Tools > Internet Options. Click on the Security tab, then click on Restricted Sites, then on the Sites button. See if any of the sites you cannot get to are in the restricted sites list. If they aren't listed there, open Windows Explorer and browse to the C:\Windows\System32\etc and find the file named hosts (note that it does not have an extension and is not the file named hosts.sam). Open the hosts file with notepad and see if any of the sites you can't get to are listed there. If they are remove the line for each entry. Report back what you find.

Steve

ktot17 · Answer

Hi, thank you for your help. However, I didn't find any sites on my 'restricted sites' list. Regarding C:\Windows\System32\etc, I could not find this file despite several attempts to find it. The problem with the websites is really unusual considering the fact that other computers outside my house can access these sites like cnet.com and yahoo.com and mine cannot. I have a DSL connection and have a router installed as well. The other computer in my house can't access these websites either. Is it possible I can't access them because I spent most of my time on these websites? I use Avant Browser instead of Internet Explorer. Can it be a firewall problem, because other websites work fine. Can you help me?

volcano11 · Answer

You probably couldn't find the hosts file because your folder options are set to hide system files. Open Windows Explorer and click on Tools > Folder Options, then click on the View tab. Make sure it is set to Show Hidden Files and Folders, and that the boxes next to Hide Extensions for known file types and Hide protected operating system files are not checked. Then look of the hosts file again.

Steve

ktot17 · Answer

I'm so sorry but even after the changes you suggested, I couldn't find the file. Is this a problem with my PC? The problem with websites started out of nowhere and I didn't put these sites on any restricted list. Is there any other possible reasons for the misfunction?

volcano11 · Answer

Use the Search function to search for the file. Use the Advanced Search options to make sure you search for hidden and system files. Steve

ktot17 · Answer

Thanks, I found the file but the websites weren't on the list. Is there any other possible reason for the sites not showing up? Thanks for your help.

volcano11 · Answer

Try clearing your temporary internet files, inlcuding all of line content. If that doesn't work, consider that this is some kind of software problem and you might have better luck posting in the Software - Windows XP forum, which gets a lot more traffic from knowledgeable users than do the network forums.

Steve

ktot17 · Answer

I don't believe its a software problem because I connected to my neighbor's wireless network connection and I was able to go on those sites. Any ideas on what the problem is?

volcano11 · Answer

Does your neighbor have the same ISP as you do?    Steve

ktot17 · Answer

I don't know if he/she has the same ISP. I connected to my own network and the sites wouldn't work so I try my neighbor if his/her network would and the sites work fine on his/her network. Does the ISP affect me from accessing the sites?

ktot17 · Answer

Apparently, flushing the DNS Resolver Cache didn't solve the problem. If other networks can access the websites, does the problem have to do with my network. Should I renew the IP address?

volcano11 · Answer

Try this.  Go to Start > Run and type cmd then click OK.  In the command prompt window that opens, type ipconfig /flushdns  the hit the Enter key.    Steve

ktot17 · Answer

By the way, I am able to access the websites on my neighbor's network on my internet browser. Somehow I can't access the websites on my network on the same browser on the same computer. Any ideas why this is happening?

robbani · Answer

Try unplugging your modem for 30 seconds then replug it again.and see if that does it.

ktot17 · Answer

Thank you very much, Bobby. Your method worked and I was able to access the websites again. Thanks to Steve for all the helping suggestions before, I'm sure I will use those in the future. The funny thing is I used to unplug the modem too, but only when the network wouldn't provide connection. I didn't know it would work if only a few sites don't work. Thanks again.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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