Problem Connecting to Certain Sites

Question

I recently added a Dimension B1000r machine running Windows 2000 Pro to my home network with 4 other computers. The problem I'm having is I cannot connect to certain sites with this new machine. For example when I try to download Shockwave player from Macromedia or the Real Player I get a page cannot be displayed error and no amount of refreshing will allow me to connect to the site. Another example of the problem I'm having is clicking on the sponsored links when you do a search on google. I've tried adjusting the internet settings and have also tried to repair and completely uninstall and then resinstall the newest version of internet explorer without any success. I even tried using Firefox to see if the problem was just with Internet Explorer but the same sites are not accesible on either browser. I also tried connecting the machine directly to my cable modem,installing a different ethernet card, and using a dial up connection but neither helped my problem. I am really stumped and although I can access most sites the few I can't make this problem quite annoying. The machine has all the updates from Windows Update applied to it and I'm running Mcafee Virus Scan. Thanks in advance for any help.

Seekingsomehelp · Answer

check your Active X

RCHavok797 · Answer

I ran the tests under the Network tab of the directx diagnostic tool and found no problems.

volcano11 · Answer

Do a search on your computer for the file named hosts (it has not extension and is not the hosts.sam file). Make sure you can search for hidden files and system files. When you find the hosts file, open it in notepad and see if there are any listings for the sites you cannot reach. If there are, rename the hosts file to hosts.old.

Steve

RCHavok797 · Answer

Thank you very much for your help.  The Hosts file contained the sites that I couldn't access like you said and now I have no problems browsing.  Do you have any idea what caused this to happen in the first place?  Once again thank you very very much.   Scott

volcano11 · Answer

Spyware is the usual culprit, but it usually only blocks sites that are related to antispyware and antivirus. If you have not scanned your system for spyware and cleaned out all the bad stuff that is found, you should probably do so. Download, install, update, and run the free versions of Ad-Aware and Spybot and let these programs remove all of the garbage that they find.

Steve

RCHavok797 · Answer

I run those programs regularly but when I first ran adaware after I got this computer from my aunt I found 1205 objects so that could explain it. I have been spending all my free time getting this computer to run well and gaining access to those web pages was my last obstacle. Thanks again.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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