techie questions for the IT bods
 

Since we have so many IT experts on the board I thought I would ask here first.

My home PC/broadband has suddenly taken a dislike to lots of websites and won't load them up. These are general websites like ebay, gnc, etc, and the weblink to my office email - all of which worked fine up until 2 days ago.

I've tried lowering all the security settings, reinstalling IE6, and even tried installing Firefox but nothing has worked so far.

I don't think my ISP (BTYahoo) has blocked these as they are general websites. Could it be something to do with my router? Is it possible for a router to get a virus?

thanks in advance, Chi

is it a Netgear Wireless router ? (if the answer is yes then i am the King of this question )

1. Check your Anti Virus is upto date, then run a full scan.
Don't have an AV installed? Use this highly recommended free one:
http://free.grisoft.com/
(Click the “Get AVG Free for Windows” link at the bottom, then click the download link.)

2. Check your Anti-Spyware is upto date, then run a full scan.
Don't have Anti-Spyware installed? Use one (or all!) of these free programs:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

3. Make sure your Windows is fully patched and upto date.
Visit the MS update site to check: http://www.windowsupdate.com/

4. Finally, you can now check if it's working. If not, switch your modem/router off (ie, turn off the power) and leave it for 5 minutes. Go make a cuppa or something. Then switch it back on.

5. If it's still not running, assuming that you haven't changed any settings in your modem/router, go through the Networking Wizard under Start > Control Panel > Networking

6. It's screwed. Throw it away and start again ;)

Have you unplugged and repowered your router?

If its Windows XP then do a system restore to a few weeks back and see what happens. You can always undo it if it doesnt help.

Weeksy - not Netgear, it is a Cisco router. Don't know the model but is says "800 range". It's black and it's ugly.

Antony - got McAfee whistles and bells a few years back after a horrible virus outbreak. Gets regularly updated automatically as well.

JPM - have switched it off and on again a few times. Will actually unplugging it make a difference?

I've never set any restore points in the past. Does the system do this automatically for you? If so, how do I go back to a previous point?

[Edited on 16-2-2006 by chicken]

And if you can't do steps 1 to 3 because you can't reach those websites go directly to step 6

is it a Netgear Wireless router ?
 

I just bought a netgear wireless router this one for my laptop, I was advised here was the poodles I haven’t tried to connect it yet so I hope its easy and hope I can shout on you boys if I get stuck?

I've just had a week of grief with my machine. Not loading pages, dropping the connection every 10 minutes etc. etc.
I've run windows update(there are several security updates), updated the AV, run adware, run housecall several times to no avail.
In the end, I removed the broadband software and the modem and reinstalled.
Hasn't missed a beat since.................

Hrmmm .... AOL?

Why do broadband providers insist on spreading viruses.

This sometimes works:

Goto the tools menu in Internet explorer and choose Internet Options.

Click on the advanced tab (top right)

Click on the restore defaults button

Click on Apply

Try Sites Again....

I have a Netgear router and very occasionaly I have to re boot it.

If non of the above works have you got another computer you can at least plug into your router thus proving either the router or PC is at fault then work from there...

for the people who asked. A couple of the Netgear routers have issues accesssing certain sites out of the crate, ebay being one of the Microsoft update site being anohter.

It's a simple config change, but i don't have the article to hand, can get it if needed though :)

I'm having similar problems on my laptop which connect over Wifi which makes me think it is a router problem. But I thought (probably in complete ignorance) that routers just get the ISP IP address configured and that was that? Can they become "corrupt"? Should I just get another router then?

http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/xm...7312#pid265488

;)

XP automatically creates restore points whenever something changes and mine creates them now and again for no apparent reason!

Its got me out of trouble on a number of occasions, you wont loose any work either.

Chi, I vaguely remember something like your issues from AGES ago and ended up using a tiny app to reset a system component - I think it was something to do with DNS settings ???

Ahhhh...just had a mootch - it was an ipconfig command option and here is the site I found it from:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1044982606

heres a good write up too:

http://www.ss64.com/nt/ipconfig.html

good luck

Haha - Frank, if by "good write up" you meant "page of complete gibberish" then you are spot on! :lol:

I'll try Antony's configgy thing and then I'll buy a new router. If that doesn't work, I'll get down to PC World and buy my own copy of the Internet so I'll have a local version that I'll always be able to access.

[Edited on 16-2-2006 by chicken]

Usually on the back of most routers there is a hard reset switch (make sure you know the settings first - you can usually backup the config to your PC from within the routers console) this will blow away all of your config, and effectively should return your router to how it was out of the box.

You can then reconfigure it if needed, or reload the config from your PC

I read the word McAfee up there and immediately got a cold chill down my back.
McAfee? Never again.

nah Tony. It's BT Broadband. I uninstalled their software and modem and used the setup CD again.
It cleared it up until about an hour ago. Now it's almost as bad again :(

I hate computers!!!!!!

They're all bastids!

I had the telewest guy ask me to install this crap on my laptop and I laughed at him.

I tried to explain to him that all I wanted was IP connectivity and none of the 'bundled extra's' but he didn't quite get it. I logged in with an account that didn't have admin privileges to install software and then told him it wouldn't work. He looked at it for 20 minutes scratching his head before he gave up and just ticked that box on his install card. I signed it so he was happy.

Grrrr

It could be a DNS issue. Check the status page at you ISP website and see if they have any issues.

Try pinging sites you can get and site you cant get if its unable to resolve the sites you cant get that will be it.

Start -> run -> enter "cmd" press enter.

In the black box type "ping www.site_you_can_see.com"

see what it says paste in here.

do the same with a site you can't see and paste in here and we will look.

cool. I'll do that when I get home.

I just ordered a new router as well because the current one doesn't match the decor.

:D:D:D

Ok Chi, I'll help out my friend.

1) Start Menu

2) Run

3) Type in "ipconfig /flushdns" (omitting the quotes)

4) Press OK button.

Dunno if it will help your situation but, wont harm to try it either.

Good luck - Frank

Format the bitch !

/ian

Woops I was thinking you meant your avatar, how are we supposed to concentrate with………Christ she is lovely :o