Need Techie Help Please.....

Trying_really_hard

My mum has recently bought a brand new laptop, usual stuff, Windows XP, etc. However, when we try to get on certain sites the status bar says "Done", but lo and behold, nothing appears on the screen. With other sites the site loads incorrectly with graphical errors or links errors. 99% of sites work perfectly I must say, its just the odd one.

I've tried the same sites on my laptop and they load fine. Other than the virus software, as we've tried disabling this, what could cause this to happen?

By the way, the sites were are trying to access are all reputable sites, like BBC French language sites and the hungersite, so they're not dodgy

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, particulary as you are real people as opposed to a library search which brings back everything EXCEPT what I need.

Zahc

Assuming you use Internet Explorer, try going to tools> internet options> general tab/accessibility and make sure the 'format documents using my style' box is NOT ticked.

Failing that, have you left on the non responding site for awhile? Sometimes it takes a long time to download a page. If this is the case, that's another problem entirely. One thing at a time.....

kipper_2-2

Try this, go into :

Tools, then
Internet Options, then
General Tab,then
Settings
and then tick every visit to page.


HTH

Trying_really_hard

Thanks for the quick response.

Tried both the suggestions which involved using internet options, and neither resolved the issue unfortunately.

Am pulling hair out at this at the moment. I know its something small, but its really annoying. Would I be able to take it into PC World as its only about a month old? That's only if you nice techie people have no other suggestions for me to try first.

Browntoa

does the PC have Nortons Internet Security installed on it ??

Trying_really_hard

It has McAfee internet suite on it.

I've tried disabling these already....is there something else to try instead?

Skyhigh

If you do take it into PC World, claim it on warranty...otherwise they'll try charging you £60-£100 for looking at it.

If its never working correctly from the start, then its their fault


As others said, check your internet connection is correct, compare the settings to those on your other laptop.

Also make sure any firewall software is disabled (or setup correctly) as this may be barring sites.
This includes the Windows firewall, just in case.

Really it sounds like a firewall issue, as sometimes they can restrict specific sites, parts on sites or functions on sites.


If you are running on a network at home and are not using dynamically assigned IP's, make sure you've assigned the laptop to be recognised by the router via the connection hardwares MAC address.
Otherwise, you'll have an internet (well network) connection, but you won't be able to get online as the router won't allow you.
(Since it see's the new client as not authorised).


As standard practice, make sure you have all the latest updates for you laptop (hardware and software), so head over to Windows Updates.

:!:

Browntoa

try downloading crap cleaner from

www.ccleaner.com

and running that to clear all your temp internet files (close Internet Explorer while you do this)

then try the sites again, could be a corrupt file in there

poppy_f1

try using firefox instead of IE and see if you can get sites working

Trying_really_hard

Thanks for all your apt suggestions. Will put them into practice when I can.

As regards Mozilla Firefox, tried that and the sites still refused to work.

Trying_really_hard

Thank you all. It was a firewall issue, or to be exact, a multiple firewall issue.

All resolved and everyone is happy (I am not getting moaned at about a computer that doesn't work!) :beer: