Alright, someone help me out here.. I don't exactly know how to explain this, but pretty much, I have a lot of sites that are suddenly not loading at all. Awhile back, I would try to go to MSN Photos to update the album, and the page woudn't load .. just continual .. Connecting... until finally it would say, the page couldn't be found yadda yadda BS... But it was loading fine for everyone else, as far as viewing the album (I couldn't even view it) Now recently Weshots.com started doing the same thing... just plain will not load .. The day before yesterday I went to take an Emode quiz someone posted.. same thing .. the page will not load .. but yet it seems to be working fine with everyone else ... And finally, anything Roem has on his site.. that he posts here.. such as the 80sxchange family pic.. and bonjovichic's picture.. won't show up.. just shows a broken link.. I've tried going to these sites for over a week now.. still the same thing.. so I know it's my computer.. I thought maybe it was something to do with my cookie settings ?? And now my e-mail account (an older one I still check online ) at Bellsouth.net .. well that login page won't load now either. I have no idea, but this is getting really annoying.. I cleaned everything out the day before yesterday .. as far as TEMP internet files, history, cache, recycle bin.. and still the same thing.. so I'm really fed up with it.. Someone please tell me what the fluck is wrong?!?

Never heard of that ... the few times I experience a page not loading, it's simply a matter of closing IE and starting it up again (usually occurs after messing with an emu, and the emu tries to go online thru' IE) .... All I can think of, is that this problem may be related to your ISP .... One of the tech geniuses can probably help ... Shakey ?? Aaron ??? Lady in distress here :D

Thanks baby ... I love this guy :* :* :* :love:

A little update.. I also set all my IE settings back to defaults and it's still doing the same thing.. I f**cking hate my computer ANYWAY, I just downloaded IE 6.0 cause I don't think I saved the install file before (I currently have 6.0 installed) and I need to restart my computer now.. we'll see

more smooches for my oh so helpful smurf :* :*

Oh yeah, what a great help I was :rolleyes: :D

YOINK!! Just grabbing those smoochies on my way out

What ISP do ya have ??
I just remebered experincing something similar in the spring .... I could only get into danish sites .... Turned out my ISP had a major server breakdown (luckily, the only problem I've had with them ever : )

:lol: too cute

umm, my ISP is Charter, Cable connection, but would that only affect certain websites?

Did updating to IE6 help? It almost sounds like there is a problem with the image associations on your computer.

Originally posted by pamela*
:lol: too cute

umm, my ISP is Charter, Cable connection, but would that only affect certain websites?

I wouldn't think so, but after my experience where only the danish sites would load, I'm not sure ... But if this has beeen happening for over a week, one would think that your ISP would've done something about by now

No, the update didn't help ... I don't know.. all the sites seem to be sites I have to log into ... not sure about the thing with the links from Roemy's site ... Spiffy Entertainment loads fine.. but the family picture still isn't showing up in the Picture Forum ... I don't get it?!?! When I type www.emode.com (one of the sites that isn't loading) it says "Opening ...." but then it brings up...

We can't find "www.emode.com".
Click Go to try your address again.
Or, correct the spelling of your address above and click Go.

Did you intend to go to one of these similar Web addresses?

www.emode.com

You can also visit one of these related Web sites.

Emode
Emode
Emode.com Cash Discounts - Ebates

But then.. none of the others will load either .. and this is just one of the sites I have the problem with.. so it's getting to be a pain in my @ss I don't know .. I should know how to fix this.. I mean, I did go to college for this sort of thing.. I'll work on it a little longer.. I'll figure it out.

One More Thing

You know what else though... and I am starting to wonder if maybe this is the case ... remember awhile back I had some free AOL hours and signed up before I got the cable.. well, I had to change my IE settings somewhere in order for it to work with AOL, cause I hated that AOL browser.. so, now even after removing AOL and installing IE again.. it still says on the IE title bar "Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by America Online" and I don't remember what settings I changed before.. could it be this? cause I know AOL is plain screwed up anyway??

Any ideas?

Ok Pam... try this... with I.E. 6 you can do a repair function. Go into your control panel, select add/remove programs and select I.E. 6 as you were going to remove it (Don't worry it won't erase anything). You SHOULD see an option to repair I.E. select that function. I'm pretty sure it will be an option. Run that and restart your computer.

...If that doesn't work. I would suggest erasing I.E.'s cache and cookie files... you can do all of this under the "tools" pulldown menu and select "internet options"

If THAT doesn't work... I would suggest getting yourself a copy of Norton Utilities and run all the programs to clean up your hard drive. Try the above mentioned and let me know if it works, ok?

Good Luck! :)

Sounds like the ISP is having DNS problems if you ask me. The DNS could be screwed up for certain web sites, missing entries, or any number of things.

I don't think its your end, a cache or cookie problem.

ok, well, I did repair IE, didn't help at all.. SO, I restored the original settings.. that were pre-installed (took the America Online crap off) and still .. same thing.. BUT, as far as the pictures Roem posted.. well that is apparently a file association thing .. I had ACDSee installed before but it was only a Trial Version .. now any type of media file.. picture or video wise extensions such as GIF, JPG, JPEG, yadda yadda are still associated with that program.. In my folder options/File Types .. all of them have ACDSee in front of them.. so is there some way to reset these associations.. I can't open any pictures.. I can't even upload a picture now (avatar) says it is an invalid jpeg or something .. So, I pretty much have TWO issues here.. rather than one...

I stand by my words. If you can connect to some web sites but not others, it is more than likely your cable company DNS that is the problem, NOT your end.

I don't believe for one minute its your cache, cookies, the wind, outside temperatute, location of the moon, etc.

As I've said, I work in web hosting for a living and deal with DNS issues all the time. These are classic symptoms. Only your internet provider can fix this.

As for file associates, just reinstall acdsee. That program does rock though!

You can install Norton or scan your drive all day long and it will NOT fix your ability to go to those web sites. The problem is 99% not on your end.

Next time it happens Pam, could you go to the start menu, click run, then type cmd and hit enter. (if using win2k/xp).
If you're using 98, then type command and hit enter.
when the command prompt is up, type...

tracert www.emode.com

(or use whatever site you can't get to)

Email me the result if possible (you can select the text in the window and copy it) at zacros@ihug.com.au

I'll see what I can find out for you :)

Thanks for all the help guys, Smurf :*, Taz, aaron
I eventually did have to call Charter last night to set up my account with Outlook again 'cause when I restored the previous (original) IE and tools, it cleared my accounts out of Outlook .. and of course I did not remember the password they gave me for my e-mail account.. so in the process of getting a new password, I mentioned this problem to him.. he asked if I was on a network or had any firewalls set up.. I told him I didn't and he said he had no idea why it would do that.. unless there was a firewall blocking it.. and he said it wasn't anything on their end.. so, I honestly don't know what to do.. I got so pissed last night I just had to turn the damn thing completely off and go to bed..

Yes, ACDSee does rock, but unfortunately (shhh..) I got the program from my brother-in-law when I lived with my sister ... I guess I'll just have to borrow it again.. or pay $50.00 for it.. which I honestly (sadly) cannot afford right now.. and I have no other Photo Editor on my computer.

ChriS!!!! How are ya mate? :lol: I had to say it.. Are those new glasses by the way? :D I'll do what you told me to and send you the e-mail.. and you know I have your e-mail address already silly.. tell Ben I said hi.. I need to write him I know .. but it's so hard for me right now.. not knowing what to say to him and still having so much I want to say .. it's hard to find the time.. and it's mentally exhausting. but will you tell him hi for me.. and .. well, you know what else :) thanks

It won't let me select and copy any of it.. so I'm going to try and write it down. I'll use emode.com ... and I figured I'd just go ahead and post it here.. if that's ok..

Not trying to sound dumb... but if this is sensitive info involving my computer :lol: let me know please.. so I can delete it Hopefully I wrote all this down right.. it moved kinda fast..


Tracing route to www.emode.com [129.250.134.115]
over a max of 30 hops:

1 13ms 39ms 10ms 10.1.0.1
2 10ms 44ms 10ms 24-216-46-1.charter.com [24.216.46.1]
3 13ms 13ms 10ms 500.Serial3-10.GW3.ATL1.ALTER.NET [65.195.237.253]
4 15ms 13ms 11ms 187.at-2-2-0.XL4.ATL1.ALTER.NET[152.63.83.106]
5 31ms 13ms 11ms 0.so-3-0-0.TL2.ALTER.NET [152.63.101.53]
6 26ms 28ms 31ms 0.so-5-3-0.CHI2.ALTER.NET [152.63.13.42]
7 29ms 29ms 28ms 0.so-2-0-0.XL2.CHI2.ALTER.NET [152.63.67.110]

8 27ms 25ms 24ms 0.so-7-1-0.BR6.CHI2.ALTER.NET [152.63.71.98]

lines 9-30 it does:

* * * Request timed out

Mommie...it was me and Teddie. :bashful: We were playing rough the other night. :angel:

:lol: stay off the damn computer you little mongrels.. what did mommie say!?!?!

All of those timeouts mean one of a few things:

1) The backbone lines at those points are DOWN
2) Multiple routers are likely DOWN
3) Multiple DNS servers could be down

I don't remember who runs ALTER.NET, but I have seen this problem MANY times. For us, it was in the Seattle area.

There is nothing you can personally do to fix this. What you need to do is get someone COMPETENT at Charter (and since 99% of those national companies use OUTSOURCED support, your chances of getting a competent tech is about 1 in 50, because most don't know their ass from a whole in the ground... I know, I've dealt with them before), show them a copy of the traceroute, and have it escalated.

Looks like the backbone and/or routers are out. It still could be a DNS problem, but now that you have provided a traceroute, the problem looks clear as day to me.

So no, the problem is *not* on your end, its probably not Charter, but someone along the backbone. If they say "lets check your settings" or "unplug your modem and do this", say HELL NO, NOTHING, ZERO, ZIP, NADA on your end will fix this. Refuse to do anything on your end. I'm dead serious. I've had AT&T IDIOT TECHS try to troubleshoot my end for 45 minutes just to find out the problem was exactly what I said: the headend.

Anyway, since you are their customer, its THEIR job to get it resolved, REGARDLESS if the backbone is not theirs.

Trust me on this. I do this type of work for a living. ;)

OMFG!!! OK, these Charter people are flucking idiots.. I called them up and the first thing the guy says to me .. I haven't told him my problem or anything.. Now remember, I have a CABLE connection ..The guy says "Have you considered that maybe it's your phone line.. cause I can't hear you well." and I'm like "ok, hold on ... I'm connected to the internet just fine (you f**cking idiot) and I'm thinking .. why the hell would it be my phone line, it's a CABLE connection, it has nothing to do with my phone line.. secondly I've talked to TWO people today and there was nothing wrong with my phone .. I was a little pissed at the fact that he jumped right in and didn't even wait for me to explain my problem .. Then when I tell him I did a trace route he says .. oh, well, that's not us and there is nothing we can do about that.. I have that problem myself sometimes ...

Ok, JACKASS I wouldn't expect YOU to be able to do anything about it.. since you obviously know jack shit about your job ...

SO!! yeah, no luck there http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/angry/cussing.gif

That sounds about typical. :rolleyes:

Oh my god pam... you don't even want to get me started on phone techs, namely AT&T or anybody else that deals with internet service.

Here is what I was told by two people who know virtually nothing about computers:

They were hired by Stream in Portland, who does outsourcing for Dell, I think HP, Compaq, @Home (when they were in business), and countless other companies. Of course they all lie and say you are calling the business, but you aren't.

Both of them took a knowledge test at Stream and GUESSED on the answers, because they lived with other people who really knew computers. By GUESSING they passed the tests.

This is EXACTLY how many of these guys get hired. They are incompetent, low paid, and don't give a rats ass about you. And if they screw up your computer, they hang up the phone and you never find out who they were, so you get to keep calling back and dealing with another moron.

The average idiot I talked to in support had 3 years experience. I personally won't deal people support people anymore who have less than 10 years. 3 years doesn't mean squat for supprt.

My advice is to keep calling. EVENTUALLY you will get someone who has an IQ above 13. And never ask to talk to a supervisor. Why? Because you only get passed to the cubicle to the guy next to him. I've watched it happen before.

Again, this IS their problem and they CAN do something about it. They can notify the backbone provider who is having the problems, pass on the traceroute, and get it resolved. That guy is full of shit if he says no. He's obviously a MORON.

Just keep calling and wading through the morons. There are a lot of them out there.

Originally posted by Shortie Blonde
Mommie...it was me and Teddie. :bashful: We were playing rough the other night. :angel:

:eek: No comment. :D

Originally posted by pamela*
:lol: stay off the damn computer you little mongrels.. what did mommie say!?!?!

but mommie there was this pictie of Billy Idol on the front :o And Teddie had to hear that priest song again. :rolleyes:

Well, now I am just beyond agitated... and it's no longer the whole IE thing.. I could care less.. as long as I can visit the xchange.. I don't care if emode.com or webshots.com loads.. I'm more aggravated with this whole photo problem I am suddenly having now.. I am so irritated I have not the energy nor the patience to describe exactly what the problem is.. not that I really know.. all my file associations seem to be fine.. they all open with ACDSee .. the trial version that I JUST extended.. but I still can't upload my avatar.. it's definitely small enough but it says "The file uploaded is not a valid jpg or gif file" Secondly, the 80s family photo.. STILL not showing.. just a broken link (and I assume everyone else can see it just fine) This all started (as far as I know) the other night when my boyfriend made a cd with a bunch of Tolkien LOR images ... (Nero) and he went to view them all after the disc was made.. and they wouldn't open.. I don't know if he's been messing around on the computer and really screwed something up.. or what.. but I am to the point where I want to do a freakin' Quick Restore.. and set my Internet up tomorrow.. I've been messing with this crap ALL DAY and I can't seem to figure out what is wrong.. I haven't a clue.. so I'm going to bed .. 'night

Pam, did you ask Roem about your Photo problems? I remember in the Admin Announcements that there was a problem with the attachment feature on the xchange... Just a thought. ;)

yeah, I just read that :lol: .. so that's part of my problem.. relax Pamela.. breathe!!! ;) But I still don't get why I can't see the 80s family picture??

Thanks Taz :* ok.. my pulse rate is slowing down just a tad bit now.. you have no idea how much I want to throw this computer out the window :lol:

I REALLY should get to bed now ...

You're welcome Sweetie! {{{Hugs}}}

I know... computers can really get to us at times. ;)

Just remember to breathe! very important... we don't want you turning the color of the letters in your sig! ;)

Well guys, thanks for all the help AGAIN.. it's working fine now.. picture problem and all.. the websites are loading ok now.

Good deal, glad to hear it. I was getting ready to escalate this to the Roem, but if it is okay now, we'll just leave it as it is. :)