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Websites blocked

marty_0001marty_0001 I am a fileand you put documents in meRegistered User regular
edited October 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
Seems that a mate of mine, who I let borrow my computer while I was out of the house, has gone through my Favourites list and done something to block access to half of the websites I have saved there. Initially I thought maybe there was something wrong with my connection but it's a bit suspicious seeing how it's only happening to these particular sites. I can use them fine on my computer at work or my parents' house.

I use IE 7, and just get the classic error message about "there may be a problem with your connection, the website may be down, etc". I thought maybe it was the content settings but they still seem to be unenabled. And the same problem happens with different browsers, like firefox.

I asked him about it and he's either playing dumb as part of a practical joke :x Or maybe it's just a coincedence and there's something wrong with my machine.

Ideas?

marty_0001 on

Posts

  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited October 2008
    Actually this is happening with Apple's website for me in IE. It'll sit on the page for a bit and then jump to 'page not found'.

    Have you cleared the temporary files/cache?

    If you use a free proxy can you get to the sites?

    FyreWulff on
  • see317see317 Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    I'm not on IE 7 at the moment, but it's Microsoft so this might work.
    Tools->Internet Options->Security

    Check and see if anything is added under the restricted sites.
    May also want to check the Security Settings, Privacy settings and Content Advisor.

    Also, what sites in particular are you unable to access? Is there anything in particular they have in common?

    see317 on
  • Red_CascadeRed_Cascade Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    Depending on how tech-savy your friend is you may also want to check the HOSTS file.

    In XP this can be found at "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc" and you should be able to open it up in notepad. After all the # lines it should just say "127.0.0.1 localhost" If anything else has been added you may want to see if they match the sites you can't access.

    Red_Cascade on
  • PeregrineFalconPeregrineFalcon Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    He "borrowed your computer" did he? Did you check the history to see if he was downloading ThisIsClearlyNotSpywareItsNudeChicks.jpg.exe, or browsing sites where you could pick up a virus/spyware?

    Password your shit.

    PeregrineFalcon on
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  • VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    edited October 2008
    You may also want to clear the DNS cache as well.

    Start->Run type cmd then type ipconfig /flushdns

    Veevee on
  • AtomBombAtomBomb Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    My guess is the hosts file as well.

    AtomBomb on
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  • marty_0001marty_0001 I am a file and you put documents in meRegistered User regular
    edited October 2008
    Red_Cascade wrote: »
    Depending on how tech-savy your friend is you may also want to check the HOSTS file.

    In XP this can be found at "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc" and you should be able to open it up in notepad. After all the # lines it should just say "127.0.0.1 localhost" If anything else has been added you may want to see if they match the sites you can't access.

    Aha yes, I can see a few in there. So how do I fix it? Delete the lines? The file is read-only and won't let me save changes (if I SHOULD be changing it...)

    marty_0001 on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited October 2008
    right click on the file, properties, uncheck 'read only'

    now delete every line but the one that has 'localhost' in it.

    save.

    FyreWulff on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited October 2008
    This site has an example of the base hosts file:

    http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/hosts.htm
    # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

    FyreWulff on
  • DeShadowCDeShadowC Registered User regular
    edited October 2008
    marty_0001 wrote: »
    Red_Cascade wrote: »
    Depending on how tech-savy your friend is you may also want to check the HOSTS file.

    In XP this can be found at "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc" and you should be able to open it up in notepad. After all the # lines it should just say "127.0.0.1 localhost" If anything else has been added you may want to see if they match the sites you can't access.

    Aha yes, I can see a few in there. So how do I fix it? Delete the lines? The file is read-only and won't let me save changes (if I SHOULD be changing it...)

    Right click properties, and you can uncheck read only. Delete all the lines past the # with the exception of 127.0.0.1 localhost

    DeShadowC on
  • marty_0001marty_0001 I am a file and you put documents in meRegistered User regular
    edited October 2008
    WINNER! That did the trick.

    Thanks so much :D

    Now for revenge...

    marty_0001 on
  • FyreWulffFyreWulff YouRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited October 2008
    It would probably be a good idea right now to boot into safe mode and set a password on your Administrator account..

    FyreWulff on
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