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Cannot access certain websites since adding wireless router

Ever since I added a Netgear wireless router (WGR614v2) to my VAIO/Win XP (through Adelphia cable broadband) system, I haven't been able to access certain, seemingly random collections of websites. Most sites are accessible, including secure ones like my bank and bill-paying services. When I try to reach one of the sites that I can't get through to, the browser times out and never connects. These are all sites I have no problem access from my computer at work.

I've tried using an open DNS server in my TCP/IP properties, but no change in what I can and can't access.

Any ideas? I'm not sure if this is a networking or OS problem.

Thanks.

teedo757

Well I have something you can try. Sometimes a host file may be to blame for not allowing access to certain web servers. Try opening my computer and navigate to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc. In there you will find a file called hosts, right click it and go to edit. When it asks how to open it specify open using a certain program and then select notepad. You should not have any entries in their unless a program has added some or you did. These are a list of servers that are blocked from your computer. To fix rename your host file to hosts.bak and create a blank text file and name it hosts. Now you should not have any blocked web sites. Also if your host file is empty ( a little bit of explaination at the top of the host file) then dont bother creating a new host file. It is not the problem.

timothyfryer

Make sure your Internet Options securities settings are correct. If you are trying to log on to a secure website (https), then you won't be able to if your security settings are too lenient. Best bet if not sure is to set it to the default level in the securities tab. Likewise, if cookies aren't enableD in the privacy tab, that can also prevent you from accessing certain sites.

1. REPAIR IE http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378

2. REPAIR WINSOCK+ http://www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

3. REPAIR WINSOCK DOWNLOAD
http://tntmax.com/Download/Software/WinsockXPFix.exe

4. TROUBLESHOOT SLOW CONNECTION
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310590

bunsen96

ASKER

The hosts file only contains the "localhosts" entry, so I don't think that's it, though I did try it.

I should also mention that these sites are also not accessible on a laptop also on the wireless network (and the problems exist on my computer regardless of whether I use IE or Mozilla Firebird). Will that impact the WinSock fix? Should I try that anyway?

teedo757

I would think if the problem is not only on your desktop but also on your laptop that you should look at your configuration of your wireless router. Is it set up static / DHCP and what types of website are not showing up and which are. Its hard to find the problem without knowing what the differences in the web sites are(probibly something small) Can you give and example or 2?

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timothyfryer

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stevenlewis

try adjusting the MTU on the clients
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-107
change MTU on client
use drtcp to change the MTU settings
drtcp (free)
http://www.dslreports.com/front/drtcp.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;319661
refers to ICS, but have seen the same issue with routers and dsl/cable

bunsen96

ASKER

Thanks, it turned out to be a firmware upgrade. I have WGR614v2, but those links pointed me in the right direction. Feel dumb that I didn't think of this in the first place! But things are working fine now.

Thanks again to all who chimed in.

timothyfryer

Glad it worked, thanks for the points. You might still want to look at the mtu settings for optimizing performance as suggested by stevenlewis and also in one of those links I posted above. Good Luck. Tim.