Can not browse web site.

[J741]

Here's a strange one:

Ping <IP address> works.
Ping <sitename> works.
Tracert <sitename> works, and shows only 4 hops.
FTP <sitename> works.
Use IE 6 to browse <sitename> does not work.
Use IE 6 to browse <IP address> does not work.
Use Opera 7 to browse <sitename> does not work.
Use Opera 7 to browse <IP address> does not work.
Browse <sitename> from another PC works.

What could prevent browsing a specific website !? IE 6 security settings are all turned off, and the Opera web browser has the same issue. There is no firewall hardware or software running. There is no Virus. All other websites can be browsed without a problem. What else could cause this problem?

- James.

 

[smah]

Cookies? Maybe the site won't let you in if you don't allow cookies. Seems a little unlikely, but who knows? What's the site?

 

[carrr]

What OS are you running?

 

[ctarr]

Proxy settings? Since you said it works on another PC. I guess that's on the same network and not an ISP issue.

Then it's not likely a company proxy software blocking specific URL's.

Maybe that version of IE has proxy enabled by accident or not configured correctly.

 

[MarcLodge]

What errors do you get from the different browsers?

 

[J741]

More Info:

The web site is on my own PC running IIS 5 on Windows XP Pro. The machine that can't get access is my friend's PC running Windows 98. The site has no restrictions related to cookies (as far as I know; I haven't even set it up to use cookies). No proxies are used. The error message indicates &quot;DNS error or Site Unreachable&quot;.

Any more ideas?

- James.

 

[smah]

Where is your friends computer? - on the same physical network or outside? Is the site accessible from the internet? If so, post the url so that others can check it - it's possible there's a problem with you friend's machine. Also, if it is (or should be) accessible from the internet, how is your machine connected to the internet?

 

[J741]

My friend's PC is about 300KM away in another town. The URL is private, so I will not disclose it here, but I can successfully access it from any internet connected PC that I have tried in 3 cities and 2 towns. I'm sure it's something on my friend's PC that is causing the issue, but what it is is so far a mystery to me.

- James.

 

[MarcLodge]

James,
Does the site have a large amount of Java, Javascript or Flash on it, or is it just a fairly ordinary HTML site?
Marc

 

[J741]

A very basic, HTML only, 3 page site. (so far)

 

[MarcLodge]

James,
I assume that other sites can be accessed from the machine with no problem. Bearing this in mind...:

As the site cannot be accessed via a number of different browsers, we can rule out any quirks with IE6 etc.

As the site only contains basic HTML, we can rule out corruption of Java etc.

When you say that the site can be accessed from other PC's, are they always on the same account/ISP or can it be accessed by totally different users/accounts/ISPs etc? I'm trying to rule out here the vague possibility that you or your domain host have set the site up for access only by certain ccounts or something.

Guessing that the above is OK, we're left with scant few possibilities, mainly the operating system and the setup of the particular machine. The DNS error is one possibility, but I've never heard it object to just one site. To rule this out, you could remove the DNS and install it again from the Win 98 disk. Other than that, you are left with Windows and I can't think of anything that would disable access to a site across browsers. If anybody with better knowledge can, please feel free to speak up!

The only otherthin I can think of (last resort) is to re-install Windows 98 and see if that solves it.

Hope this rambling helps in one way shape or form.

Marc