Opera 7.11 - looses connection

[mattKnight]

Hi,

OS - Win2k @ SP3
Browser - Opera 7.11

preferences->network

Identify as MSIE6
No proxies set
completion enabled (local machien disabled)
Max connections to server 8
Max total connections 20

synchronous DNS off


I have this setup on 2 PCs. Opera works on both and it is my preferred browser. However it consistently fails to find servers (pop up box - unable to connect to

http://www.etc)

I am pretty sure that the problem lies in opera as IE6 does not behave in the same way (at the same sites etc). Opera usually connects after a refresh!

I guess this is pretty simple, but any ideas gratefully received.

If you want more info about opera's config i'll post it

Take Care

Matt
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

 

[euston]

I use Opera 7.23 on Win2k (SP4) and think it's the dog's bollocks. Using IE after Opera is hair shirt stuff.

I also have the problem you describe. In fact I'm glad you raised this issue because I thought that my system might be to blame. Try unchecking the network option 'Encode International web addresses with UTF-8'. This might help (feedback please).

When I uprevved from 7.21 to 7.22, I had BSODs. Opera support suggested that if I used ATI Radeon drivers, I should install the latest versions. This cured the problem.

Opera is Rolls Royce stuff and I gladly put up with the odd foible. The popup stopper is excellent and like many features in Opera is evidence of careful thought by designers and developers.

I think that uprevving to 7.23 would be well worth the effort but do keep the 7.11 installation .exe file, just in case. Opera 7.23 has new context based advertising (in conjunction with Google) in the free version which is low key understated text and quite useful. You get the option the first time you run 7.23 as to whether you use this or the old awful brash banner ads.

Some of the alternative skins Opera make available are really nice and make the browser look and feel gorgeous.

 

[IFRs]

I also use Opera (have for a long time). I use the Minimalist skin. I have Opera 7.21, WinXP and cable modem through a LinkSys router. I have no problems connecting, ever. Once in a while I get to a site that behaves better in IE, but those are getting less and less. The Wand is a fantastic addition. I identify as IE 6.0.

Hope you solve your issues, sorry I could not help.

 

[euston]

Matt, does it tend to happen with particular sites while others are never a problem?

 

[euston]

Hi IFRs,

Nice skin! I downloaded it and isn't it uncluttered. Very classy. Opera support have said that their browser really exercises the graphics hardware/software and the latest driver appears to be necessary if you use ATI graphics adapters.

IE is NOT immune to the failure to find servers. The Internet is not as reliable as it could be but as Doctor Johnson said on seeing a dog walking on its hind legs: "It is not so much remarkable it is done well as that it is done at all."

I believe that unchecking the network option 'Encode International web addresses with UTF-8' is beneficial. Since I did this, things seem to be more reliable.

 

[euston]

I have found that disabling negative DNS caching allows Opera to work better. Negative DNS caching means that if a URL cannot be resolved to an IP address, Windows DNS client service waits for a default of 300 seconds before trying again. This may be what you are experiencing.

The relevant registry entries are in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Services / Dnscache / Parameters

There are 3 relevant DWORD values: -

NegativeCacheTime
NetFailureCache
NegativeSOACacheTime

To disable negative DNS caching, all 3 of these should be set to 0 (zero).

If they don't already exist (I would expect them to exist), create each DWORD entry and set each to a value of 0 (zero).

N.B. Note the old registry values before changing them. Remember that values can be entered as hexadecimal(base16) or decimal(base10). You alter your registry at your own risk under your own responsibility.

 

[euston]

OOPS!

I forgot to say that the above applies to MS Windows 2000/XP.