View Full Version : Websites 'mysteriously' timing out
imagesheaven
3-6-06, 06:17 PM
Greetings - Don't know if this is something easily figured out.
All of a sudden, there are three websites to which I frequently visit, that I can no longer access because I get a 'timed out' message (been going on for a week). All other bookmarks/favoites work fine. I have two different computers each with 3 different browsers (Firefox, IE and OB1), and it happens on both computers with all browsers on each. I tried loosening up all security settings that might affect getting through (popup blockers, ad blockers, cookie blockers, etc.). I have loosened up privacy restrictions on all browsers. I have searched my local hard drives for any instances of these websites that might have accidentally got set as 'rejected' - nothing found. I have two ISPs (Allvantage and All2Easy) on each computer which I've used for over a year - happens with both of them on each computer - can't see any evidence that those ISPs are blocking the websites in question for any reason. I have emailed friends to check the websites and they are easily accessed by the friends. For the record, the 'timed out' websites are:
www.expresskaraoke.com
www.totalkaraoke.com
www.breitbart.com
My question is: Are there other settings/gremlins where I should look to 'free up' these websites? It would have to be something in common to 2 different ISPs, 2 different computers, and 3 different browsers on each computer.
I'm not sure what prize I could offer other than a boost in reputation points but I'm open to suggestions for anyone who comes up with a winning solution. It might be simple, it might not. Sometimes you can work so closely on a problem that you miss the obvious. Thanks for any suggestions.:confused:
Firewall?
Anti-virus?
Anti-spy/adware?
Just a few more things to look at.;)
Good luck,
Kevin
imagesheaven
3-6-06, 07:32 PM
I have tried it several times with firewall off, antivirus program off and anti-spy program off (after your suggestions which I initally overlooked) - no change.
Couple of more things:
Broadband router (i.e. hardware firewall)?
Some ISPs offer "parental controls" or "content controls" to limit content to certain users. If you have those available, and have messed with them at all, that may be a possible reason.
And, something totally out of your control, if the servers those sites are hosted on have sustained a DDOS attack from your ISP's block of IPs, those IPs may be blocked.
Good luck,
Kevin
imagesheaven
3-6-06, 08:43 PM
Two more good calls but not apparently applicable. These are both $5/month ISPs - they don't have any of that fancy filtering stuff, least ways I've never seen it and therefore never tinkered.
The other friends who are able to successfully log onto these sites also use one or the other of the same ISPs I'm using so I'm assuming they aren't blocked by the websites in question. It's a little like one of those logic noodle questions on the GMATS.
My guess would be that your IP is amongst a subnet that has been blocked by admins on their side. Maybe due to a denial of service attack, email spamming, or whatever else may be going on. You mentioned your friend is using the same ISP, but are they on the same subnet as you? For example, my neighbor has the same ISP as I do, but his IP is 68.192.x.x and my subnet is 68.193.x.x
I'm not saying you did these things, just that your IP may be in a range of IP's blocked. This would explain your friends accessing no problem, but not you.
I would contact the administrator(s) of the sites, give them your IP at the PC in question, and ask if it has been blocked.
imagesheaven
3-6-06, 10:07 PM
That sounds reasonable and I will do it. I wonder if I give them the IP's of the ISP's I use, or ones for my personal computers, which I would find....where, I wonder - I thought my internal IP addresses were only for use on my own network. Thanks.
You would give them the WAN IP. Not your local IP if you are using a NAT router.
Here's a way to test it. Assuming you're on Windows, open a command prompt window (Start..Run.. Enter cmd and click Ok). Type:
tracert www.expresskaraoke.com
Post the output.
imagesheaven
3-8-06, 08:25 PM
For Autoload: Comes back no IPs blocked on ISP's.
For stevel: All three domain names in question come back the same - this is the output (I stopped it at 15 passes):
Tracing route to www.expresskaraoke.com [69.43.207.189]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * *
I'm very puzzled.
Hmm... It's not even getting out of your computer. The first hop ought to be either to a local router or your ISP. Do you get similar tracerts out of both of the computers you mention in your OP?
Kevin
Funny how it's all three sites - must be on your router (do you have one) or ISP side (if you don't have a router.
You can confirm by running a tracert from online site:
http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/tracert.ch?ip=www.totalkaraoke.com
To check router:
unplug the network cable that runs from your cable modem to the router, and plug it directly into the network (ethernet) jack on your computer -- temporarily cutting the router out of the loop.
To check software firewalls:
If you run a software-based firewall such as the Windows XP firewall, ZoneAlarm, Black Ice, Norton Internet Security or similar, turn it off and see if that fixes the problem.
One more check
You should have done this first, but these days I assume everyone is running a spyware and anti-virus checker. If not - run this right away.
YvetteKuhns
3-9-06, 12:03 PM
It would have to be something in common to 2 different ISPs, 2 different computers, and 3 different browsers on each computer.
Do you have/use a router? If so, try connecting one computer directly to the Internet to eliminate the router as a cause. If it is not the cause, try connecting a friend's computer to your router and/or Internet connection.
Do you have a firewall? Do you have more than one firewall? Windows XP has its own and should be disabled if you are using another firewall. Zone Alarm is notorious for blocking everything until you say it is safe. If you install other software, your settings may change.
Did you check your settings in your browsers? Maybe those websites need low security or must be marked as trusted sites. If you installed Windows updates, your settings may have been changed without your knowledge.
Did you try flushing your DNS cache? If a website is temporarily down when you visit, that may be saved in your cache. I would not suspect spyware, but perhaps a virus. You probably scanned for spyware and viruses.
Because your trace route reports that it timed out on the first hop, there is probably something blocking your request from your computer or router. The second hop is for the ISP. Do you have DSL or cable modem? I am suspecting a router or cable modem.
OK, this one's really off the wall. Have you messed with your HOSTS file? Or has software\malware you recently installed done so? This may be somewhat OS dependent. I don't know whether or not WinXP uses this file. Though it seems I have 2 of them on my latest computer (2 weeks old) -- one all caps (HOSTS) and in C:\WINDOWS\I386 and the other lower-case (hosts) residing in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc . They are openable/editable in a text editor. If you see any uncommented lines other than "127.0.0.1 localhost" comment them out by putting a # in front of them.
As I said, off the wall :D
Kevin
imagesheaven
3-9-06, 04:22 PM
Whew! Thanks guys (and gal) - that's a lot of feedback and suggestions, some of which I will have to get back to you on, some are over my head.
- The two computers are simply networked together using a LINKSYS EtherFast 10/100 hub - I am only using two of the 5 ports (my 3 printers are plugged directly into the computers.). Is this hub what you mean by a router? I have not yet unplugged the computers from the hub and retried reaching the websites - that shouldn't make a difference in this case since each computer goes directly out from their respective modems into the phone wall jack, not through anything else. (So why are the computers networked together? Instead of buying an external hard drive as a back-up for one computer, I bought a second computer and save everything to both hard drives)
- Each of the two computers has 56k modem using dialup ISPs. Each computer connects independently to the internet, they do not use a common ISP connections, each has its own dialups, so disconnecting from the hub wouldn't change anything there.
- I have tried each computer with the XP firewall turned off - I have no other firewalls. I have run full system scans with my virus program and my spyware program on each computer - nothing major present.
- I flush my cache (and cookies and browsing history and download history) at every browser logoff.
- I doubt it's a browser setting as each computer has 3 different browser and I can't reach the websites on any of the three. I realize Firefox and IE 7.0 beta may share some operating system settings, the third browser (Off By One) is a completely self-contained, stand-alone application with no dependencies on any other browser or browser component.
- I do not have DSL or cable modem.
- The HOST suggestion above is not something I understand so I'm sure I didn't mess with anything there (I don't know what yer talking about, OK? - I'm a dummy there).
- I clicked on your link: http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/tracer...talkaraoke.com
and ssw the traceroute (9 hops)
I'm sure there are more pressing things in the world than to expend brain cells which have survived the '60s and '70s on this problem so if you want to bow out, I boost your rep points any way. There are a lot of other places on the web where I can buy karaoke CDs. But I did like to visit BREITBART.COM for news bits. I can't even reach it when there is a link to there from, say, the DRUDGEREPORT.COM
OK, this one's really off the wall. Have you messed with your HOSTS file? Or has software\malware you recently installed done so? This may be somewhat OS dependent. I don't know whether or not WinXP uses this file. Though it seems I have 2 of them on my latest computer (2 weeks old) -- one all caps (HOSTS) and in C:\WINDOWS\I386 and the other lower-case (hosts) residing in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc . They are openable/editable in a text editor. If you see any uncommented lines other than "127.0.0.1 localhost" comment them out by putting a # in front of them.That's a very good suggestion Kevin. WinXP does in fact have a hosts file located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
imagesheaven
3-9-06, 07:46 PM
...in C:\WINDOWS\I386 and the other lower-case (hosts) residing in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc . They are openable/editable in a text editor. If you see any uncommented lines other than "127.0.0.1 localhost" comment them out by putting a # in front of them. As I said, off the wall :D Kevin
I've checked my 'host' files where you suggested and saw no uncommented lines other than "127.0.0.1 localhost" - I checked I386 and System32 folders as above. Thanks.
The hub you have is not a router and is therefore not relevant
Just in case there is some confusion on the issue, the sites discussed here are not hosted on PowWeb. Perhaps this would be better moved to the Computer Help section?
Try the tracert command again with the other sites. I note that the first two seem to be hosted at the same company, but not the third.
That's a very good suggestion Kevin. WinXP does in fact have a hosts file located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
Yeah, before I posted that I did a search on this machine and came up with the 2 locations I mentioned. I just don't know whether or not XP actually uses that/those files. Remembering back to Win95 days (boy, I'm old) you could fiddle with that file and keep ads from showing on webpages by pointing "adsite.com" to "127.0.0.1". Now that we have the Adblock extension for Firefox, and I don't use IE except to test things, I'm not sure about the usage of the HOSTS/hosts files.
I note that the first two seem to be hosted at the same company...
Now we're getting somewhere. Hence my theory that the IP range is getting blocked by that host for some reason. But... the tracert goes nowhere... so, what??? Very weird.
Kevin
Yeah, before I posted that I did a search on this machine and came up with the 2 locations I mentioned. I just don't know whether or not XP actually uses that/those files. Remembering back to Win95 days (boy, I'm old) you could fiddle with that file and keep ads from showing on webpages by pointing "adsite.com" to "127.0.0.1". Now that we have the Adblock extension for Firefox, and I don't use IE except to test things, I'm not sure about the usage of the HOSTS/hosts files.XP definitely uses the hosts file. I've customized it in the past to circumvent propagation so that I can test earlier. ;)
I'm sure there are more pressing things in the world than to expend brain cells which have survived the '60s and '70s on this problem ...
Heh, just saw that -- very funny!:D Tom's, I know, weren't around then (http://forum.powweb.com/showthread.php?t=62960); mine were, however, and did survive -- barely.:p
Kevin
I'm still a child of the 70s! (barely)
XP definitely uses the hosts file. I've customized it in the past to circumvent propagation so that I can test earlier. ;)
Well, it took a while, but I learned my one new thing for the day!
Thanks,
Kevin
Another thought on the original problem -- try flushing your local DNS. Instructions here:
http://forum.powweb.com/showpost.php?p=341510&postcount=3
Kevin
imagesheaven
3-10-06, 09:42 AM
OK I did those two things:
- Flushed my DNS cache using IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS - tried reaching websites in question - no change, they time out.
- Ran the trace route for Powweb and got this in return: (does it look normal?)
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Joe>tracert www.powweb.com
Tracing route to www.powweb.com [66.152.97.133]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 153 ms 155 ms 140 ms phl-nas1.coretel.net [69.72.0.82]
2 186 ms 155 ms 140 ms phl-nas-gw.coretel.net [69.72.0.33]
3 171 ms 155 ms 140 ms 66.236.204.69.ptr.us.xo.net [66.236.204.69]
4 171 ms 140 ms 140 ms p4-3-0.mar1.philadelphia-pa.us.xo.net [207.88.87
.41]
5 187 ms 140 ms 155 ms p5-1-0-1.rar1.washington-dc.us.xo.net [65.106.3.
149]
6 218 ms 140 ms 155 ms p0-0.ir1.ashburn-va.us.xo.net [65.106.3.134]
7 234 ms 155 ms 155 ms ge-2-3-0.r01.asbnva01.us.bb.verio.net [206.223.1
15.12]
8 187 ms 155 ms 155 ms xe-1-3-0.r20.asbnva01.us.bb.verio.net [129.250.2
.170]
9 234 ms 233 ms 234 ms p64-2-2-0.r20.mlpsca01.us.bb.verio.net [129.250.
2.10]
10 281 ms 234 ms 233 ms p64-1-2-0.r20.lsanca03.us.bb.verio.net [129.250.
4.115]
11 281 ms 249 ms 232 ms xe-4-1.r00.lsanca03.us.bb.verio.net [129.250.5.3
3]
12 236 ms 249 ms 249 ms ge-4-13.a01.lsanca18.us.ra.verio.net [129.250.29
.122]
13 280 ms 249 ms 234 ms ge-3-1.a00.lsanca16.us.ce.verio.net [209.189.123
.6]
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * * Request timed out.
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * * Request timed out.
21 * * * Request timed out.
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * * * Request timed out.
24 * * * Request timed out.
25 * * * Request timed out.
26 * * * Request timed out.
27 * * * Request timed out.
28 * * * Request timed out.
29 * * * Request timed out.
30 * * * Request timed out.
Trace complete.
- Ran trace route for websites in question - still get a null result as below:
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Joe>tracert www.breitbart.com
Tracing route to breitbart.com [69.9.183.32]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 *
Thanks for suggestions thus far.
My guess:
Your machine (and/or machines using the same ISP) is infected and attacked and blacklisted and blocked
at several different levels for different destinations.
I'd contact the ISP, and the upper ISP to find out, as wll as doing serious check on your system and users who have access to the machine.
YvetteKuhns
3-10-06, 01:24 PM
Your traceroute stopped at verio.net which is a web hosting reseller. Perhaps the problem is at their end. If it was the ISP, you probably wouldn't have gotten that far, and you said someone else with the same ISP did not have a problem. It may be the timing that the site is down when YOU visit.
Or there is a problem on each of your computers. That is possible if they are connected or they both got infected. You may have infected both computers by visiting an infected website or accessing an infected file with each computer.
imagesheaven
3-10-06, 04:13 PM
I've been called a lot of things in my life and not everyone who knows me likes me, but I've never been told I'm "infected and attacked and blacklisted and blocked" - not even by my wife - but I won't take it personally.:rolleyes:
I will run full systems scans again with Virus software and adware software and see what comes up.
I did try seaching the registry with regedit for each of the 3 website names just to see if there might be a strange entry that should be removed - no such luck.
COUPLE OF HOURS LATER -
I ran again a full system scan on each computer, with System Restore off, using my virus program and my spyware program (each with up to date definitions) and there was not one negligible bugger on either computer - go figure.
Well, I said "Your machine (and/or machines using the same ISP) is infected....".
Also, it's just a guess.
But I don't overtrust these checking programs.
To be honest, I don't trust antivirus and spyware chackers, so much.
Maybe you should talk to verio if they are blocking the connection.
(It might be just another problem at verio, though.)
I'm glad that you didn't take my guess about your machine, personally. :)
Somerime, people are so identified/attached with their machine (or program) that they can get mad with a slightest hint of possibility of sign of machine (or software) problems/malfunctions/defects/inferiority.
imagesheaven
3-13-06, 11:53 AM
Contacted Verio with all the details - nothing to indicated problem, which still exists - still mysterious blocking of 3 websites.
Autoload
3-13-06, 12:47 PM
I suspect you can, but I just to confirm... Can you even resolve these web sites using DNS?
From a command prompt:
nslookup expresskaraoke.com
You should get 69.43.207.189
Then try http://69.43.207.189 and see if you get the site.
Do the same for the other two.
YvetteKuhns
3-13-06, 02:39 PM
I am now suspecting that your ISP may be monitoring your bandwidth usage. Did you spend alot of time on those websites? Did you download music or something there?
I recall when many Verizon DSL customers were complaining that they were no longer able to access websites where they could download music files. That was after the Napster trials as ISPs decided to protect themselves and help authorities catch people "stealing music". Perhaps your ISP is blocking those websites from you now.
You said someone else you know has the same ISP and visited the websites. But that person did not download anything or stay on the website long, did s/he?
imagesheaven
3-13-06, 04:23 PM
AUTOLOAD: Here are the results for the 3 websites from the command line as you suggested:
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\Joe>nslookup expresskaraoke.com
Server: node8.173.136.64.1dial.com
Address: 64.136.173.8
Name: expresskaraoke.com
Address: 69.43.207.189
C:\Documents and Settings\Joe>nslookup totalkaraoke.com
Server: node8.173.136.64.1dial.com
Address: 64.136.173.8
Name: totalkaraoke.com
Address: 69.43.207.191
C:\Documents and Settings\Joe>nslookup breitbart.com
Server: node8.173.136.64.1dial.com
Address: 64.136.173.8
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: breitbart.com
Address: 69.9.183.32
When using http://IP Address for each of the three, I get the 'Timed Out' message.
YVETTE: Good thought about the ISPs but:
- www.bretbart.com is just a news headline site - nothing to download and I've never spent more than 5 minutes reviewing a couple of stories.
- The other two incommunicado websites, expresskaraoke.com and totalkaraoke.com, are actually the same company with 2 domain names. I never downloaded anything from there (not sure they have anything to download), I order karaoke CD's to be delivered by UPS, again I might spend some time there looking for the CDs I want (up to 15-20 minutes) but use no bandwidth for downloading.
YvetteKuhns
3-13-06, 05:18 PM
http://www.5starsupport.com/faq/ie.htm#14-12
When trying to access certain sites, I get a "page cannot be displayed" message.
imagesheaven
3-13-06, 07:58 PM
IT'S FIXED - YOOZE PEOPLE ARE GREAT!
I'm so embarrased that my stupid problem generated so many thread views, so much attention, perseverence and good will on all your parts - what a great gathering of people on this forum. And the solution belongs to.......Y-V-E-T-T-E ! ! !. Her very last post with that link up above to 5 Star Support had the answer. Apparently I had a corrupted WINSOCK on both computers as the thing that fixed the problem was #5:
Method #5:
Try restoring your Winsock stack as it may have become corrupt.
For Service Pack 2 the best way to restore the Winsock stack is simply:
Go to Start>> Run. Type in: netsh winsock reset [Enter]
Then reboot.
-OR-
For Windows XP try downloading this Winsock fix:
Download Winsock Fix Here
I downloaded the FIX onto both computers, ran it, rebooted and found myself in karaoke pig-heaven being able to get on both those sites as well as breitbart. Thank you so much. Yvette gets the prize. I tried to boost her reputation points but got a message saying I had to spread them around before boosting her again which i will do. Now I have to study up and learn what a Winsock is and what it does - always thought it's what was at the end of the runway at the airport.
So, not to leave the mystery only partially solved....what CAUSED the WInsock corruption on two seperate computers? I believe I know and it's a good lesson for all. It was caused by one of those free-download registry cleanup programs (Toni Arts, etc.). They do a once-through and tell you 'here's a bunch of registry entries you don't need anymore.' For most of them it's true but I have read some cautionary messages that often times really important entries or dependencies get tossed. That's what happened. It's the only thing I ran on both computers that's common to them, and since I don't know what every registry means, I just trashed 'em all ! - winsock related and all ! Kind of air-headed isn't it? Ah, it's those missing braincells left strewn on the byways of the 60's and '70's next to Joplin's table-top mirror and razor blade, Morrison's empty whiskey bottles, Brian Jones' water wings, Cass Elliot's sandwich crusts, Elvis' unused toilet paper, Freddi Mercury's forgotten condoms and so one.
Thank you all again who worked so diligently on this project - may the good Lord light your pathways and grant success to your endeavors.
I am so glad you got it fixed! When I saw #5 from Yvette's link (the Winsock thing) I thought that might be a good possibility, but would never have thought of it on my own. I'll second the great job to Yvette!
Kevin
Good for you. :)
I'm not really convinved about the real cause, though.
My guess is ISP or upper ISP finally unblocked your IP (range) at the time you applied the fix.
You said Verio answered otherwise, but maybe it wasn't true.
If this happens next time, please apply the Winsock fix to only one machine.
Then you can be sure that if that was the cause.
Also, if it was the cause, why it happened in the first place?
I've never had problem of winsock since the day of Win95.
Was it because of virus?
To cause the same rare problem to two machines, it must be something "intentional".
An accident like hard disk failure cannot happen to two machines on exactly same file.
YvetteKuhns
3-14-06, 10:54 AM
I was unsure if that last note about the winsock was your problem. After finding that website, I recalled a similar problem on a computer I fixed a few years ago. I don't even remember which OS was on it. But you had already tried the other suggestions. I think the computer with the problem had installed one of those free registry checker programs, too, so maybe that was the culprit. It is odd that you didn't get an error like Windows 98's blue screen of death.
Glad to have helped. Since that stupid fuel oil truck hit me, I haven't been able to focus or think very well. Too much pain. It took a while for the pain killers to kick in long enough for me to remember the winsock and even find a link to back up that idea.
It is odd that the problem occurred on both of your computers, but that is why I thought there was something YOU did that you probably did on both computers. And your friend with the same ISP did NOT do that thing you did (which was installing the registry program).
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