Some Sites Open, Some Sites Won't??

Hope one of you can help me. As you can see, I can get online to some sites via IE 6.0. I am running Windows XP Home and have already done a reinstall of IE 6, Outlook Express, and even XP. Still, same thing. Some sites come up without a problem (Yahoo), but if I navigate further into sites like Yahoo, it gives me a server error. I am running on a Comcast cable account, and they have verified that I am rec'g full bandwidth without any timeouts, so they're saying it's my browser. I've done everything I can think of. It's starting to become very annoying. Does anyone know why this happened, and how I can get rid of it? Will I have to wipe out my hard drive and reinstall my entire OS? Also, sometimes I can receive mail, and sometimes I can't (ingoing and outgoing). Same for downloading. If anyone can help, I'd be much obliged!!

 

This isn't a browser issue and if tech support told it was they're crazy.
The DNS server that you are using is the problem.
What you should do is search for a DNS server near you and use it. The problems will go away.
It is also possible that your experiencing high latency. This would be caused by too many people on your node.

 

Thanks Bob. How do I search for a DNS server near me? When I trace sites in the CMD prompt, I get timed out messages on hop #2. The "fe-3-1-ar-01.dover.nj.nj03.comcast.net" seems to be the problem. What should I do? How do I convince Comcast of the problem?
They told me that if it was on their end, they would have many calls coming in and the problem would have been fixed already.

 

If you're getting timed out messaages then the problem is on the Comcast network.

Use 66.93.186.15 as the only DNS server and test again. This is my DNS server. If you still experience timeouts post back.

 

Thanks for the DNS. Unfortunately, same problem. I can get to Yahoo (it takes a couple of seconds), but trying to navigate to one of their pages is fruitless. All I do is switch the DNS server in my TCP/IP connection, right? Exit out of IE, bring it back up, and try again? I didn't restart or anything, but I didn't think i needed to. Still getting the same kind of problem. My IT buddy thinks it's the router i mentioned, but still, if people aren't calling in to ask about the problem, then how can it be on their end?

 

I figured it wouldn't help. One of their routers is having problems.

Try here for help:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcast

There are some Comcast techs that hang out there.
It is possible that Comcast is doing the upgrade to their network. I know that while the upgrade was going on in some areas the kinds of problems you're having was commonplace.

 

Thanks Bob for all your help. Unfortunately, looks like I can't get to that link!! Catch-22 to say the least. If I call Comcast again, what should I say?

 

Tell them you get ping timeouts on your gateway. Have them do a traceroute back to you and they should see where the problem is. You'll need to get to a second level tech. Have them connect you with a manager right away.

 

Code:

Tracing route to pcp05837078pcs.jdover01.nj.comcast.net [68.***.***.***.Ip_removed]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1	<1 ms	<1 ms	<1 ms node-40241db1.mdw.onnet.us.uu.net [64.36.29.177]

2	18 ms	17 ms	25 ms 209.212.174.237
3	18 ms	21 ms	17 ms 207.251.180.230
4	19 ms	18 ms	27 ms 0.so-0-0-1.hr1.chi2.alter.net [152.63.64.181]
5	18 ms	17 ms	19 ms 0.so-6-3-0.xl1.chi2.alter.net [152.63.73.34]
6	18 ms	17 ms	18 ms 0.so-7-0-0.br6.chi2.alter.net [152.63.71.94]
7	21 ms	20 ms	21 ms 204.255.168.58
8	20 ms	21 ms	21 ms tbr1-p013902.cgcil.ip.att.net [12.122.11.205]
9	41 ms	42 ms	41 ms tbr1-cl1.n54ny.ip.att.net [12.122.10.1]
10	40 ms	40 ms	46 ms gar1-p310.nw2nj.ip.att.net [12.123.219.130]
11	42 ms	41 ms	42 ms 12.119.12.18
12	42 ms	43 ms	46 ms ar01-pos-9-1.dover.nj.nj03.comcast.net [68.87.19
.246]
13	43 ms	45 ms	42 ms fe-0-0-ubr02.dover.nj.nj03.comcast.net [68.87.52
.38]
14	 *		*		*	 Request timed out.
15	 *		*		*	 Request timed out.
16	 *		*		*	 Request timed out.
17	 *		*		*	 Request timed out.

Code:

Pinging 68.87.0.52.38 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Ping statistics for 68.87.0.52.38:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss)

Tell them you are getting 100% loss on the router after your gateway. I am amazed that you can even get here.

 

Well, I called them and they are sending out a tech. She is putting me in contact with a manager after taking all of my information that you provided. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again for all your help.

Sure wish I still had Optimum Online!!

 

Well have you tried other browsers?

 

I have had so many problems like that with Comcast before I dropped them. I ALWAYS timed out at least once to the second hop in a tracert with Comcast to their network.

This is obviously now not the issue, but keep in mind that some sites won't open with programs like WebWasher running, but nowadays it's less common.

 

Well, the tech came out here and still no positive results. He hooked up his laptop to my cable modem etwork card, and he got to every site perfectly fine. All of the sites that don't work on my PC worked on his. He said that since everything worked on his laptop, then it's on my computer itself. I switched network cables, and the same result.

Did his laptop work because he had a different IP address, or is it on my end, and if so, do you think I have to wipe out my OS and reinstall?? I don't want to call Microsoft, but I am getting desperate. Nobody seems to know what the problem is. I can get to certain sites (why I am here), but most others, I just get time out errors. Does anybody know how to solve this problem? I still seem to think it's a router issue on Comcast's end, but wouldn't the laptop have rec'd the same error messages if it went through my network card?

 

If you have access to another computer hook it up and try it. It could be something wrong with your OS. If you can access all sites with another box then you will probably have to wipe your OS.
Only thing I can think of is to check your network connections properties and if you run a firewall turn it off an try to connect.

 

Hmmm...you may want to get TCPOptimizer from this page:

http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

It adjusts recieve windows, TTL, MTU, and other such settings. It could be that those are just configured incorrectly for broadband, and so are timing out.

 

Also you would want to check to see if your security level in internet options is at a default level. Sometimes it can stop you also from reaching some sites, along with a firewall that is not configured properly to let you go to those sites as mentioned prior. If you are running an anti-virus program thru your email can time out from that. Disable email scanning and see if it works then. As long as autoprotect is on then you will be protected if virus is in email. Hopefully your problem is already fixed.