[tomdrayson]

Hello, I can visit any other website EXCEPT any Microsoft page. Not the main page, support articles or Windows Update - it says "web site found, waiting for reply" at the bottom of IE, and loads for about 2 minutes, and then I get the "This page cannot be displayed" error. Any other site I can think of works perfectly. If I ping microsoft.com from the command prompt I get "request timed out" for the 4 packets. Any other site is fine.

Thanks

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Update - I cannot access any Microsoft pages with Firefox either.

Thanks

[tomdrayson]

Update - I cannot access any Microsoft pages with Firefox either.

Thanks

[Major Payne]

Try using:

1) http://207.46.198.60 This is IE 7 Download page
2) http://207.46.156.254 This is Micro$oft's Update page

Possibly ActiveX Control is not turned on, but it would be better to put Micro$oft's site in the Trusted Zone:

To make this site a trusted website:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
2. On the Security tab, click the Trusted Sites icon.
3. Click Sites and under Add this website to the zone, copy and paste these website addresses.
You can only add one address at a time and you must click Add after each one:
* http://*.update.microsoft.com
* https://*.update.microsoft.com
* http://download.windowsupdate.com

Note: The asterisks and different addresses allow your computer to work with the site, no matter how you try to access it from your computer or the Web.

Firefox will not work very well on Micro$oft's site for some of the pages. Usually Micro$oft tells you which browser you need (IE of course) once you actually get the page to load.

Are you networked, cable modem, dial-up? Did this problem just start?

Ron

[tomdrayson]

Hi Ron, thanks for your quick reply. The two IP addresses do not work either - exactly the same result. Adding those addresses to the Trusted Sites list does not work either. The problem has only been in the last week or so, I think - I don't actively visit the Microsoft site very often - usually all updates are downloaded automatically. I am connected via a firewalled ADSL router - and an 8mbps connection with BT. A suggestion by someone else was to reduce the MTU size from 1492 bytes to 1400. This had no effect. I have also enabled all inbound and outbound traffic on port 443 in my router's firewall settings. All my security settings in Internet Options are set to default.

Edited by tomdrayson, 04 July 2006 - 01:15 AM.

[Major Payne]

Hi Tom:

Did you put these in the Trusted Zone:

http://*.update.microsoft.com
https://*.update.microsoft.com
http://download.windowsupdate.com

or the original ISP addresses I listed? Should be those above. Another one to try is:

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/. Downloads and Updates only take you back to US from this site, but maybe you can get it to load.

I take it the router is BT's (Voyager) and you have the latest drivers. Using USB or Ethernet connection? Recommend ethernet.

Not sure if this makes a difference, but is IE's settings in your router's firewall have options like Custom or Permit All? Thought a DNS problem, but you ruled that out when the IP addresses didn't work either. Have you got your TCP/IP connections set up where you obtain an IP address automatically? Repair connection after this if box was unchecked. Browser set to use LAN or Proxy connection? Your ISP use a Proxy Server? Wonder if someone has blocked Micro$oft's site or it's filtered in some way? Lost for ideas here.

One other suggestion is to insure your cache has been cleared or at least run Disk Cleanup and clean up unnecessary files you don't need/want. Hope someone drops by with better suggestions. Just the one site is strange. Last suggest for me: might try disabling your firewall temporarily to see if you can make a quick connection with IE to Micro$oft's site.

Ron

There was one critical update causing problems with HP PCs, but think a patch was issued already. Hope not related.

[tomdrayson]

Hi, yes I put the Microsoft Update addresses in the Trusted Zone, not the IPs!

The router is infact a Netgear DG834G, I am connected via ethernet.
TCP/IP is set obtain everything automatically, repairing the connection has no effect.
My network in general works perfectly anyway, it's only the MS sites which don't work!
Browser has everything unticked in LAN settings, there is no proxy either.
There are no blocked sites in my router config.
I have tried emptying my temporary internet files and running Disk Cleanup - no change.
I have Norton Firewall, but I still can't access Microsoft with it completely disabled.
I am also confident that I have no malware either.

This is quite strange isn't it!

Thanks Major

Edited by tomdrayson, 04 July 2006 - 01:19 AM.

[tomdrayson]

Well, I have made no changes whatsoever, but the Microsoft website is working fine now. I have no idea what the problem was. Looks like it was something at their end, maybe only affecting certain systems - as seeing as every other site worked fine.
Anyway it's working!
Thanks for you input Major Payne.

[Major Payne]

Hi Tom:

That is strange, but glad it is working for you. Should you ever find out what it was that got it working, please post back with it. Could have been a number of things.

Happy 4th to you.

Ron

[tomdrayson]

Happy 4th? What does that mean? I'm confused!

[Major Payne]

If you're British, it's not a holiday. For me, it's my country's Independence Day from British tyranny in 1776. Nowadays, it a chance to celebrate, get a holiday off from work and shoot firecrackers for most.

Ron

[tomdrayson]

Oh right yeh 4th of July I see! I hope you had a nice day off!