Site Blockage: Internally?

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 10 Feb 2010 3:59 am

Experienced a very very strange situation recently--in fact its ongoing.

Trying to access a known valid, current up-to-date website yet every attempt to do so get me the "IE Cannot Display The Webpage" error. Copying and pasting links from other users there results in the very same.

Searching as far as I know how in my own computer doesn't reveal anything to me but that's subject to a vast lack of knowledge on my part. I've never encountered this problem with any other site and it's persistent--simply no way to visit and view the site. It is NOT a pay site at all BTW.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks all

J W

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 Feb 2010 6:02 am

Can you post the URL so someone else, here, can check it?

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 10 Feb 2010 7:55 am

There are six probable explanations for Internet Explorer being unable to display a web page:

The server for that site is down completely
The content for that page has been erased by someone
The server's firewall is blocking your IP address
Your security software is blocking access to it
Your hardware or software firewall is blocking that IP or URL
Your computer's HOSTS file is rerouting it to 127.0.0.1 (local Machine - blackhole IP)

As Jack said, unless you post the URL to this site we cannot determine if any of the first three options are to blame. If they are, you will need to either wait for the site to come back to life, or contact the webmaster to see if your IP is blacklisted for some reason.

You can investigate your onboard security programs to see if one of them contains an IP blocking module, such as is the case with SpywareBlaster, Spybot S&D and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Try removing real-time protection from each of these programs, one at a time.

You can manually check your own HOSTS file to see if the URL to this website has been blackholed to 127.0.0.1. If your computer runs on Windows XP, use Windows Explorer to navigate to "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\." There is a file in that directory named "HOSTS" which you can open in Notepad. Do so, then read through any entries beginning with 127.0.0.1, looking for the URL or IP address of the website that cannot be displayed. If you find it listed, remove that line and save the changes. If Notepad renames the file to hosts.txt, just right click on it, select Rename, and remove the .txt - so it is named "HOSTS"

You may need to unhide protected operating system and hidden files to see the HOSTS file, or navigate through the Windows sub-directories.

After editing your HOSTS file you will need to log off and back on for the change to take effect.

John Cipriano · Post by **John Cipriano** » 10 Feb 2010 12:10 pm

Use this to test: http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 10 Feb 2010 1:14 pm

John Cipriano wrote:Use this to test: http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/

Using John's link it seems it's just me----more and more curious now!

I've tried Wiz's recommendations concerning the HOST file in Sys32 and found the 127 local machine dead pool but nothing listed after it nor mention of the site in the NotePad message.

This is getting personal now!

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 10 Feb 2010 3:45 pm

J W Alexander wrote:
John Cipriano wrote:Use this to test: http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/
Using John's link it seems it's just me----more and more curious now!

I've tried Wiz's recommendations concerning the HOST file in Sys32 and found the 127 local machine dead pool but nothing listed after it nor mention of the site in the NotePad message.

This is getting personal now!

I believe you may be more right than you think J.W.! Contact the webmaster of the web site that won't display for you and ask him if your IP address has been blocked by the website configuration file, or by the web host's firewall. You can find your public IP address on this page, highlighted in yellow.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Feb 2010 4:14 pm

I get that message every day when I am on the forum and try to post or switch back to the index, although it hasn't happened in this session, yet.

EDIT: Just now, I switched to the main index, clicked on Forum Feedback, and got the error. Spooooky!!

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 10 Feb 2010 11:27 pm

J.W.;
Are you using Spybot Search and Destroy on the computer that won't display your desired web site? If so, uncheck the Immunizations for your account name for Domains and Hosts. Re-immunize after clearing those checkmarks, restart Windows, then try to access the website again.

If you are using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, try disabling IP blocking (Automatic Malicious Site Protection) under "Protection" (Registered users only).

Let me know if either of these things allows the website in question to be displayed.

BTW: What browsers have you used to try to open the website? If only IE, try Firefox or Chrome.

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 11 Feb 2010 1:59 pm

Hey Wiz!

I am not using Spybot S&D, do have Malwarebytes Anti-malware free edition, not register or have real-time protection. I've also checked my Windows firewall and didn't see anything listed that might exclude the site.

I use and am comfortable with IE---not sure why the other browers are touted as being such an improvement. I should mention I'm still using a dial-up connection and don't really need/want anything else for an ISP.

Thanks again all---great suggestions so far!