OT: Techy help needed please, problems accessing online apps

10 Jan 2007

Hi peeps.
Following on from a recent thread ……………………
I have a friend who has recently changed computers, her old one went to the big micrograve yard in the sky and a friend of hers gave her a spare on permanent loan.
Sad as it sounds MSN Messenger, IM, and mail are a bit of a lifeline for her at the moment and no matter what she does, it refuses to let her in, she has all the right log in details that have worked for years so its not that.
As an experiment I set up an online e-mail account for her with one of the many free e-mail providers and the error message is always the same.
She can log into the account, but as soon as she tries to reply to a mail, or clicks the respond or create mail button, it says “page cannot be displayed.” dunno

Whenever she tries to sign in to either the msn or messenger services it says “ unable to sign in”
She can access other websites without any problems, and is able to use private and public message boards. But it seems as though whenever she tries to access any other form of communications medium, the machine kicks her out.
I have tried to go through the security settings on her machine with her but all to no avail, any thoughts would be most welcome.
using windows xp
zone alarm
windows firewall
NTL firewall
as I am trying to sort this over the phone with her it's becoming increasingly difficult to do and i'm getting close to pulling my hair out lol

:shock: who said 'what hair' ? come on own up smackbottom

10 Jan 2007

Quote by Pete_sw
Hi peeps.
Following on from a recent thread ……………………
I have a friend who has recently changed computers, her old one went to the big micrograve yard in the sky and a friend of hers gave her a spare on permanent loan.
Sad as it sounds MSN Messenger, IM, and mail are a bit of a lifeline for her at the moment and no matter what she does, it refuses to let her in, she has all the right log in details that have worked for years so its not that.
As an experiment I set up an online e-mail account for her with one of the many free e-mail providers and the error message is always the same.
She can log into the account, but as soon as she tries to reply to a mail, or clicks the respond or create mail button, it says “page cannot be displayed.”
Whenever she tries to sign in to either the msn or messenger services it says “ unable to sign in”
She can access other websites without any problems, and is able to use private and public message boards. But it seems as though whenever she tries to access any other form of communications medium, the machine kicks her out.
I have tried to go through the security settings on her machine with her but all to no avail, any thoughts would be most welcome.
using windows xp
zone alarm
windows firewall
NTL firewall
as I am trying to sort this over the phone with her it's becoming increasingly difficult to do and i'm getting close to pulling my hair out
:shock: who said 'what hair' ? come on own up

Hi Pete

I'm no major geek, but, is the windows version up to date, and msn too?
If pc not been used for a while then it could possibly need updating, also check to see if updates are swithched on!
You could try downloading new browser such as Firefox, that might help. Failing that contact msn support and They Ususally can help.
:thumbup:

10 Jan 2007

just use one firewall pete rolleyes

the otheres will conflict

10 Jan 2007

It sounds like to much software doing similar things and getting confused. Time for some pruning.

10 Jan 2007

sent you a pm

12 Jan 2007

I would un-install the NTHell thing, turn off Windows and the ZA firewall.
Then I would try to use the services that do not work to eliminate if it is a firewall problem.
Obviously, if they do work, then you have found the problem. If not, cookies for the relevent services might need to be allowed, if security settings are too high.
If it turns out to be a firewall related problem, It may be beneficial to un-install ZA and download the latest version and install it. The reason being, ZA will then go through a "learning" process of what things you wish to connect to the 'net, by offering the user a yes/no option. It may be easier than getting someone on a phone to go through the ZA settings it already has.
The reason I would use ZA over Windows firewall is that WIndows can keep things out, but last I knew of it, anything already in the computer could connect outwards.

12 Jan 2007

Quote by herts
I would un-install the NTHell thing, turn off Windows and the ZA firewall.
Then I would try to use the services that do not work to eliminate if it is a firewall problem.
Obviously, if they do work, then you have found the problem. If not, cookies for the relevent services might need to be allowed, if security settings are too high.
If it turns out to be a firewall related problem, It may be beneficial to un-install ZA and download the latest version and install it. The reason being, ZA will then go through a "learning" process of what things you wish to connect to the 'net, by offering the user a yes/no option. It may be easier than getting someone on a phone to go through the ZA settings it already has.
The reason I would use ZA over Windows firewall is that WIndows can keep things out, but last I knew of it, anything already in the computer could connect outwards.

I was just about to say that. rolleyes

12 Jan 2007

I wish I had known....that took half an hour with one finger. mad

:boxing: :P

12 Jan 2007

As previously stated, it's almost definitely firewall conflicts...just use the ZA one. The NTL one is little better than useless and the ZA one is better than the Windows XP one (in my opinion anyway).
If it's a broadband connection and you're sitting behind a wireless router with hardware firewall, you don't need any of them !