Willie needs our help!

[Tony Junior]

I have Willie on the phone right now. He is having major computer problems.

I am at a loss to help him, but maybe someone here can. He cannot get his browser to work, so any suggestions will be relayed over the phone this evening.

His Internet connection is fine from both ends.
He can actually get online games to work.
He has Vonage and his phone works perfectly.
He tried a system restore and it will NOT restore to an earlier date.
His anti-virus is working, he did a complete scan last night...no virus.
He spent several hours on the phone with Microsoft and they claim it's an ISP problem, which it isn't, otherwise his phone wouldn't work.
He checked with his provider and everything is connected fine. (They told him to call Microsoft)

But his browser will NOT work, and without the browser he can't get online to any site.

So if anyone has any suggestions, please leave them here!

[Chris]

That is bad news TJ - Hope he gets it fixed OK. Unfortunately I would be in the same boat as Willie if anything went wrong with my computor as I know very little about them apart from turning on & off.

Hope someone on here can help.

[Tony Junior]

Willie wants me to log on as him to check messages. So don't think it's him on right now!

[Angry_Radish]

If you can PM me his #, I can walk him through troubleshooting (network admin here)

[rodtrotter]

tony if you download firefox give it to willie and install in on hes pc then you will be up and runing firefox is much better that IE

[GreggTheGuru]

Without having all the details, I'm going to make a couple of assumptions.
1) Willie is using Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE)
2) MSIE starts, but won't load a webpage
Since your connection obviously works, the problem is most likely with MSIE, to problem is to fix it without having a way to access the internet. If Willie uses Outlook, Outlook Express, or Eudora (or similar program) to send and receive EMail, sombody could send him the install program for the (free) Firefox browser as an attachment. After installing Firefox, Willie would then be able to access the internet, go to Windows Update and get a new version of MSIE (or not, he may like Firefox better).
If Willie has been using web based email like hotmail or yahoo, this option is out.
Another thing to try might involve using nasty AOL. A lot of computers come with AOL preinstalled. Willie might try firing up that install program. It would involve creating an account (the he would later cancel), and still may not work because the AOL browser leans on MSIE to work.
In the event the Willie has been using AOL as his ISP (and here I'm assuming an "always on" connection like DSL) try starting MSIE without connecting to AOL.
Now, for the techie, you gotta get out your manual, suggestion -
Your modem most likely has a router built in to it. You need to see if it is filtering out Port 80 (or any ports for that matter). Port 80 is the port that your looks for the internet on. If the modem/router is stopping access to it then you can't access the web. Vonage, filesharing, and online games use other ports which explains why they work.
Accessing this information is different on all hardware so I can't give specifics for Willie, but generally follow steps like these:
Start your browser
in the address bar type (without the quotes) "http://192.168.1.1" (get the correct address from the manual, this address is the one my router uses - it might work for you)
This should get you to some kind of menu for the router.
Look for "expert" or "advanced" mode or some nerdy menu like that.
Look for "IP Filtering" or "filtering" or something like that
If you get that far make sure that NO ports are filtered
If Port 80 or a range of ports that include 80 have been filtered - that's the problem. Change the filtering so that no ports are blocked.
Save and exit.
If you didn't find any blocked ports you may want to fiddle with the DMZ setting. But be forwarned - what I am about to tell will defeat your modems firewall against baddies on the internet and should only be done temporarily.
There is a setting in your Modem/router called the DMZ is specifcally removes firewall protection from a given PC on your network (handy if you need to run a server application). It may not be called the DMZ on your hardware but you'll know it when you find the setting because when you apply it, it will warn you the way I just did about being exposed to the internet - I wish I could be more detailed.
This is the best I can do with the info provided - if none of this stuff works (or can't be done) Post or PM me the details, I'll be back later...
~GTG

[Youngjedi]

I had a similar problem about a month ago. I too have vonage, and it works great. With the high speed cable internet from my ISP, I called them and had them ping my modem. They could not make a connection. My cable tv worked perfectly, it runs on a seperate frequency through my cable. This is how I fixed the problem. Where the cable comes into the house, it splits off to the cable modem and the cable box (tv). the cable that went to my Modem was bad. By changing out that cable, my internet and vonage was restored. I hope this helps.

[Tony Junior]

Rodtrotter - Excellent idea, but I'm too far away to get it to him.

GregtheGuru - I was in the process of reading him your post, he went to his e-mail and it couldn't find it. He had to leave for work, and that is all we got to check.

He does not use AOL, but I think he uses comcast, at least for his e-mail.

AngryRadish - is going to call him tonight after work. Willie is to call me sometime after work. Whatever happens, I'll still pass along all the great information/help!

[slothappy144]

test this :
open My computer
make sure address bar is visible by click View, Tool bars, Address Bar checked
in address bar type in www.mozilla.com
if it connects then Dl firefox and install.
if not we could try to have him open a remote desktop so I could remotely repair, assuming that service still works. There is a check list of trouble shooting stepa as you have seen above best bet is have him on the other line for this.

[alstonj1]

goto start then hit the run tab . then backspace and get rid of what ever is there . then type the following http://pachitalk.com and hit enter and see if the page comes up . if it does get a good spyware program and purge the crap out of it . norton and mcaffe dont cut it anymore they have the ability to turn them off at will . if your loaded up with spyware it stops up the drain and you cant get out through i.e.

[alstonj1]

if it doesn't work then unplug the modem/router and each computer then wait a few min then plug the modem/router in first then turn on the computer and vonage box . I have vonage also and sometimes you need to reset the router also comcast might be having problems upstream from him that doesnt always take out the vonage system since it doesnt rely on i.e to function .

[Fighter Pilot]

Thanks to everyone for your help!!! Angry Radish called me Friday night and walked me through a bunch of stuff and now I'm back!!! THANK YOU so much sir!!!

[MrGneiss]

[Tulsa]

Thank you Angry Radish!

I'm sure all the other salad fixin's are most impressed with you today!

[Tony Junior]

Is this place great or what?!

WTG AR, and everybody else wwho offered to help!

[Eddie]

Welcome back AGAIN Willie! Now try to stay awhile

[hanabi]

Whoo!!!!!

[luckydog]

Maybe we need an Ask Mr. Fixit thread?????

For non pachi things