Techies and Geeks--any thoughts on this thread?

[tanyev]

re: some people having trouble getting to www.blackboxvoting.org

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2734488

I didn't start the thread, but I also am having the problem. And it has to be something specific to my computer because my husband can go to the site on his computer which is on our home LAN and has virtually the same settings and software as me. Hubby has done virus scan and IE repair on my machine, but I still can't get Bev's site. Actually, he says my computer is pinging it and when I go to the site, he can check "source" and see that it has started to load, but all you can view on my computer is a white, empty screen. He's a geek himself, but PCs are not his area of expertise. Any other ideas? He is considering replacing IE with Firefox (does that make sense?), but that seems pretty drastic to me.

[trotsky]

1. Not drastic.

Replacing IE with Firefox is a good decision regardless. Almost immune to adware/spyware, faster, and just an overall better browser, especially with the tabbed browsing extension.

Have you emptied your IE cache files and cleared the history?

[tanyev]

3. OK, I realize the word drastic was an

exaggeration, and I understand how Firefox would generally be a good decision. It just seems odd that I haven't had any problems with any other sites. And certainly there must be lots of people using IE that can get to Black Box Voting.

We did empty the cache files and clear the history.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. What firewall do you use?

Turn it off and try again. Also if you use Norton or other security programs, check them for java and popup settings. Then, if you're using IE, go to TOOLS, then INTERNET OPTIONS, then SECURITY, then reset each zone to DEFAULT LEVEL.

[tanyev]

4. We use Norton.

I'll ask hubby if he tried turning it off and on again. I know he was looking at the java settings. I think he was suspicious that was the problem and I think that's when he started talking about just installing Firefox. He uses it and loves it. I hadn't had any reason to switch, until now perhaps.

Resetting security to default level did not help.

[Angry Girl]

5. you may have a domain hijacker on your pc

If you're truly getting to BBV but just not loading it, then this won't work but just in case....

Do you use a hosts file? If you do, then edit it and delete the blackboxvoting.org entry.

If you don't use a hosts file, you may have something that "hijacked" the domain such that every time you try to resolve the name blackboxvoting.org, it takes you to an incorrect ip address.

To check whether you've been hijacked, check item #11 on my post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x447

Also, make sure your cache has been cleared. And clear your Temporary Internet files (but don't delete your cookies, who live in the same place).

Good luck!

Angry Girl
nightweed.com

[tanyev]

6. Update!

I can now get to the BBV site. Apparently there is one crucial difference between my computer and Mr. tanyev's computer. He has Windows 98 and I have Windows ME. His googling seemed to suggest that ME and XP are the most likely to have problems with javascript. There was something in javascript on the BBV site at the top right by the Donate prompt. He said that's where my computer kept hanging up when it tried to access BBV. Anyway, it's not on the home page anymore, and I can get there without any problem.

Thank you all for your input.

[trotsky]

7. Eeeek! Windows ME!

Get thee off of that horrible excuse for an operating system!

Glad you resolved the issue, though!