Trouble getting forum to load properly

[I-CC]

Not read the full thread (as its massive) but this looks similar to what we have come across in the past to do with the Windows DNS Client, so in Windows (XP anyway) go into the Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services and locate the DNS Click. CLick on it once and select the Stop Service. Right click on it and disable it from starting up and then reboot the machine and see if that solves it.

Just an idea

[TraceyHand]

hmm..Daren (Los Design) suggested that too.

The connection works fine that way then?
what implications does stopping the DNS (whatever that does) have?

[Duncan Rounding]

I find that if I just be patient (difficult) then it will start working again in about 5 minutes or less. It only appears to affect this site as I'm aware (although I think it may also affect actinic express stores but never proved this yet) , all other browsing seems ok.

It's a bit too ealy to tell but it hasn't happened since pointing the dns to opendns servers.

[I-CC]

The Windows DNS Client is like a local PC cache DNS server, which can very easily get corrupted in our experience, which then cause loads of routing delays as Windows is trying to route everything.

Turning it off basically makes sure that your connection uses its ISP provided DNS servers as opposed to a local PC cached one.

Worth a try as you can switch it back on just as easily if it does not kick in after a reboot etc.

[pinbrook]

what implications does stopping the DNS (whatever that does) have?

none because when you restart the machine you restart the DNS service

Essentially all we are suggesting is diiferent ways to clear the dns from your machine, if you have a clean Pc DNS wise you will establish if the issue is DNS related or not.

I'm in agreement with the others your problem (Tracey) is not the same as Lee's which i think we have established is a simple DNS one.

Tracey - you need to be more scientific. If you can connect at home using a PC, then you should test the laptop from the same connection

wirelessly
wired into the router
wired into the modem

[TraceyHand]

yes, Jo..I agree
I think I'm home thursday (no childcare) so I'll hunt down some cables and try various other methods of getting connected to see if I can narrow down the problem.

[Duncan Rounding]

I've been using opendns instead of the defauilt virgin/ntl dns servers for about two weeks now but the problem still exists.

Did you try opendns Lee?

[leehack]

Yes Duncan, i set it up the same day we spoke about it. I would say that it has been marginally better for me, although i have been far less active this week, so this supposed success is probably just down to being far less peed off with it.

In short, probably not a scrap of difference in reality.

[Duncan Rounding]

Lee - do you also find that it seems more likely to happen when you hit the post button?

[leehack]

Lee - do you also find that it seems more likely to happen when you hit the post button?

Only if the post has taken 10 minutes or more to write and it wants to pee me off lol. It certainly happens alot when posting and also when quickly moving around the forum. It almost seems that it needs to completely finish one task before doing another, no quick movements etc.

[kev67]

good job I wasn't typing a novel here as the site just went "offline" at 2.36pm - server too busy was the message I got

[TraceyHand]

here too...although that's better than the "page cannot be displayed" and time outs I've been getting 95% of the time in the hour I've been home
It's driving me crazy!!

[Darren B]

It's driving me crazy!!

Think this should have been crazier LOL

Serious though the forum seems better than normal for me today, oh maybe it's the gremlins in the north then

[Darren B]

OK

I seem to be having problems aswell this afternoon, a few times outs

D

[TraceyHand]

it just gets worse and worse for me

It messes about quite a lot at the office (where my connection is fairly quick) but at home I have almost given up on the forum altogether (only almost..don't all get excited now!)
It takes about 20 mins just to get in, read the new posts and attempt a (most likely failed) reply on my snailpace connection which just can't handle it.
It's frustrating because it's usually when I'm home in the evening that I'm tinkering with stuff and need to search and sometimes post and 90% of the time, I just can't