Geoff K
Level 1 (17 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Browsers will not accept links

I had started a discussion but in an already active thread (Cannot load 60% of webpages). Starting over here. A strange problem occurred just after I updated my OS with the latest security update. Away from home using MBA and Verizon hotspot I could not open a web page via a link from BBC news. Verizon reception was at -105 so I assumed the problem was poor connection. email worked fine and app store worked fine. When I first connected after an hour or more off line it would work for 1-2 attempts; then no progress on the blue bar for more attempts. Eventually I could get onto no web pages, regardless of how I attempted to get there. On the last day away I tried Firefox and it worked fine. The message from Safari if I left the tab open long enough was "Safari can't open the page... what a few minutes and try again." Trying again never worked.

 

Now home with satellite Internet connection, it started happening again but only after I had been using Safari for a half hour. I could get to the page by copying the link from the "Safari can't open..." page and pasting it into another tab. Now, after several days, I can copy the link and paste it back into the tab that failed and it goes to the page. This morning I was using Safari to browse BBC's news without problem... yet. I haven't been back to the MBA since I've been home.

 

To summarize; After updating El Capitan, Safari on the MBA started refusing to open a link from a news site. It progressed to not opening any web pages but the progression was over 2 days. The same phenomena is present on my iMac but less severe (bookmarked sites are fine) and getting better.

 

Extensions are 1Password, Ghostery, and Dictionary. All have been in use for several years. iMac is late 2009, MBA 2010.

 

Strange behaviors. Do I need to worry?

 

Geoff

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Sep 17, 2016 8:03 AM

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Geoff K

Q: Browsers will not accept links

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  • by SnickZ.,

    SnickZ. SnickZ. Sep 18, 2016 6:35 AM in response to Geoff K
    Community Specialists
    Sep 18, 2016 6:35 AM in response to Geoff K

    Hi there Geoff!

    Thanks for pointing me to the other discussion regarding your problems with browsers not loading web pages. I'll be glad to help. You've probably tried some of the steps I'll be offering here, so feel free to skip any that you've already tried.

    Safari 9 (El Capitan): Clear your browsing history -- I've had such large browsing histories in the past that it took too long to confirm the site I was visiting wasn't there, and the browser stopped searching.

    Install and manage Safari extensions on your Mac -- Turn off all of your Safari extensions, Force Quit Safari by going to the Apple Menu () > Force Quit, selecting Safari then clicking "Force Quit". Relaunch Safari and test one or two of the sites that weren't loading before. If it works, turn on one extension at a time, quit Safari, and test again. 

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn‘t finish starting up -- Even though your Mac is starting up, safe mode ensure it's starting up correctly. Log into your normal user account and see how Safari is behaving.

    How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac -- This step will confirm whether the problem is located just in your user account or whether it's throughout your system.

    Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac -- If it's happening in the new user account you just set up as well, I highly advise making a fresh backup of your Mac. It's always better to "have" a backup than "need" a backup.

    About OS X Recovery -- Follow the steps in this article to reinstall your Mac's operating system.

     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities and have a great day!

  • by Geoff K,

    Geoff K Geoff K Sep 20, 2016 6:14 AM in response to SnickZ.
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 6:14 AM in response to SnickZ.

    Sorry for such a late response. I've been gone a few days and not checking email. I haven't tried your suggestions yet but hope to later today. One observation I can make; while gone I was using the MBA. The problem is still present. It has cleared from my home iMac without me doing anything.

     

    I'll try your suggestions and get back.

     

    Thanks for the help.

     

    Geoff

  • by Geoff K,

    Geoff K Geoff K Sep 21, 2016 9:13 PM in response to SnickZ.
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 9:13 PM in response to SnickZ.

    Well, I'm confused with a capital C. Now everything is working fine. The problem started a week ago while using the MBA with a Verizon hotspot in a marina in Northern Wisconsin. Phone reception was -105 db. It got steadily worse over 24-36 hrs until I could not browse at all. Then, back at home on the iMac all was fine until about 24 hrs when the iMac started doing the same thing but not as complete as the MBA. Back to The marina again and the MBA opening some web pages but not all. Now home again and both MBA and iMac working fine with Safari.

     

    So it's acting like a virus; human virus, that is. The symptoms were vague and non consistent at first, snowballed to misery, and then got better until they resolved completely.

     

    Problem solved? Or problem sleeping? And what was the problem?

     

    Geoff