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Problem loading certain websites

For the past year or so, my iMac has (running Mac OS X 10.5.8) has been giving me trouble when it comes to loading certain websites. The reason why I think it's my computer as opposed to my browser or my internet connection is because these websites will load on other computers connected to the wireless network in my home, and because the problem persists with any browser I attempt to use - I've tried Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari and none of them load these websites. (Also, they load fine when I'm on the internet via my iPod touch.)

The websites in question include about.com, ehow.com, and any website with a .me extension. There are others, but those are the three that come to mind at the moment. When I try to go on about.com for example, the page simply does not load. There's not even an attempt to load the page. It's very frustrating because I see no reason why these websites shouldn't work.

I have tried clearing the caches, history and preferences for all browsers, as well as logging in as a different user on my computer and seeing if these websites worked - they didn't work, even as a different user. I was told it could be a problem with the .plist files, so I dragged all of them into the trash and tried loading these webpages, but it still didn't work. Does anyone know what else it could be? Also, I apologize if my description of the problem was unclear.

Intel-based iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 9, 2010 10:34 AM

29 replies

Mar 9, 2010 12:37 PM in response to a brody

The main websites that are giving me this problem are about.com, ehow.com and any website with a .me extension. There have been others but these are the main ones I can think of at the moment.

One thing I neglected to mention is that the inability to load websites with a .me extension progressed slowly. At first, I had to restart whatever browser I was using to load formspring.me for example but after a couple of days the website stopped loading completely, almost like it ran out of batteries or lost power or something. That's the only way I can think of to describe it.

Also, I did not delete any .plists. I tried dragging all of the files to the trash and restarting my browser but when this did nothing, I dragged the files back. None of them have been deleted.

a brody

Level 10

83,011 points

Mar 9, 2010 12:43 PM in response to lauriespieker

This sounds like a router table issue with your internet router. Try using Open DNS DNS numbers:

http://www.opendns.org/

Usually that fixes such issues. Use them instead of your internet provider's numbers.

Mar 9, 2010 1:10 PM in response to a brody

The Open DNS numbers didn't work for some reason. I followed all the instructions and it said "oops! you aren't running Open DNS" or something to that effect.

Honestly, this is getting very frustrating and I don't know if anything else will work.

Thank you all so much for your help - I really do appreciate it. 🙂

Message was edited by: lauriespieker

Mar 9, 2010 6:46 PM in response to lauriespieker

Try typing 207.241.148.80 in place of about.com
and 98.124.249.20 in place of ehow.com

These are the ip addresses of the site, if you reach the sites this way you have a DNS issue as a brody has pointed out. If this works concentrate on the DNS issue. You may even have to enter the Open DNS server addresses in you router.

Mar 10, 2010 12:08 PM in response to Bob Jackins

How did you make out with your problem?

Mar 11, 2010 4:09 AM in response to Bob Jackins

The websites still didn't work when I typed in the IP addresses. And what's more, Adium stopped working last night. The little "logging in" icon continuously rotates but I can't sign on.

I couldn't get the Open DNS thing to work either. That was probably a problem on my end, but I don't know what I did wrong since I followed the instructions to the letter.

Additionally, I found another website that doesn't work - ezinearticles.com. They all seem to be informational websites...

Mar 11, 2010 6:52 AM in response to Bob Jackins

I found another website that doesn't work - mahalo.com.

I'm not sure what all of these websites (about.com, ehow.com, ezinearticles.com, mahalo.com and websites with a .me extension) have in common, but maybe someone else will!

Mar 11, 2010 7:13 AM in response to Bob Jackins

All right. Sorry to keep spamming this thread but I figured I would add that I got Open DNS working but the websites still do not work.

For the record, this is the complete list of things I have tried:

- checking cookies
- making sure my Firewall wasn't blocking anything
- repairing permissions
- resetting the SMC
- checking parental controls
- updating Flash
- renewing DHCP lease
- Typing in the IP addresses of these websites as opposed to their URLS

So far, none of these things have worked. 😟

a brody

Level 10

83,011 points

Mar 11, 2010 7:48 AM in response to lauriespieker

If the IP addresses doesn't work, then the problem is clearly the router table of your modem or router itself. Replace those, and see what happens.

Mar 11, 2010 6:49 PM in response to a brody

Yup, it was established today that it is in fact a problem with the router! (Not that I doubted your opinion heh). Thank you so much, all of you, for your help. I really appreciate it. 🙂

Mar 11, 2010 6:56 PM in response to lauriespieker

Glad things are working good again. Bob :~))

Mar 12, 2010 3:10 AM in response to Bob Jackins

Thank you very much. 🙂 It is definitely a relief to have things functioning again, especially when these websites hadn't been working for almost a YEAR and I was never sure which website was going to stop working next!

Agusti86

Level 1

0 points

Mar 12, 2010 6:06 PM in response to lauriespieker

Hi there,

It's good to know someone is having the exact same problem. Just wondering what you did exactly concerning your router?

Mainly eBay is my most problem website to load. I also tried using all other solutions to solve my problem, such as using openDNS and making sure my flash was updated.

Thanks!

Mar 17, 2010 1:09 PM in response to Agusti86

I just did a hard reset and that seemed to fix the problem, although I will say that I've done many hard resets in the past and this is the only time that the problem has gone away so I am wondering if there was another "fix" I did that allowed the hard reset to work, if that makes any sense.

At some point, I will have to get a new router as this one is definitely on its way out and I need to do a hard reset multiple times a week, which should not happen. I would give that a try. Here are the instructions I followed:

"hold the reset button with the power on, for 30 seconds, then while continuing to hold the reset button, unplug the linksys router, continuing to hold the red button in the back for 30 seconds, and while still holding it in, plug in the power again and keep holding the reset button for an additional 30 seconds. This will wipe the nvram out."

Problem loading certain websites