My third try to post the "final" solution to my Safari/network problems, only it wasn't. Oh nuts! I beg you, please help

[GeneL]

It's really been ticking me off…

I'd open a webpage… fine, no problem, but the I'd click a link and a page would open, the url
would start slowly showing its blue progress and then stop.

This happened over and over. I'd end up looking at a notice that said, "you are not connected to the internet" or "the server couldn't be found."

There usually was a button saying. "network diagnostics," which led me to choices of different locations, which in turn led me back to having a connection and the page would load.

This occurrence happened more and more often, until I finally called Cox cable's high speed internet support. After a check was run on my equipment (modem and router) and connection, I was told that the problem lay with my computer. That was that, although in the process, I ran a broadband speed check and blew the socks off the young lady by hitting slightly over 30 Mbps (I think that's the right number?). That's a lot higher than I'm supposed to get, so I hope she doesn't turn me in and they throttle down my speed. btw, that's way higher than I usually see in the Speakeasy test. It's usually 17 to 22 Mbps.

Anyway, I figure if it's my computer, I should check it out by booting to a pristine install of Tiger that I still have on my original hard drive that came with my MacPro. I ran any updates and the gave it a shot.

No problems at all.

I was ready to bet that my issues were all due to a little app called "Hands Off." Anyone familiar with it?

I seem to remember that the issues started when I installed it, so after booting back to my main hard drive, I first used "AppZapper" to remove it. That didn't seem to work, because "Hands Off" kept showing up in the Activities Monitor list.

I finally employed "AppDelete" and that did the trick. No more "HandsOff!"

Sure enough, Safari is loading pages perfectly, now.

Unfortunately, my next challenge is figuring out why, when most links on a webpage work just fine, what to do about not being able to get important links like, "Buy it Now" to respond.

This happens every so often, most recently on Verizon's website. I had been navigating the site with no problem until, suddenly a link that just wouldn't respond. What a PIA!

I welcome ideas on this. I could understand it if none of the links on a site would work, but I just don't get why everything would work except just one "important" link?

I do feel like I'm getting somewhere since I worked out my first big surfing issue.

(hey! admins… where did most of the emoticons disappear to? I only see eleven)

I guess this is a lesson for me. When I just clicked "preview" the page didn't load???

I had to do a complete restart to finally post this (actually, I don't know if this will post when I hit the "PostMessage" button)

I know that something is wrong, but at this point I thought I had "it" solved.

Please, someone get me out of this trap. :censor:

By the way, now everything is working again (for now?).

Help! SOS! etc!

[Trouble]

I'd reinstall hands off and then uninstall following these instructions http://www.metakine.com/products/handsoff/faq.html

I use hands off and really like it. Little snitch is good as well.

Does this occur with all browsers?

If the "Buy it now" button doesn't work, can you right-click on the button, copy the url, paste that in the address bar and see it that works?

[Chakravartin]

"Buy it now" links don't work?

Try this link:
https://encrypted.google.com/

Does it load?

[GeneL]

Trouble wrote:
I'd reinstall hands off and then uninstall following these instructions http://www.metakine.com/products/handsoff/faq.html

I use hands off and really like it. Little snitch is good as well.

Does this occur with all browsers?

If the "Buy it now" button doesn't work, can you right-click on the button, copy the url, paste that in the address bar and see it that works?

Just to be sure, I'll do the Hands Off routine you suggested, Trouble.

I have to say yes and no to the problem showing up in all browsers, since the issue is so intermittent. This makes me wonder, still, if my Cox service is the culprit, no matter what they told me?

On the other hand, things seem okay, when I booted to my older drive, but I haven't used it long enough to be sure that the problems won't turn up.

The problems are so intermittent that I just can't pin anything down.

Since I started up today, Safari has been working like a charm, which is why I previously thought that I had fixed the problem. I don't know what turns things sour when it's been doing fine for quite awhile, but all of a sudden, a page will start loading and then it gets stuck. From then on, same thing with every page I try to access.

I'm still wondering if some or all of my internet problems could be due to Cox cable having intermittent service issues. Because it wasn't occurring when I spoke to their tech person, it was easier to blame the problem on my end. There have definitely been issues with Cox regarding missed shows I set to record and download speed has been all over the map at times.

I just don't know how to pin down the problems.

I did try to copy the "dead" link, but it appears as an image rather than a url when I try to copy it.

Chakravartin wrote:
"Buy it now" links don't work?

Try this link:
https://encrypted.google.com/

Does it load?

Yes, it loaded normally. What were we testing by doing this?

Thanks to both of you. You have given me the only responses to this screwy problem.

[Chakravartin]

GeneL wrote:
[quote=Chakravartin]
"Buy it now" links don't work?

Try this link:
https://encrypted.google.com/

Does it load?

Yes, it loaded normally. What were we testing by doing this?
We were testing https links. Normal web content uses port 80, but https URLs should use port 443. If that port is blocked then "buy it now" links may not all work and links to secure web sites like the one (above) to Google's encrypted site will not work.

...

Some "buy it now" links require JavaScript. Have you got any 3rd party script/popup blockers or toolbars installed?

[GeneL]

Chakravartin wrote:
[quote=GeneL]
[quote=Chakravartin]
"Buy it now" links don't work?

Try this link:
https://encrypted.google.com/

Does it load?

Yes, it loaded normally. What were we testing by doing this?
We were testing https links. Normal web content uses port 80, but https URLs should use port 443. If that port is blocked then "buy it now" links may not all work and links to secure web sites like the one (above) to Google's encrypted site will not work.

...
I'm out of my depth here? I have never learned how and what the different ports are about. Mention of them comes up every now and then, not only in regard to the internet, but also regarding my email app. (Entourage)

No one has ever explained anything about ports to me and as far as I can tell, I've gotten by not knowing. If I need to know about ports in order to fix my problems here, I wouldn't know where to start. Suggestions?

Chakravartin wrote: Some "buy it now" links require JavaScript. Have you got any 3rd party script/popup blockers or toolbars installed?

I do have some 3rd party apps/extensions: AdBlock, Incognito, Ghostery, VirusBarrier plus Safari's pop-up blocker.

I really wonder if any of these are at the core of the problem. My s/o's mini, which is hardwired to the router, has the same problem with pages that come up, "you are not connected to the internet." She doesn't have all the 3rd party apps that I've added to my MacPro and yet she still has this same problem.

What makes this more of a mystery is that with the "stuck" window still open, she'll open another window and that one works just fine.

I keep going back to wondering if these issues could have something to do with Cox?

Right now, and for most of the day, I've had no further problem accessing webpages, so go figure. What can I do to straighten out this situation?

I've thought about wiping my hard drive after a last backup and reinstalling Leopard and Snow Leopard ( I can't just install Snow Leopard, can I? I don't remember) and then going from there.

The problem I have with doing this is that it's a ton of work and I'm not even sure that my problem is due to some app(s) that I have installed.

I pointed out that the s/o's mini has similar problems and no 3rd party apps.

What can I do to avoid all the work of a fresh install if it isn't necessary?

Solutions?

Thank you!

[Chakravartin]

> I do have some 3rd party apps/extensions: AdBlock,
> Incognito, Ghostery, VirusBarrier plus Safari's
> pop-up blocker.

VirusBarrier? Are you really that paranoid?

And Incognito, Ghostery, AdBlock... yes, any of them could mess up some of your links.


> What can I do to avoid all the work of a fresh install
> if it isn't necessary?

Good question. It seems that you've got a lot of cr@p installed that could be responsible. The issues with your s/o's computer could point to an external problem or they could be a red herring...

Ordinarily, I'd start tracking down a problem like yours by removing all Safari extensions, hacks, toolbars, plugins and InputManagers, but that might be a bit complicated for you.

...

So, let's start simpler:

Change your DNS settings in the Network pane in your System Preferences. Find the list of DNS servers and add 8.8.4.4 to the list at the very beginning. If the numbers in that list are separated by commas then put a comma after the 8.8.4.4.

One possibility raised by both you and your s/o having trouble is that your internet service provider's DNS server isn't working well. This is an alternate DNS server that should be more reliable. If it works then you're done. Just leave your Network settings like that.

...

If that doesn't work then go into your Accounts preferences and create a new user account. Try running Safari for awhile under the new user account and see whether the same problems occur. If the problems seem to go away then that would point to some hack residing in your Home folder at fault.

[GeneL]

Chakravartin wrote:
> I do have some 3rd party apps/extensions: AdBlock,
> Incognito, Ghostery, VirusBarrier plus Safari's
> pop-up blocker.

VirusBarrier? Are you really that paranoid?

It seemed like a good idea? I've been using it for years and the last update was part of a bundle. It did catch and block a "bad" website.

And Incognito, Ghostery, AdBlock... yes, any of them could mess up some of your links.

I did wonder about them, but I have noticed that Ghostery does block a ton of "tracking."

I did have to unblock my XXX website where I do my online banking or it wouldn't work properly. Other than that, I haven't noticed any problems with it.

> What can I do to avoid all the work of a fresh install
> if it isn't necessary?

Good question. It seems that you've got a lot of cr@p installed that could be responsible. The issues with your s/o's computer could point to an external problem or they could be a red herring...

Ordinarily, I'd start tracking down a problem like yours by removing all Safari extensions, hacks, toolbars, plugins and InputManagers, but that might be a bit complicated for you.

…as the expression goes, "you think?"

You do get me, I see. I can do some things easily, based on my years of experience. When intuition doesn't serve me… I'm pretty lost.
...

So, let's start simpler: …not for me, it isn't.

Change your DNS settings in the Network pane in your System Preferences. Find the list of DNS servers and add 8.8.4.4 to the list at the very beginning. If the numbers in that list are separated by commas then put a comma after the 8.8.4.4.

One possibility raised by both you and your s/o having trouble is that your internet service provider's DNS server isn't working well. This is an alternate DNS server that should be more reliable. If it works then you're done. Just leave your Network settings like that.

Chakravartin, I can't begin to tell you how much I've appreciated the time you've invested in assisting me and others as I've seen you do.

With that said, I have no Idea what these last instructions mean.

Is there any way you can simplify them? Particularly, where I find the "list" of DNS servers and how to add 8.8.4.4?

If I could find the "list" I'd still be unclear about where I would be adding those numbers. btw, what does this step do?
...

If that doesn't work then go into your Accounts preferences and create a new user account. Try running Safari for awhile under the new user account and see whether the same problems occur. If the problems seem to go away then that would point to some hack residing in your Home folder at fault.

I did just that, I created a new user account and, yes, Safari seemed to be working just fine. This made me wonder, because I've been thinking that all my problems have been tied to my inappropriately dragging the older version of Safari back to replace Safari 5.1 without figuring on the 5.1 webkit causing these strangenesses.

But, seeing that Safari was apparently working normally when I was logged in as a new user, I realized that this was the same Safari application that I use from my regular "Applications Folder" so if it works okay here, why doesn't it work okay when I'm logged in to my main account? Am I right about this?

I have to add that even though Safari seemed to be working normally in my new user account, you know that it seems to work fine for awhile when I'm logged into my main account. I don't know if I would ended up having the same problem if I had stayed in this account for a longer amount of time.

I'm really stymied. This last time, when I saw that I "wasn't connected to the internet" I tried sending myself an email and it went through. Then I tried Firefox and it too had the same problem

So, it appears that mail works, but not my browsers.

I've posted the screenshots of what I get when I open the Networks Diagnostics panel. These are the steps that I've taken in the past and most times at the end I see "You are connected to the internet" and the page will load. This last time it didn't, even though it said that I was connected?

I hope that I have given you enough information to be able to diagnose my problem or if not. To offer what would be my best course to take to get past this frustrating issue.

I really hate to say this, but I've been feeling that I'll never get this solved.

Thanks againfor working on this with me. :hail:

[Chakravartin]

GeneL wrote:
Chakravartin, I can't begin to tell you how much I've appreciated the time you've invested in assisting me and others as I've seen you do.

With that said, I have no Idea what these last instructions mean.

Is there any way you can simplify them? Particularly, where I find the "list" of DNS servers and how to add 8.8.4.4?

What version of the OS are you running? And are you connecting to your network via Ethernet or via WiFi? The precise location of the DNS Servers setting may vary by the version of the operating system and the method that you use to connect to your network.

If you care to poke around, it's just a string of text to change in your Network preferences. You can find your Network preferences in the System Preferences. One of the fields in the Network preferences should be labeled "DNS Servers" and should contain a list of DNS servers that you can modify to add 8.8.4.4 to the list. It should be under the TCP/IP heading.

The location of the preference may look like this:


If your preferences look like that then click on the left side of the field marked "DNS Servers" and type 8.8.4.4 at the beginning of the line, followed by a comma to separate it from the addresses of other DNS servers if there are others already listed in that text field.

[GeneL]

Chakravartin, (I keep wondering how to pronounce that?) just in case you were watching this thread and not your email inbox, I've sent you a PM with screen shots of my Network Preference Panel.

I think it's finally time for me to throw in the towel. :zzz:

I'll check back when I get up, sometime around midday PST.

Thanks,

GeneL