Like many people here, since my broadband was upgraded 3 weeks ago I have been experiencing problems accessing websites.
It doesnt seem to be the same websites as people have mentioned (i.e. BBC works fine) but websites like MSN.com, Hotmail.com, Bravenet.com and a whole host of others simply wont open anymore.
I have taken my router and PC around to my brothers (who also has Orange bb) and they both worked fine. So it must be a problem with my line, which has occurred when they upgraded me.
Its worth mentioning that I use a third party router - I use a LinkSys WirelessG. I have tried changing the router settings as instructed on here. I have tried changing the MTU to 1470, 1458, 1430. Its currently on 1492 - it wont let me set anything higher than that. But whatever Ive changed, no luck.
Ive also added the new DNS numbers that people have suggested, namely:
208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 but again with no luck. I changed both the MTU and DNS on the router settings - I assume thats the correct place? I have since changed them back to the default as nothing seemed to work.
Im really not sure what to do now. If anybody can help me I would be very very grateful. I have called Orange quite a few times, but they are useless and lie just to get you off the phone.
I was amazed when I found this website where so many people are experiencing similar problems. The call centre reacted to me like they had never heard of this issue before.
DNS is ok to change on your router as usually the PC will obtain them from there anyway. As for MTU check the MTU settings link at the top right, it'll guide you to the software to use to change it.
Joined: 12 Jun 2006Posts: 907Location: Weston-super-Mare, UK
UNABLE TO ACCESS WEB PAGES - SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS
The cause of this is incorrect network adapter Maximum Transmission Unit or MTU setting. You need to change the MTU setting on the computer using DRTCP.
If you can not access the site you will have to obtain the programme from a friend or at work. Once you have the programme double click on it to run.
First make a note of the current settings.
Fill in the programme settings as per the web pages above - SAVE - EXIT and reboot computer.
If you can not access the pages to see settings then they are as follows:
TCP Receive Window = First try 55600 with 1430 below. Then try 51048 with 1458 below. (RWIN)
Window Scaling = Yes
Time Stamping = No
Selective Acks = Yes
Dial Up (RAS) MTU = First try 1430 if no luck try 1458
Path MTU discovery = Yes
Black hole detection = default
MAx duplicate Acks = 2
TTL = 64
If you are using a USB modem put the MTU value in Dial Up (RAS) MTU
If you are using a network card to connect to router put the MTU value as follows. Select your Ethernet Card (NIC) under Adapter Settings and enter there.
If you are using a wireless connection select your wireless adapter under Adapter Settings and enter there.
Once you can access webpages go to pages above to calculate your best RWIN depending on the speed of your connection. You can also optimise the settings at: http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks
Thanks for your instructions. I think I have managed to fix the problem now.
I downloaded the DrTCP yesterday and ran the program on my PC. I changed the settings as per the instructions. I knew to change the RWIN and the MTU but wasnt sure what to set for the other settings. So I followed exactly what showed up on the screenshot example.
I rebooted the computer and then encountered some problems. The computer wouldnt reboot - it kept coming up with 'invalid i/o settings' on a black screen. After coming up with this message the system would then load XP after a few minutes, and bingo I could access all the websites! But every time I rebooted I would get this 'invalid i/o message again'. I ran chkdsk a few times to identify and fix the problems, but after running it about 5 times the computer kept coming up with the same message when attempting to boot up.
Now I dont know whether or how that could be attributed to me changing the MTU settings in DrTCP, but in desperation I decided to change back all the settings to what they were before, except for the new MTU and RWIN. Then I rebooted again and it all booted fine?!?! No error message and all seems ok.
I also can access MSN Messenger, Hotmail - everything. And my speed has gone up all of a sudden from 2meg to 4meg.
So all in all Im happy, but completely confused as to why the pc went crazy. Could that really have been because I changed the other DrTCP settings (e.g. Windows Scaling, Black Hole, TTL etc) or is that just a coincidence? I would love to know because I still cannot access websites from the two laptops in the house, so I am going to have to run DrTCP on them at some point!
Thanks to everyone on this site for helping me sort out my problems. I got there in the end, in a very unorthodox fashion!!
Joined: 12 Jun 2006Posts: 907Location: Weston-super-Mare, UK
adamburton wrote:
Now I dont know whether or how that could be attributed to me changing the MTU settings in DrTCP, but in desperation I decided to change back all the settings to what they were before, except for the new MTU and RWIN. Then I rebooted again and it all booted fine?!?! No error message and all seems ok.
Adam.
Adam
Can you remember which settings you changed back and what you changed them back to? Have not seen the problem you mention before.
And my speed has gone up all of a sudden from 2meg to 4meg.
Exactly what happened to me, I changed MTU/RWIN and immediately my speed went from around less than 1.5Mb to 5Mb.
But when I had queried the low speeds, Orange told me "Your service was transferred to a high-speed network in November 2006" but that was when the speed decreased !!! As far as I was concerned, I was still on a 2Mb service because up to that point they'd not said otherwise.
It seems to me that when the service is upgraded onto LLU then Orange should be issuing an instruction to check MTU/RWIN.
It might be a complete coincidence - I really dont know. I first changed the settings to the ones shown on the MTU Settings screenshot from this site (shown below). I then changed them back to the values shown in brackets.
Window Scaling: Yes (Default)
Time Stamping: No (Default)
Selective Acks: Yes (Default)
Path MTU Discovery: (Default)
Black Hole Detection: Default (Default)
Max Duplicate Acks: 2 (Null value)
TTL: 64 (Null value)
So just to clarify, you are running without error message "invalid i/o" with all items set to "default" except Max duplicate Acks and TTL which "Null value" ? And with these settings you're accessing web sites OK and seeing 4meg connection.
Ive just opened the DrTCP program again and Windows Scaling is set to Yes and Time Stamping set to No - I did reset them to default but I think that when you change the RWIN number it automatically changes those fields.
All others are as described and no Im not getting any error messages any more, but am getting a 4meg connection.
It might have nothing to do with me changing the settings, but it does seem a coincidence that it happened after I rebooted after changing them, and now its gone away when I have changed them back. The only other thing I changed was I had a flash card (which I had transferred the DrTCP application onto when I downloaded it at work) in the USB hub which I also removed. But I wouldnt think that would have anything to do with it?
Ive just opened the DrTCP program again and Windows Scaling is set to Yes and Time Stamping set to No - I did reset them to default
I think what you're looking at are the defaults on DR TCP not what is on your PC, it will reset itself once you click on EXIT, i.e DR TCP doesn't retain what you change, any changes are saved direct to your PC.
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