A Fellow Member Needs Your Help! Please Read!

[SweetErika]

My friend, a fellow Lit member is having trouble accessing the boards. We'd really appreciate any advice and suggestions on the following situation...I'll pass any replies to her via email. Thanks so much in advance!

Her email to me:
"Okay, help me with something. I can't get onto Literotica any more. I can get to their main page but not bulletin boards. I can read stories and that's about it. I click on the link and it just loads for about 20-minutes and then says Page Not Found. I've tried going in all different ways, but no luck. I changed all my security options and downloaded some security updates but still can't get in. I miss it! Any ideas? Thanks."

 

[NaughtyLil1]

My friend, a fellow Lit member is having trouble accessing the boards. We'd really appreciate any advice and suggestions on the following situation...I'll pass any replies to her via email. Thanks so much in advance!

Her email to me:
"Okay, help me with something. I can't get onto Literotica any more. I can get to their main page but not bulletin boards. I can read stories and that's about it. I click on the link and it just loads for about 20-minutes and then says Page Not Found. I've tried going in all different ways, but no luck. I changed all my security options and downloaded some security updates but still can't get in. I miss it! Any ideas? Thanks."

I had that same problem about a month ago. I changed my security settings and it worked. Other than that, I'm not sure.

Good luck in figuring it out.

 

[Dstorage]

Is she on a dial up? If she is have her download the browser from Opera (opera.com). It seems to work a bit better than Explorer or Netscape on slower connections.

Also, have her delete her cache if she has not done so already.

 

[SweetErika]

Thanks, Naughty and D...I think she might have tried the security settings and cache, but I'll pass on the advice all the same!

 

[Missingmeds]

SweetErika, if she can't get it figured out, then I would suggest you send a pm to Weird Harold. He is usually really good about getting this sort of thing fixed and rather quickly.

 

[SweetErika]

I'll check in on her progress and PM if she hasn't figured it out. Thank you for the suggestion MissingMeds!

 

[Missingmeds]

Just be aware that it can sometimes take him a while to answer you. I am not sure of his location but I know that he is usually really good about answering my questions.

 

[The_Dem0n]

Sounds like it could be a firewall issue. The forums here run on port 81 and the main page runs on port 80.

If your friend has either a software or hardware firewall, it could be blocking outbound connections to port 81.

 

[SweetErika]

Thanks Demon, I'm not sure if she has a firewall, but that certainly makes sense. I passed your advice on.

 

[sheath]

Another suggestion...

I once downloaded a 'browser accelerator' that was supposed to speed things up...but it kept kicking me off Lit. It took a few days to figure out what it was, and when I took it off the computer, I logged into Lit just fine.

Hope this helps.

S.

 

[SweetErika]

Another suggestion...
I once downloaded a 'browser accelerator' that was supposed to speed things up...but it kept kicking me off Lit. It took a few days to figure out what it was, and when I took it off the computer, I logged into Lit just fine.

Thanks, Sheath! She did download that type of program, so she's checking into that. There are just so many possiblities! She was able to get back on for a little while after changing her security settings, but now we're back to square one (well, two...we have made a tiny bit of progress). For anyone else who has any suggestions, here's what she's done so far:
1) Virus scan/removal
2) XP restore to before the problems started
4) Disk cleanup/defrag
5) Installed a firewall
6) Checked and changed all security settings, deleted cookies and temp files
7) Talked to weirdharold
8) Scanned for adware/spyware (there are a lot of these programs on her computer and there have been many intrusions...we're thinking this might be the problem)

Does anyone know of a good, free program that will get rid of the adware and spyware?

Thanks again for all of your help everyone!

 

[sheath]

Spybot is a really good program. It is free. AVG is also a good one for blocking viruses and such.

She talked to Weird Harold and she STILL can't get on Lit? Jeez.

I hope something works.

S.

 

[Roadkill68]

last resort

as a last resort, when all else fails....

edit: and I do mean LAST RESORT...this should only be attempted by a computer 'expert'.

1. Make backup copies of all critical files that cannot be lost...
(favorites, address books, personal files, anything that needs to be saved)

2. Format hard drive and re-install windows.
(if the system came with resoration disks or cd, use them)
(if the system has any hardware that was added / upgraded after system was new, make sure you have the drivers and disks / cd's that came with them....basically make sure you have drivers and any software applications for every piece of hardware...whether on a system restoration disk / cd or on another disk / cd.

(if you are missing any restoration disk, driver, or software application, do not format the hard drive and try to re-install windows.)
(even if you have all disks, drivers, software applications, and everything needed, still do not attempt this if you are unsure of what to do and how to do it....find a knowledgable friend or aquaintence to do it for you.)

edit again: I hope this is not coming across as condescending...its just that I have had a bad experience with a friends computer...I was given what I was told was all the drivers and disks for the computer, but after formatting, I found that there was a vital disk missing and was unable to restore the system. I don't want to give advice to someone and have that happen to them. Please only follow this advice if you are confident that you can complete the restoration successfully.

Hope this has helped.

 

[WetDenise]

SHEATH, YOU ARE MY GOD!!!!!!!

I can't believe that did the trick!!!! I deleted the accelerator and BINGO!

Ah, what a relief!!! I thought I had a hacker! I was SOOO mad!

Thanks everyone for your ideas and support!

And for you, Sheath

 

[sheath]

SHEATH, YOU ARE MY GOD!!!!!!!

I can't believe that did the trick!!!! I deleted the accelerator and BINGO!

Ah, what a relief!!! I thought I had a hacker! I was SOOO mad!

Thanks everyone for your ideas and support!

And for you, Sheath

I'm so glad it worked!

Good to see you back.

S.