Problems accessing a chat room

Hello,

I belong to a weight loss support site called Diettalk. They maintain their own chat room. I have been a member here for a few years, with no problems. But about two months back, suddenly I cannot participate in the chat room it's self.

They have a sign in page for the chat room, and I am able to successfully sign in, but when the page reloads, it should show me a window inside the chat room, and an area to type text messages, and a window where the typed text appears. Just like all other chat rooms, really.

The problem here is that I am listed as being present in the chat room, but on my computer, when the page reloads, I am back at the sign in page instead.

I have spoken with the site owner and he said it is something with my computer that is causing this to happen. But what, I haven't a clue. I do have spyware and Adaware programs running in the background to protect my computer, but they don't prevent me from accessing other chats, so why this one.

I tried shutting down everything imaginable that might interfere. I turned off all of the spyware and adaware protection programs, turned off the fire-wall, even my anti-virus program to see if that was causing the problem. I emptied my browser cache, even use a total of 3 different browsers. Nothing has worked and I can't gain access no matter what.

I really would appreciate it if someone could possibly come up with a sensible solution to this problem for me. I am going batty with frustration. I can't gain access to my support group chats, and it is very upsetting.

Thank you so much just for reading this. If you solve the problem, I will be forever in your debt.

Oh yes, I have also made sure that my security settings would not interfere as well.

 

What operating system are you using?

Can you sign up with a new chat room account (for testing)? If so, does it work correctly or does it have the same problem?

 

Hi Newt,

I'm using Windows XP Home, and I have tried making a new account, and still could not gain access. Exactly the same thing happened.

I have a feeling it is something to do with a Windows setting that is causing the problem, but I don't know exactly what setting that is.

I have my browser set up to accept session cookies, and the site is listed in my "trusted sites" folder. Glad to hear any suggestions.

I will tell you I have tried removing all spyware programs and trying to enter then, but failed as before, so I re-installed all of my protective programs because I just don't think that is where the problem lies.

Sandie

 

Two things to try and lets see if either of them get you fixed up. Otherwise we'll have to dig around some more.

This first one won't have any effect you'll notice other than to maybe correct some problems. It scans your system looking for damaged or missing system files and replaces any it finds with known good versions. You may be prompted to put your install CD in the drive at some point.

Click on start, on run, key the following into the run line and the click OK

Code:

sfc /scannow

Then try your chat room. If all is not well move on the the next item.

This one will reset all your networking pieces back to the defaults. It does the same thing as uninstalling networking on earlier OS versions. You'll need to set your networking up again after it finishes.

Click on start, on run, key the following into the run line then click OK

Code:

netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

 

Sandie, I think i can figure out your problem by having you capture some data of an attempted connection.

I've never used this tool before, so no promises..

http://www.fiddlertool.com/fiddler/version.asp

Download and install this tool.

After it installs, You should have a fiddler icon in your start button. Close all open web browsers and run fiddler. Once its running, open IE, and attempt to go into your chat room. After it fails, close IE, and switch back over to fiddler.

This part gets a little sketchy, so follow close. With fiddler as the active window, hit CONTROL-A to select everything, then right click on the selected texts, and Save Everything to ZIP. Note that it is important that everything is highlighted (as in the attached picture) when you right click. Save that out and email it to me (i have sent you a PM with my email address).

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE BASICALLY GIVING ME YOUR PASSWORD FOR THAT SITE. Which is why you need to send it privately, rather than posting it. I would strongly recommend you change your credentials after collecting this data, or i might try logging in as you and saying embaressing things.

 

Thanks Guys,

Thank you both for trying to help.

Newt,
When I tried the (sft/scannow) I received this message.........Windows cannot find 'sfc/scannow'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

So that didn't work.

The other thing you suggested, I need some clarification first. When you say it will reset all of my networking pieces back to the defaults, are you referring to other pc's I might be networking together in my home? Because if that is the case, I only have one pc, so I am not "networking." If it refers to messing with the settings that gives me my Internet connection, I think I can reset them if I need to. I wrote them down so I would have them should something somehow alter them in some way.

So if you can tell me why my XP doesn't have sfc/scannow, I would appreciate it. It does have sfc, because when I typed that in, there was a small black "dos" window that popped up for a nannosecond, then dissappeared again, but I didn't get the message that sfc could not be found.

I will wait to hear from you again before going any further.


JoeHobart,

I have downloaded the Fiddlertool, and will install it shortly.
About giving you the password to the site, that is no problem. I will cancel that client later and open a new one, if this solves the problem. If it doesn't, I hope you enjoy yourself in my wight loss chat room. They have some very nice folks in there. And I will envy your presence there while I am kept out.........hahaha

I really do appreciate both of you trying to help me with this. And at this point, I am ready to try anything. I sure hope one of your answers solves the problem for me.

Thanks,
Sandie

 

There is a space after sfc before /scannow. SFC starts the system file checker utility and /scannow simply tells it what action to take when it starts. If you still have a problem, try copy/paste the following into your run line and hitting OK

sfc /scannow

As to the networking reset, it is strictly the values on the one PC. Internet stuff is networking so even if you have a single PC that hooks to a router, a broadband modem, or a dial-up modem, you are using networking. Operating systems prior to XP would allow you to remove networking completely but with XP, you can't. It is a required part of the system. All you can do with it is reset everything back to the defaults you had when you loaded the OS.

That tool Joe found looks interesting. At this point, give another try with sfc /scannow and if that doesn't do the job, run the Fiddler and pass the zip file along to Joe. Leave my netsh reset stuff for later.

 

Sandie- I got your emails, as you said. the data is not there You did good on getting it saved out, it just didnt capture it.

1) Close all open programs
2) Run fiddler
3) Open Internet Explorer, navigate to site and reproduce phenomenon
4) Once failure occurs, close IE
5) Save data as before.

The way this program works is by intercepting the data, acting as a pass through for the data as a proxy server. Thats why you need to close the browsers before launching it, or it wont be able to setup the interception.

 

Well, I don't know WHAT did it, but I got in!

Newt,

Thank you for explaining why I wasn't able to get the sfc to work. I copy/pasted as you suggested, and it worked fine. Still..............when it was done, I attempted to gain access to the chat room and it didn't work.

So then.........

JoeHobart,

I opented the Task Manager, and one by one stopped processes that were not System process, but Owner process, until I had all shut down but my anti-virus software. Then I opened Fiddler, and then went to sign into the chat room.

THIS TIME I GOT IN WITH NO PROBLEM.

The Fiddler program still did not capture anything, so I don't know what I am doing wrong there. But no big deal.

The problem now is to find what program that I stopped the processes on that made it possible for me to gain access to the chat room.

I guess it will be a process of elimination now, until I find the one process that was causing the problems. And when I do, I will just have to make certain it is no longer running. At least, not running when I am wanting to visit my friends...........haha

I guess I will have to take it from here. But I really do want to thank both of you for trying so hard to help me. I can't thank you enough.

I belong to several forums of this type, and I posted this problem in every one of them (4 forums altogether) and the two of you are the ONLY TWO that even made an effort, let alone continued to help and advise me.

If nothing else, it has shown me that I did the right thing purchasing a lifetime subscription here. Every time I have posted any kind of problem here, someone has come to my aid. We may not have solved all of the problems, but someone has always been willing to give it their best try. That speaks volumes to me, and it does not go unappreciated.

My best to you both, and when I discover the "culprit" I will post back and let you know.

Until then.............THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!

Sandie

 

The Culprit was Proxyconn!

Hi guys,

For almost a year now, I have been using an accelerator program to help speed up my dial-up page loading. It has worked fine with no problems. Not too long back I received a notice that there was an update that should be downloaded and installed, that would incorporate improvement to the program. For me it didn't improve anything. I have now discovered that was the program that was causing all of the problems.

Proxyconn is the program. All I did was disable it, and I gained access to the chat room with no problems. I have just come from there, and had a nice time chatting with another member of DT.

I guess in future I just need to turn the program off when I am at my diet support site. I have not noticed it causing any problems elsewhere, but I think for the time being, I intend to leave it disabled until I can make sure. I won't die if my web pages load a bit slower. I'm sure of that!

Again, thank you both for all of your help. I just wish I have figured this out sooner and before the two of you got to wracking your brains over it as well. I hope it is enough to know that your help and suggestions were so greatly appreciated.

Have a great week guys, and again THANK YOU!!

Sandie