XP Service Pack 3, IE 8 and IRC

I recently experienced problems connecting to IRC (I use Pirch98.exe as my IRC client) due to the Windows Firewall settings on my computer. I have a Dell M2010 laptop which uses a Dell Wireless 5700 Mobile Broadband (CDMA EV-DO) Expresscard Modem (with Verizon Wireless as my ISP). I’m running the Home Edition of XP.

After researching the problem at http://www.starlink-irc.org/security/checkin.html I went ahead and established an exception in Windows Firewall for Pirch98.exe and then input the settings (ircchat, 127.0.0.1, port 113, port 113) as illustrated on their site, then disconnected from my ISP and re-connected, then ran Pirch98. SUCCESS! Note: I was using IE 7 and had the XP Service Pack 2 installed.

THEN my computer recently downloaded XP Service Pack 3 and IE 8. Now, despite the changed settings described above that I made, IRC again won’t connect and I am getting the same error message as before (No Connection window: Unable to connect to irc.starchat.net).

I am not using a router "“ just the broadband wireless modem FYI.

TYIA ,

DressyFemme

 

IE8 is having its share of problems. I suggest that you go to Control Panel > Add remove Programs > Windows Internet Explorer8 > and select to uninstall it. It will roll you back to IE7 automatically with no further action needed.

There is a chance that the roll back to IE7 will not fix your problem and may require you to do a System Restore. Hopefully you had it enabled when you performed the IE8 and SP3 install. If not, do you have a recent Backup Image of your system drive that you could deploy to return to when it worked?

Alternately, you can wait around until all IE8 problems are solved but it may be quite some time. It seems to be very system particular and needs time until it will be ready for all systems.

 

Hi Surferdude2,

Thanks for your quick reply. I uninstalled IE8 and got back IE7 as you indicated. I didn't have to do a System Restore.

However, when I again attempted to log into Pirch98.exe it did not connect as before despite reverting back to IE7.

Unfortunately I don't have a Backup Image of my system drive at this point. Any other ideas?

TYIA

Dressy

 

I'd still recommend doing a System Restore if you have any restore points that predate this problem. Often when rolling back one of the MS items it leaves vestiges behind that causes the problem to remain. Actually a System Restore MAY do that also but it's all you've got left at this point.

That's why I suggested a Backup Image. That's the only sure way to revert and leave problems behind. Too bad you don't have one.

We really don't know if IE8 caused the problem or was it SP3 possibly. Perhaps neither...

I can't think of anything else to try. Stick around and maybe someone will chime in with an idea.