IE & Firefox with the new UK's Software grrrrrr

[J0anne2403]

Hoping to get some help here re using the above browsers with UK's, I am pretty good with pc's and would say that I am an expeienced pc user, into networking/gaming/setting up software etc but I am having a nightmare with the new UK's software. Just prior to UK's upgrading I usually just used to say in AOL, as thats where my email goes but all of a sudden using UK's in aol was slowwwwww, so I switched to Firefox, speedy, multiple tabs, no problems jumping from tab to tab, great back to normal.
Now with the new software its hopeless again, both IE and Firefox freeze, timeout on loading, even on just one tab, multiple copies of the same post etc.. Thought I'd give it a few weeks to calm down and any bugs to clear but its still the same, so I am stuck in AOL with a slow load.
No other site/programme on my pc's (have tryed it on the othes on the network too) is effected like this, just UK's... any help/suggestions plz?

ps also noticed another member experiencing the same probs too with IE & Fiefox last night

[SMAX]

Check your hosts file. Someone elese reported slow connections and then found out their hosts file was corrupt.

Location of the hosts file is...

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Open it in notepad and make sure the only entry is 127.0.0.1

If it has anything else under that you have been hijacked.

[J0anne2403]

Thanks Smax done that all as you said it should be, just one entry identical to your post, any other suggestions?

[SMAX]

I take it you have done the first step in fixing any connection problem and unplugged your router for 10 mins to reboot it?

[J0anne2403]

Have rebooted the router several times to no avail. It is strange though that it is only UK's that is the issue, all my other regular haunts are absolutely fine. If theres no solution so be it, I'll sit in AOL to use this site and put up with the speed issues, however it isn't just me, another member using firefox keeps hanging too :)

[SMAX]

I can't really answer that. As you know there are just too many variables involved in this. If everyone was having problems then it would be a problem on the site. but with only a small percentage then that must be related to other issues. Whether that is ISP or software installed on the PC, Or just the route you are taking to the London datacenter. All these influence things.

The site you use the most will always be the one you will notice the problem on though.

Maybe do a tracert and post the results and I will see if there is a routing problem. The best tracert program at the moments is this as it can be left running to find intermittent packet loss that wouldnt show up on a normal trace.

http://www.pingplotter.com/freeware.html

[J0anne2403]

Thanks Smax will try this :)

[4kidsat147]

UKS on my firefox times out too, it tends to come up again after a few minutes and I just live with it now. However I do notice that when UKS times out, so does some sites hosted by SMAX as well as Parcelforce. :wacko:

[feline]

My UKS is running perfectly on AOL, did have issues a while back but they seemed to have been resolved, however, its not to crash hot on IE lately but brill with AOL (I know makes a change :blink:) and I took Firefox of my laptop because it was slowing everything down, hope it sorts itself out...I did do battle with AOL for several weeks regarding the speed but its back with a vengence now so it might be worth arguing with them a lot cos they don't like being wrong :lol: :lol:

[SMAX]

Apparently those on AOL with the Carephone Warehouse will have issues. CPW/AOL are not members of LINX (London Internet Exchange) so have to route/peer over slow congested networks to get to the London Redbus datacenters. THis is where all our servers are located.

They are joining LINX soon and when they get their act together it will improve.

If your Tracert shows up the cogentco network then this will be the problem. That carrier is maxed out at peak times. A bit like the M25 most days.

[Karen Keenan]

I use Firefox to access this site and don't have a problem.

[JakkiiG]

However I do notice that when UKS times out, so does some sites hosted by SMAXGetting the same problems and our own site/email keeps timing out, its driving me insane.

Same thing used to happen when I used AOL hence switching to firefox, but Ive noticed that its even doing it on IE.

Oh and I used about 4 different computers (work and home) and still its the same

[SMAX]

If you are on AOL then my post # 10 will be the reason.

[JakkiiG]

Nope not on AOL, that should have read when I used to be on AOL :lol: when I use IE at work UKS hates it too

[4kidsat147]

I'm not on AOL either, never have been - I'm on NTL.

[SMAX]

Jakkii you are on Pipex at the moment. I am on Pipex too and they have really gone down hill since being taken over by Tiscalli. Saying that I never have problems with our servers but I have had reports from some pipex users that go over the cogentco network that I am referring to.

If you do a tracert from your PC and you see any hops that go over cogentco this will be your problem. It is a congested over used network and it just cannot handle the traffic. As in my M25 analogy.

[JakkiiG]

Thanks Smax.

So what about when Im at home (pipex is work) although Im on aol I dont use it as a browser, just Firefox and IE, should I check like you said about missing something or other (Ill have to scroll back as I cant remember what it was)

[SMAX]

Its not a browser issue it is a network issue. But saying that the AOL browser isn't great so you will be better off using internet explorer or Firefox.

Just do the tracert and see if you are going over the notorious cogentco network. I do not go over that and thats why everything is fine for me.

There is a free piece of software you can install to check the network earlier in this thread.