2 machines, 1 network, seeing different internet sites????

I'm new to networking, but have splashed out on a wireless route (netgear
DG834G). I have two computers on the network, which I've set and got
working nicely. The desktop PC (My trusted box - WinXP) is wired in. My
work laptop (new Compaq running Win2k) is running wirelessly, and connects
properly and is stable.

I can use the laptop for some limted surfing of the broadband connection
(which goes into the router), but there are some internet sites that it just
will not load. Two examples are ebay.co.uk, and hotmail.com. And yet, at
the same time the desktop PC WILL connect to these sites. Weird!?

On the work laptop Internet Explorer is installed (same on the desktop), but
when in the office it uses a work proxy. I disable this for work with my
home connection - but what else could there be??

Andy

 

I don't use Internet Exploder, but here's a couple of possibilities -
there's something like Javascript that those sites need, but is disabled
someone at work has tweaked the DNS to stop you visiting those sites

 

It's almost certainly something installed on your laptop. For example, if
you go to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts and add a line like:-
127.0.0.1 www.bbc.co.uk
then all references on your PC to www.bbc.co.uk will resolve back to your
own PC and it will look like www.bbc.co.uk is being blocked. Note, if your
browser uses a remote proxy then this won't work as the name www.bbc.co.uk
is sent to the proxy and the name is resolved there, not on your own PC.
BTW, the hosts file is a simple text file that can be changed with notepad
or write.

Mark.

 

Mark,

Thanks for your help, but I'm afraid it didn't get me any further. I
checked the host file and it just has the default line 127.0.0.1 localhost.
I also tried reduced the security and privacy settings to their lowest, but
that made no difference either. I also wondered whether my ISP could be
blocking these sites, but this can't be right as my home PC goes straight to
these sites with no problem.

I notice that both hotmail and ebay go straight into https pages, and wonder
whether it's something to do with SSL, but can't imagine what. Could be
another dead end.

Pulling my hair out in frustration. That and a VERY wet bank holiday
Monday...

Cheers,
Andy

 

You could set up a HTTP proxy on your home machine, and point the laptop
at that - wouldn't answer the question, but would provide a workaround.

 

Andy,

Do both machines use the same DNS? I think Rob's idea of proxying through
your home PC might be a quick workaround. have a look at
http://www.proxomitron.info

Mark.

 

Thanks for your help Mark & Rob. I really want to try these
suggestions out, but I'm working away from home at the moment and
hence can't access my home connection. I'm going to try the proxy and
the DNS settings when I return on Thursday, and will post then to make
sure you know how this concludes.

Thx, Andy