Accessing web pages

I have a bit of a problem and I wonder if anyone could help me...

On Sunday 10th Feb I lost most of my Internet functionality. I could not open almost any website, and if I could, then when trying to open links within that website the site would hang and freeze. My Yahoo homepage would, and still will not ever load fully, and as a result of that I cannot access my webmail. I cannot access Orange's home page either, along with a whole host of other sites. I've also lost the use of my second line.

Also, to make matters worse, I cannot download security updates to my antivirus and anti spyware programs or get updates from Microsoft. Fortunately I have a dial-up account with a different ISP and can access everything I desperately need from there.

I have called Orange four times to be told firstly, it's a server outrage, secondly a line fault and to call back in five days. I called back on Saturday to be told that there is no further information and that I would be sent a text message today, Monday 18th, with an update. No text message received. I call again and I'm told there is still no further information. But the person I spoke to today did say that it couldn't be a line fault as the @ light on my Livebox remains on and constant, indicating it's an Orange issue. I'm asked to call back in 24hrs. I've been through numerous diagnostics tests and reset the Livebox what seems like 100 times... nothing seems to make any difference.

I have an old Speedtouch modem and the service is the same when using that, so I shouldn't think it can be a faulty Livebox.
I have four computers, one wired and 3 wireless and the service is rubbish on all four.

Does anyone know why or how this could be happening?

And if it comes to it, can I leave Orange and get out of my contract if they can't provide the service I'm paying for? (Seems I took on another 12 months contact last November when I was called by Customer Services and asked if I would like to save two pounds a month on my bill. I said yes of course, but the following confirmation email enlightened me to the fact that I had taken on this extra 12 months!)

I don't particularly want to leave Orange as over the year through Freeserve and Wanandoo I've found the service pretty good... but I'll have too if this continues for much longer.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

hiya heather

sounds very much like the same problem kbm had, i.e been migrated to LLU. if you can use the dial-up do a google search for drtcp, download & run it & change the mtu setting to 1492 or 1458 & chances are you will be up & running again. you will probably have to run this app on all PCs so a memory stick may come in useful rather than connecting them all via dial-up. if that fails, try cancelling, fee or not, they'll try & save you with a tech callback from someone who knows their stuff from a uk call centre.

UNABLE TO ACCESS WEB PAGES - SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS

WINDOWS VISTA USERS: DO NOT DO THIS - See Here

To change in Vista: http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/vistaMTU.htm

The cause of this is incorrect network adapter Maximum Transmission Unit or MTU setting. You need to change the MTU setting on the computer using DRTCP.

Download DRTCP from here: http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/tweak2.htm This is an excellent site with full instructions. The information is also available from Orange Problems here: http://www.orangeproblems.co.uk/phpBB2/kitz.php?tweak=4

DRTCP also available on this site Here

If you can not access the site you will have to obtain the programme from a friend or at work. Once you have the programme double click on it to run.

First make a note of the current settings.

Fill in the programme settings as per the web pages above - SAVE - EXIT AND REBOOT COMPUTER.

If you can not access the pages to see settings then they are as follows:

TCP Receive Window = First try 55600 with 1430 below. Then try 51048 with 1458. (RWIN)
Window Scaling = Yes
Time Stamping = No
Selective Acks = Yes
Dial Up (RAS) MTU = First try 1430 if no luck try 1458
Path MTU discovery = Yes
Black hole detection = default
MAx duplicate Acks = 2
TTL = 64

If you are using a USB modem put the MTU value in Dial Up (RAS) MTU

If you are using a network card to connect to router put the MTU value as follows. Select your Ethernet Card (NIC) under Adapter Settings and enter there.

If you are using a wireless connection select your wireless adapter under Adapter Settings and enter there.

Make sure that your router does NOT have a lower MTU than the PC.

Once you can access webpages go to pages above to calculate your best RWIN depending on the speed of your connection. You can also optimise the settings at: http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks

Keith

Thanks for your reply booyakasha,

I will try changing the MTU settings as you suggest and see what happens.

I spoke to CS this morning and said I was going to leave if this wasn't sorted out very soon. He said I would have to pay the rest of my contract fees, but if tech suport can't fix the problem and I have no proper service for a month then I can cancel my contract and they would wave the fees. Good of them I thought!!!

So I think I will just sit here and see the month out... only 2 and a half weeks to go!

Thanks again for your help, I appreciate it.

Thank you so much for you reply keithwjones,

I will run this program as both youself and booyakasha suggest.

Can't do so right now but will try just as soon as I can and let you know the outcome.

Thanks once again, very much appreciated.

Just letting you know that I downloaded DRTCP and followed intructions, but sorry to say that I still have no luck in getting the majority of web pages to open.

Strange that my second line has gone too, unless it's a coincidence

Shall wait until Friday and try tech support one last time.

Thanks for your help with this.