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Question

browser problem

Jul 11, 2017 4:55AM PDT

Hi all,
Since a few days i'm having a browser problem with one of my laptops.
The problem started with Chrome suddenly 'not responding'. i went to IE, and with that browser the spinning wheel kept spinning to load to page.
I've already reinstalled chrome to see if this helped, but same problem persists. I've also installed firefox, but same problem as with IE, the wheel on top keeps spinning trying to load a page but never does.
When i restart, every browser works for X-amount of time for then to randomly crash again (can happen within 5 minutes to 4 hours that all browsers stop working) and not one browser is able to load a page.
i've ran spybot for malware but nothing out of the ordinary came up. I've ran CCleaner and removed all cookies and cache and the likes but it keeps happening.
On my second (old) laptop, everything is working fine.
I've deleted AVG (since the problem started the same days as my free one month trial ran out) and installed Avira since, but no virusses are found either.
What else can i try?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Tom

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: deleted AVG
Jul 11, 2017 6:14AM PDT
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Answer
Good note about delete.
Jul 11, 2017 6:33AM PDT

Also, did you try "resetting" those browsers? Uninstall and reinstall keeps old addons etc. Reset and retest.

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Answer
Still the same problem
Jul 11, 2017 7:46AM PDT

Thank you both for your replies.
I've used the remover tool from AVG but the problem was still there so i doubt the problem lies with AVG.
I've just now reset all browsers, restarted laptop but the problem is still there. (Firefox was never installed before on that laptop but also had the same problem once i started using it)
To clarify: Chrome crashes and shows that it's not responding, Firefox and Edge just keep having the spinning circle that shows that it's trying to load a page but nothing happens.

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How are you connected to the internet?
Jul 11, 2017 8:11AM PDT

Can the browsers work to open text and html files you have saved to your hard drive? Can the browsers open video files you may have saved? If that works but you can't access internet webpages, then you need to look into your setup for that.

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cant open HTML links
Jul 11, 2017 9:17AM PDT

saved an HTML file and waited for the browsers to stop working.
The screen remains white with Firefox and Edge and the loading wheel keeps spinning.
Nothing happens with Chrome, doesn't even open a page

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Hmm, do you have an adblocker running too?
Jul 11, 2017 9:26AM PDT

If you saved a page that has an ad link in it, then that would account for a saved page also not displaying in two browsers. Turn off the adblocker and try again. Also see if you have any entries in your "hosts" file. You may need to search for that, in Linux it's in /etc/hosts, can't remember the exact place in windows, maybe the \system folder.

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adblocker
Jul 11, 2017 11:44AM PDT

to my knowledge i dont have an adblocker running.
ill look up now ho to check the host files.

Also i just found out, when other browsers are down, i can still connect and load everything just fine with tor browser

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Ahhh
Jul 11, 2017 12:00PM PDT

Maybe the Tor browser has changed your internet connection settings to a proxy server (which IS what it does) and your other browsers therefore aren't working to get past that server.

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ahhh
Jul 11, 2017 12:19PM PDT

seems unlikely since i just thought about Tor. I have the browser on a stick from way before and just thought about it. ran it from the stick and it worked, copied it to desktop, removed the stick and it worked to.
checked chrome and its normal
checked firefox, changed it from system proxy settings to no proxy
checked edge and its on automatically detect settings

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maybe your computer's LAN port is gone bad
Jul 11, 2017 12:38PM PDT

You could try an USB to LAN adapter and see if that will work. I'm assuming you already checked all your OS networking settings.

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wireless
Jul 11, 2017 2:30PM PDT

I'm on a wireless connection on both laptops so dunno if that changes anything.
I've indeed checked all OS network settings and everything seems normal to me. Did the troubleshooter and came up without any problems to.

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Answer
Time to look under the hood.
Jul 11, 2017 7:52AM PDT
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speccy
Jul 11, 2017 11:45AM PDT
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Speccy reading
Jul 11, 2017 12:14PM PDT

But do check out the proxy (set it to none.)

1. The GPU is showing an unreal 511 C temp. I don't believe it. Try https://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/ to see if it reports better.

2. A mix of CCLeaner, S&D 2, Avira, etc. Mixing all this can be trouble. I'd run without all this for a test run.

3. MIXED MEMORY MAKES. Can be troublesome. If you get weird odd BSODs might be time to get matched RAMs.

4. Unplug the USB flash drive for now.

5. DNS for a test try 8.8.8.8

6. TorBrowser\Tor\tor.exe

This is most likely it. Try it without the Tor.

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bitdefender
Jul 11, 2017 12:46PM PDT

When uninstalling S&D, i got an error message, it says:
'A problem has occured in Bitdefender threat scanner. A file containing error information has been created at C:....\Bitdefender Threat Scanner.dmp. You are strongly recommended to send the file to the developers of the application for further investigation of the error.'

-I've restarted and will do a trail run without CCleaner, S&D 2 and Avira. (These were all installed after the problem started though)

-With the other tool GPU shows me 43 C Temp which seems more normal then 511 Happy

-Also the USB was connected cause i wanted to see if Tor did get a connection (which it did) because Tor is saved on that USB. Put Tor browser map on my desktop to see if it ran that way to and it did. But before that Tor had not been on that laptop. I've also unplugged the USB and deleted Tor again

-didn't have a BSOD yet, but i'll keep it in mind for if it ever happens.

-ill do the test try for DNS after this trial run and report back.

Thank you everyone for your help so far!

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One more speccy.
Jul 11, 2017 1:25PM PDT

Let's get a fresh speccy and see what it stands. If it's working it's likely some combination of softwares.

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2 more speccy
Jul 11, 2017 2:28PM PDT
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Just some comments on Speccy #1
Jul 11, 2017 3:05PM PDT

1. Mixed memory sticks. To test if this is an issue, we pull one.

2. NGEN is running. That's normal but should stop after a few hours.
https://github.com/joefitzgerald/packer-windows/issues/65 kicks it around and you might want to force it to get done.

3. I'm guessing this is the Dell Inspiron 3458 or 3558. What Dell is this?
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=59CW2 shows an A07 BIOS yours is A02. Might help with memory support.

4. TCP Connections look more under control.

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Hmm, what is this Digipass? Speccy #2 reading.
Jul 11, 2017 3:15PM PDT
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digipass
Jul 12, 2017 12:37AM PDT

Digipass is something that we have to install in belgium (and maybe outside belgium to) for online banking. Without it, the cardreaders to log in don't work.
Everything checks out as the two guides indicate though.

This is a DELL Inspiron 5548

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I'm at the end here.
Jul 12, 2017 8:29AM PDT

With DIgipass kicking in on the system it's something I can't support. That is, it's the thing that stood out after all this. Back to them to fix it.

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Speccy
Jul 11, 2017 6:09PM PDT

If kingston has a ssd fitness test you might want to run it on that disk.

Look at smart c3 and c9.

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Answer
Here some possible solutions
Jul 11, 2017 2:56PM PDT

Security software is blocking the connection, check if your Internet security software (which includes programs firewalls, antivirus, antispyware, etc.) is blocking connections to the internet.

Make sure the date, time, and time zone of your system are configured correctly.

You may have a problem with the DNS. The DNS server translates the web addresses (URLs) to IP addresses and it is your ISP that usually offers it. If the DNS server is overloaded, you may not be able to see some or all of the websites.
Each web server connected to the Internet is assigned a number known as its IP address. Domain names are assigned to IP addresses through a server (DNS). Your computer stores recent IP address assignments so you can connect to websites faster, but if there is a discrepancy between the DNS server and the IP address assignments on the computer, each browser will have trouble finding websites. To remove recent IP address assignments, unload the DNS cache a bit. (Press Windows + R, type cmd and press Enter, in the command line type ipconfig/flushdns and press Enter).

If you are using a wireless connection, make sure you are using the correct access point.
Even if the modem or router is turned on and does not indicate errors, there may be a problem with your Internet Service Provider.

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solutions
Jul 12, 2017 2:49AM PDT

-security software is all removed to test check the connection. Problem keeps happening

-date time and time zone are configured correctly

-used the flushdns command last weekend, but didnt solve it, tried it again today with the same results

-ISP is normally ok, second laptop and phone dont have any problems. I can connect, it just crashes after x amount of time. And when browsers are down, skype for example still works

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Re: solutions
Jul 12, 2017 3:03AM PDT

If nothing helps, it might be time to refresh or reset Windows, go back to your most recent image backup, do a clean install of Windows or go back to factory conditions.

However, since it started only a few days ago, try System Restore first.

Post was last edited on July 12, 2017 3:08 AM PDT

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system restore
Jul 12, 2017 6:08AM PDT

Did a system restore to 10 days ago when i didn't have this problem.
didn't work, problem is still here

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Re: system restore
Jul 12, 2017 6:26AM PDT

Well, it was worth a try.

Since skype still works, I don't think it's hardware or drivers. Then the remedies from the first sentence of my post above might be the next step.

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you said this was wifi connection
Jul 12, 2017 8:54AM PDT

maybe something wrong with the wifi device. Try a USB wifi device instead, see if problem continues. Remember to load drivers for the newer USB device. Can get one for less than $20.

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wifi device
Jul 12, 2017 9:11AM PDT

If there is something wrong with the wifi device shouldn't my other laptop and my phone also have problems?
Also documents that are opened in google drive keep saving changes when the browsers stop working. At least in Firefox, Chrome just crashes, havent tried it in Edge. Firefox keeps saving changes, but doesn't load any other page anymore in a new window or in a new tab.
Really weird situation...

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wifi devices
Jul 12, 2017 3:29PM PDT

some in built some from USB port, but each computer uses it's own wifi device to connect to the wireless signal.