Problems at the Depot?

[IBTyrone]

Hey all.

I've been having problems getting into the SPWAW Depot since 5 this morning. I keep getting:

"The connection was refused when attempting to contact www.spwaw.com"

I got in for about two minutes a few minutes ago and then it started giving me the error again.

I can't connect to the home page or the forums.

Is it me or is something up? [&:] I didn't see any complaints at the Depot or over here at MGF so it might be my connection.

Thanks for the help.

[FlashfyreSP]

Woking now, 0900 hours. Probably a hiccup in the server system.

[Puukkoo]

It is working now, but I also got similar error messages when I tried to enter there earlier.

[IBTyrone]

Yeah, I'm able to get back in now. Thanks for the confirmation it is working.

[Swamprat]

I haven't been able to get into the Depot for two days now. [:(]
Dunno why.

[IBTyrone]

Hey Swamprat.

What error are you getting or is it just timing out?

[Swamprat]

I get 'The web page cannot be displayed', plus -
"The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings."

Checked all my settings, but no dice.

[Swamprat]

Not sure what 'timing out is'.

[IBTyrone]

Sorry, the errors you were getting were essentially what I meant by "timing out." It happens when your browser takes a year to return a page and returns nothing instead.

Here's a few things to try if you haven't already:

1) Have you rebooted your machine in the last few days? If not, then do this first.
2) Have you tried another web browser? If you are using IE, then try Firefox and vice versa.
3) What has changed in the last two days to your system? Did you download any updates or install a firewall?
4) Is it just the Depot you are having problems with or all web pages? I assume not all pages since you are posting here.
5) Can you get to the Depot main page? (http://www.spwaw.com) I've found sometimes I can reach this page and not the forums.
6) Did your ISP (Internet Service Provider) make any upstream changes in the last few days (new firewall or the like?)

Try some of those things and let me know what's up. Hope you get it going.

[Swamprat]

Y'know, I have no idea what any of this means. I'm not all that computer proficient I'm afraid. I can just about switch it on and operate it.

1. Not sure what you mean by rebooting. Sounds like something that was done in the old days of DOS. Now those were the days when I was really confused.

2. IE is installed on my machine. Didn't know there were others.

3. In last two days I downloaded updates for my AVG anti-virus program.

4. Had a problem getting into another site yesterday, but now it's just the depot I can't get into.

5. Tried main page, forum page and members list page. All timed out.

6. My brain fell out when I read this. I guess that means I don't know. sorry.

Will use XP's 'go back in time' feature to a previous setting and see if it works.

[Swamprat]

Nope. Tried system restore and still no Depot.

[Puukkoo]

That's terrible!

I'd advice you not to use the Internet explorer in the future. It happens to be notorious browser and it can induce these system malfunctions. I have been using Mozilla Firefox for a while.

[Swamprat]

Well, I learned something new. Did a search for Firefox, downloaded it, now have two web browsers, which I didn't realise was possible.


But I still can't get into the Depot.

Maybe it's a transatlantic thing...

[IBTyrone]

Hey Swamprat.

By reboot, I mean turn it off and turn it back on. Do you leave your computer and internet connection (cable or DSL) on all the time? You might want to try turning everything off, waiting 30 seconds, and then turning it all back on again. Sometimes it can reset something that is causing your connection to burp.

However, it sounds like since it doesn't work in IE or Firefox and you can still get to other sites, that it is probably an issue with your connection--probably firewall related, which is blocking your specific connection to the Depot. AVG may have something to do with it, but my impression of AVG is that it is strictly a virus detection program with no firewall capabilities, but since I do not use it regularly, I'm no expert. You might want to check if AVG does have some sort of firewall capability that was enabled with your last upgrade.

I did note you are using XP. If you are running Service Pack 2 or later you have an option to enable your firewall. Do you have the firewall enabled? Sometimes the firewall that comes with XP can cause problems. You can check to see if it is turned on by going under your start menu, go to Control Panel, then Security Center and then Windows Firewall. If it is turned on, you might want to turn it off and then try going to the Depot and see if it works. If it works, then probably will need to tweak your settings. If it doesn't, we're back a square one.

[Swamprat]

Hi. I've got a Zone Labs Firewall. Not a problem normally. But even with that off and the anti-virus off, the Depot remains unobtainable.

The Hogg comes back from France soon. If he can log on and I still can't, then I guess it might not be a UK based thing.

Rebooting - Yeah, the computer is regularly switched off. I don't like leaving stuff on. Costs me money. [;)][:D]

[IBTyrone]

Hey Swamprat.

I doubt it is a UK-based thing. Do you and Hogg have the same ISP? If not, he may still be able to connect and you can't.

Have you tried calling technical support of your ISP and let them know that you can't get to one particular site yet you can get to others and that you haven't made any changes in your firewall in the last few days? Maybe they could check it on their end for you.

I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, but it involves getting to the DOS prompt and attempting to ping the Depot server. Try your ISP folks first. If they aren't helpful, let me know. I will also PM Bernie for you over at the Depot. He may have some ideas which I'm missing.

[Swamprat]

Thanks Tyrone. I'll see what I can do.

[Swamprat]

I'm in, I'm in, I'm in.


Should have just been patient really. [8|]

[IBTyrone]

Thanks for the heads up, Swamprat.

I wonder if it was a cache issue and that it cleared itself out automatically after a certain amount of time. Doesn't matter now. I'm glad it's working!

[rich12545]

I'm having a problem too. I tried to log in to do a download and it said I am banned.

Banned again.[>:]

The first time I deserved it. The second time (for one day) I might have deserved it.

This time? So what did I do?

I was polite. I didn't insult anybody. I discussed in a friendly manner. So, what?

I wrote my political opinions from a conservative point of view. Yep, that's it. [8|]