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Causes of Online Access Denied Messages

Several possible reasons may be behind the computer restricting your access to the Internet. For example, if your computer is owned by someone else such as an employer or parent, it is possible that they have restricted Internet access. In this case, you are at their mercy for restoring your Internet access privileges. If that’s not the case, another possibility is that your firewall, router, or networking configurations have become misconfigured.

Web Browsers

The first thing that I’d try is a different web browser. This will rule out a problem with the browser itself. For example, if you’re using Internet Explorer, try Mozilla Firefox instead. If it works, than there was some sort of setting in Internet Explorer denying access to web pages.

Ping a Web Site

Next, let’s see if you can “ping” a Web site. This will tell you if your connection is good. Go to a Command Prompt (Start >Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt) and type in: C:\ping filetonic.com. If you receive a “reply” then you are connected to the Internet but something else is wrong. If you get a General Failure, this could mean that the firewall is restricting access.

TCP/IP Settings

Check with your ISP to see if they require assigned DNS Server addresses in the TCP/IP settings. If so, you can change the TCP/IP settings by going into your Control Panel and choosing Networking (or Networking and Sharing Center). Find your Internet connection item (Manage Network Connections) and right-click it. Choose Properties. Find TCP/IP in the list, highlight it and choose Properties. In the General tab, enter the information that your ISP gave you here. I had to do this on all of my computers in order to get the Web browser to display actual web pages. My ISP gave me the DNS server names and that’s all it took.

Use the Windows Network Diagnostic Tool

When in the Network Connections screen, click on the Diagnose this Connection button. Windows will attempt to diagnose the problem and present you with possible solutions.

Double Check your Hardware

Finally, double check all of your networking hardware including wireless adapters, routers, modems, cables, and so on. Physically inspect connections and settings as well as go into Device Manager (found in the Control Panel) and look for icons that indicate trouble. You may need to update a device driver or follow troubleshooting steps depending on your findings. My two-year-old is notorious for flipping the Wireless on/off switch on my laptop and turning off my cable modem.     

These are some common access denied scenarios. Hopefully, you’ll find a solution here and be back online in no time. If not, consider the experts at www.Filetonic.com/support for further help.

When traveling to other communities, it’s nice to take the laptop along. Accessing Web sites, checking e-mail, and being able to stay connected all require Internet access of some sort.

Using your Existing ISP

In some cases, you can use your existing Internet Service Provider but not all. For example, if you use a dial-up account with a national ISP such as AOL or Netzero, you can dial in from any phone line. However, you will incur phone charges unless you change the phone number to a local number. For example, if you are traveling to Birmingham, Alabama and use AOLnet for Internet access, you will want to use the local access number of 205-413-4062. You’ll do this by editing the access number in your dialup networking connection (My Computer> Dialup Networking>Properties).

Using Free Internet Access

Most hotels now offer free Internet access to guests. This is usually either wireless or Ethernet access, not dialup. In order to use free Internet access, your computer will need the right connections, either a wireless card or an Ethernet port and Ethernet cable. If your computer is so equipped, you’ll need to connect to the network and you may have to adjust a few settings. Most hotels will have detailed instructions for doing so.

In addition, chains such as Starbucks offer free Wi-Fi. Simply head in for a cup of coffee, connect to their Wi-Fi connection, and you’re in business. Again, you may need to make minor adjustments to your computer and a wireless card is necessary.

Internet Cafes

If you don’t have a laptop but want to check your e-mail from time to time while on the road, Internet cafes are a good choice. For a small fee, you can use an Internet café’s Internet-connected computer.

Security Concerns

No matter how you access the Internet while on the road, security concerns exist. For wireless connections, you’ll want to set your firewall to “public” settings. This restricts how other computers can interact with yours. When using Internet café computers, don’t use them for accessing sensitive data and make sure to log off completely when done.

Recommendations

If you travel to specific cities a lot, consider creating a dedicated networking connection or firewall profile for that region. For example, if you have dialup, create a second dialup networking connection for Birmingham with the correct, local phone numbers. If you use wireless, you’re probably fine using the “public” firewall profile but you can customize your own if desired.

I can feel your pain as this is a problem that I am all too familiar with having suffered it at my own home for more months than I would like to remember. The technicians that I spoke to always thought that I imagined the problem as they could “see a live connection and data transfer.” As I am sure you would agree, this does nothing to assuage the angst that you feel when dealing with this particular modem problem.

Modems and Internet Connections

Modems are used for two basic types of Internet Connections. The first type is the dial up connection and the second type is the “always on” connection that one has with DSL or high speed cable.

Speedstream Modems

Speedstream modems are a particular type of modem used to access the Internet. The Speedstream Siemens 4100B Broadcom modem is an external one that is connected to both a power source and the computer.

Explanation of the Lights on Speedstream 4100B Modems

The five lights on the front of the Speedstream modem indicate its status. Please note that the five following lights are specific to this model of Speedstream. Other models will have fewer lights.

• The Power Light indicates if the modem is connected to a power source. It is green when the modem is fully functional and red when the modem is performing POST (power on self test). This test is performed each time the modem is turned on after being disconnected from a power source.
• The Internet Light is green whenever a successful connection has been initiated by the modem.
• The Ethernet Light is green when the modem detects an active and successful link to a computer or router Ethernet port, depending on your set up.
• The DSL Light is green when a successful synchronization to DSL has occurred. Flashing green is the attempt to connect while red is the failure to connect.
• The Activity Light is green whenever the modem is receiving/sending data. Steady green is an indicator of constant traffic, while flashing green indicates a fluctuation of traffic.

Speedstream Modems and Signals that Cut Out

Although many reasons have been proposed for modems that won’t stay connected, the one that I find to be the most feasible is a faulty modem. I say this in all honesty because it wasn’t until I had the modem replaced that the problem disappeared. No piece of electronic equipment is immune from damage whether due to factory error or human error at home.

Call the support number at ATT service and request a replacement modem free of charge. Be prepared to offer dates or at least the number of times that this problem has occurred. Keep calling until you get one. I received mine on the second try. Once I set up the new modem, an upgraded model, the problem disappeared.

Solving Signals that Cut Out on Speedstream Modems

In the systems tray, you should have an icon for the Internet connection/modem. You can use this to fix the intermittent signal at least temporarily rather than unplugging the modem, etc. Right click on the icon and select “open network utility,” “status,” or similarly phrased option. The icon should look like a small computer. Once you open the utility, follow these directions.

If you open “open network utility,” you can see the following data for your modem: signal strength, IP address, adapter, file sharing, status of your Internet connection, and network data if applicable. If you select “Tools” and then select “adapter settings,” you can reconnect if your Internet has cut out on you. In the lower half of the dialog box for “adapter settings,” select the adapter that you are using from the drop down menu and click “available networks.” Select your network and click “ok.” This should reconnect you without going through the hassle of unplugging and replugging the modem.

If you open “status,” you can see the signal strength, speed, duration, and status of your Internet connection. Click the option “support” at the top of the dialog box. You will be able to see the IP address and more importantly an option to “repair” the connection which you should select if the connection is not active.

If you are still experiencing trouble, you can also contact live support at http://www.filetonic.com/support to receive help with your problem.

Recent computer updates followed by problems could mean that something not so nice found its way onto your system. Sometimes malware code hangs out in programs that seem benign - or even helpful, like virus scans - but wreak havoc once they get on your computer. There are also spyware and adware programs that are bundled into toolbars, screen savers and other simple downloads.

One of these problem downloads that is known to cause similar problems is a toolbar called Neopets. If you have recently downloaded any application of unknown or suspicious origin, or this toolbar in particular, you should use Windows Add/Remove and uninstall it. To make sure that there is nothing harmful on your system you need to run a full system virus scan, but first make sure you have the latest virus definitions. Go to the website of the company that developed your antivirus software and look for any updates. Once you know your security software is up to date, run the scan and deal with any problems until it comes back clean.

If your Internet provider didn’t see any connections problems on their end, there are now some things that you can double check on yours. Even though it might seem simple, resetting your computer connections can solve a lot of problems by resolving any conflicts between your Internet connection and network or your computer. First, turn off your computer and then unplug all its connections to other devices, like modems and routers. Also unplug the computer, modem and routers from their power sources. Give the system a minute to rest (ten minutes is often recommended for complete resets on routers and modems), and then reconnect the devices to the computer and the power sources. Boot up your computer and see if you can get online now. If this doesn’t work, try plugging your computer into the modem directly bypassing any routers or other hardware. Another option is to borrow a laptop or other computer from a friend and try hooking it up to your modem to see if it works. If it does, the problem is your computer. At this point, if none of these options help, you could try getting more specific technical advice from www.filetonic.com/support.

One of the problems many home users encounter with their equipment, such as routers, is that it’s hard to know who to call. And when you do call someone, since so many parties are involved, you’re often told to call someone else. For example, Linksys may tell you to call your cable or DSL provider who will tell you to call Linksys. This actually happened to me with Linksys, Time Warner, and Vonage. Vonage was the one who solved my problem (and it ended up being a Time Warner code that I had to enter).

According to the Bell Support Pages, only a few routers are supported by Bell - and the Linksys WRT54G is not one of them. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all routers not on their list won’t work with their service; it means that they aren’t currently supported and that the Bell technical support team is not equipped or able to help you out. Your router may or may not work with their system and you’re unlikely to get much help from their support team in trying.

First, has the router previously worked with Bell or is it a new problem? Is it a new router? Assuming it is a new router, you may need to set it up with the ISP provider’s specific DNS settings. Linksys routers have a setup utility that you access via Internet Explorer. Typically, you will enter the router’s IP address into Internet Explorer’s address bar followed by the user name and password of the router. For example, my personal Linksys WRTP54G router’s IP address defaults to 198.168.15.1 with a default username and password combination of “admin” and “admin.” I’ve since changed those credentials for security. Check your Linksys user manual for specifics as the different models may have different defaults.

Once inside the router’s setup utility, you can enter the DNS information into it. You will need to obtain these DNS settings from Bell. For example, if your ISP requires a host name or domain name, you will need to enter what they tell you to enter into these fields.

Bell (Ontario) also requires that various settings on your computer are set to “obtain IP address automatically” including those found in your network adapter, modem, and network connections. Bell provides specific instructions for these settings on this web page (for Ontario users - users in other provinces should first select their location before searching for specific ISP settings).

Depending on the Bell cable or DSL modem that you are using, you may be able to adjust its settings. For example, some users have Bell 2Wire modems and the Linksys WRT54G. They have been able to go into the modem’s settings, disable both wireless and DHCP, connect the modem to the router, set up PPPOE on the router, and then connect successfully. To me, this sounds like quite a bit of technical work for a non-technical user who simply wants to be able to connect to the Internet with their existing equipment - and it’s not a proven fix.

I’d try finding out your ISP’s required DNS information (if any) and manually entering it into the Linksys router. I’d also double check the various “obtain IP address automatically” settings. If you make changes, write them down so that if a change doesn’t positively affect your connection you can revert back to the original settings. While I know you probably don’t want to invest in a new router, it may worth considering one of Bells supported ones.

Support numbers for Bell Internet are:

Canada 1-800-773-2121

Ontario and anywhere in North America 1-800-668-6878

Quebec 1-800-641-2311

Linksys Support:

1-800-546-5797

As you know, but many of our other readers may not, RCP Over HTTP/HTTPS is a protocol for allowing Outlook clients to connect to Microsoft Exchange Server over HTTP/HTTPS. RPC stands for Remote Procedure Call. While this protocol solves a variety of previous problems for Outlook users, it’s not always perfect.

Microsoft acknowledges that a known problem occurs with the 2003 versions of Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 using RPC over HTTP. This problem involves Outlook crashing, hanging, or performing slowly. There are two causes to this problem. One or both of them could be contributing to the symptoms that you are experiencing.

The first cause involves the Bypass Proxy Server for Local Addresses settings in Internet Explorer’s Internet Options. Check to see if this setting is checked (open Internet Explorer >Tools>Internet Options > Connections> LAN Settings). If so, remove the checkmark and try again.

The second cause is most noticeable over slow networks and involves a backup of remote RPC calls. For example, if one RPC is in process and not yet complete and Outlook Express issues another local RPC call, the system may hang.

If this describes the setup and symptoms of your client’s configuration, then it’s time to update. Microsoft issued a hotfix for this problem over a year ago. If the client hasn’t updated Windows in some time, or if they skipped this particular hotfix for some reason, then you may be able to solve the problem by downloading the appropriate hotfix or Windows XP Service Pack. This Microsoft Knowledgebase Article has the download details.

Another thing you might check is the Server Connection Timeout setting found inside the Microsoft Exchange Server dialog box’s General tab. (Right click Microsoft Exchange Server and choose Properties). What is the Server Connection Timeout setting in seconds? Consider increasing this time limit. A longer timeout might not solve the crashing but it might give Outlook a chance to connect over a slow network connection.

MicrosoftExchange.org has numerous articles covering configuring Microsoft Exchange and Outlook including an extremely comprehensive one about RPC over HTTP.