 | Home > Off Topic > One for the IT Wizards - Old Laptop Can't Access Internet |
 
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| Muddybigdog Member Since: 11 Apr 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 994   
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Sounds like your browser is too old to cope with the latest heavy image content pages, i think (not an expert) you will need to upgrade your RAM and potentially your GPU, event your graphics cards.
The latest Windows IE is 11, so you are some way away, you could try to download Firefox or Google Chrome, but these are memory hogs that feast on processors. Jumped ship to reliability - Mitsubishi L200 Puma 90 XS - Sold D3 - 2.7 S x2 (both Sold) Freelander 2 HSE - Sold Freelander 1 - Sold Disco 2 - Sold |
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30th Dec 2020 5:48pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4002 
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thanks Muddy,
I don't think its a hardware issue, as the websites immediately fail to load. The machine runs nicely in general. And for some strange reason Google.com will open no problem. I think it is either settings or software. But, because I can't visit any websites, I can't download any updates or new applications. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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30th Dec 2020 6:02pm |
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| Badger110 Member Since: 06 Feb 2018 Location: South hams Posts: 1036 
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Stop browsing pornhub in the garage
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30th Dec 2020 6:29pm |
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| dailysleaze Member Since: 23 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 237
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Most sites are Https these days and use stronger encryption than existed when IE6 came about, so it won't even connect. Google probably allows it, but many sites won't as it's a security hole for them.
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30th Dec 2020 6:34pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4002
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Busted  2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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30th Dec 2020 6:50pm |
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| macfrank Member Since: 05 Nov 2015 Location: somewhere in the north Posts: 1003  
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Badger...
Technically it's probably an issue of outdated or non-existing security certificates and the browser being too old. Nowadays most webservers would deny access because of that. You could try updating IE to a more recent version or try Firefox. BUT I'd really not recommend to connect XP to the internet anymore. If you do, take extra precautions not to connect other devices to it (physically such as USB sticks and virtually such as a network printer). I would also not use email or cloud services. Install a local application firewall such as ZoneAlarm. It will alert you of outgoing connection attempts and you can allow or deny them. It also has a button to disable internet completely while you don't need it. In addition to the risk of infecting your own files and devices, your XP PC could also be turned into a "zombie" without you realizing it. |
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30th Dec 2020 7:03pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4002
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Ok, sounds like security is the problem and wouldn't be wise to use it anyway.
Plan B is to try to load Chrome OS onto it and get it working that way as Chromebook 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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30th Dec 2020 7:10pm |
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| diesel_jim Member Since: 13 Oct 2008 Location: hiding Posts: 6050 
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Is the date/time correct? is the BIOS battery flat?
I've had this before on an old laptop, and it was the date that caused it. FWIW my old "in the van" laptop I keep there just for setting up port forwarding or other router stuff when I'm on site, is a steam powered thing running XP. it works just fine, never any issues surfing the web. Use AVG free antivirus on it. |
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30th Dec 2020 7:49pm |
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| Joel Member Since: 18 Oct 2020 Location: Rotherham Posts: 66 
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XP should still work, and I think XP supports IE10 at least, I’d run a windows update on it if it’s not been used for a while.
Else, go to tools, internet options, on the connections tab, choose lan settings, then make sure everything is unticked apart from the box that says automatically detect settings. I wouldn’t recommend using it though, XP is 20 years old, and has been out of support for 6 years. There are plenty of pretty horrendous nasties floating around for it still. |
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30th Dec 2020 9:58pm |
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| mini Anaconda Member Since: 23 Aug 2016 Location: Thames Valley Posts: 726
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I think IE6 is probably the issue.
I use the latest IE on my Windows 10 laptop for a few things but many web pages aren't compatible with it anymore and automatically open in Chrome or Microsoft Edge which wouldn't be an option on your XP machine. I believe Microsoft are ending support for IE entirely from next year. That said, I wouldn't recommend using it on the internet unless you really need to for the security reasons highlighted above. If you need a laptop for the garage there are some cheap second hand ones available on eBay  BORG - Bucks & Oxon 4x4 Response Group
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30th Dec 2020 10:22pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4002
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The comments about security were bothering me, so after a bit of Googling I just this minute binned Windows and installed Chrome OS from Neverware. All working fine and browses the web dead quick. Seems like the best thing you can do for free with an out of date Windows PC 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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30th Dec 2020 10:26pm |
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| mini Anaconda Member Since: 23 Aug 2016 Location: Thames Valley Posts: 726
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BORG - Bucks & Oxon 4x4 Response Group
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30th Dec 2020 10:29pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 04 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 4957
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Internet Explorer 6, i think is very close to the back end of the windows 98 era, and i think was the last buggy version too. You might be better off bumping up the ram too just to help the system out, Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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31st Dec 2020 8:07pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 04 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 4957
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there is a retro machines group on face book, people on there still manage to put pre windows 9x machines on the internet, but its a right faff on. Windows 2000 you have to practically patch it with XP patches for that to work, so god knows what they do for pre windows 9x and windows 9x based systems, to get them on the internet. Just because its old doesn't mean its useless as you have proven here
I am still playing with windows 3.51 server, windows 95 and 3.11 client  Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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31st Dec 2020 8:13pm |
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