no port 80

[rick_stout]

Hi...

I am runing a 400MHz AMD homebuilt system with Win 98 running on it. I have lot's of hardware that I don't think is related to the problem, so I'm skipping making a list.

I'm trying to get my installation of Frontpage to operate and it is giving me a message that no port 80 is available on this server (computer). Frontpage used to run ok without problems.

I am runing ZoneAlarm Pro and have given Frontpage full access to ports. I also run a Netgear dsl/cable modem router and a 9 port hub.

A few months ago I suddenly developed a problem of not being able to access my web hosting files provided by my cable isp. Another computer on my LAN can access them just fine. There seems to be some problem with my main computer that is *blocking* me from certain web addresses.

Anyone have a clue as to why certain web addresses seem to be blocked? I would really appreciate any suggestions as to why my port 80 doesn't seem to be available.

Thanks,
Rick

[POBrien]

Hey Rick. I've used Frontpage myself so I'm somewhat familiar with the port 80 message. If you can browse the net on the problem pc, then the port 80 is not blocked. Since you have a firewall (zone alarm) and a network, You'll need to isolate the problem. Disable Zone Alarm altogether. Next, run a straight connection from the problem pc directly to the cable modem/router.

let us know what's up.

[rick_stout]

Hi again. I started to reply to your post a few hours after you left it. Unfortunately, I got side-tracked with problems.....

I have done all the isolating previously but thought I would do it again just to make certain. So I connected my cable modem directly to the computer. The result? No change in behavior. However, something got screwed up royally because it took the balance of the day to get the router, network hub and all to work again. It's possible that the cable network was down, I don't know. But eventually everything started working again.

A few months ago on a particular Saturday night I discovered that I could not log into my ISP provided use webpages where I was hosting some pictures for ebay auctions.

After about a week of going around and around with the cable ISP, a upper level tech person and I spent about 2 hours going through every procedure we could think of. Finally I tried one of the other computers on my network and it accessed the pages immediately.

The problem is that there is *something* screwed up in my computer that is stopping me from going to particular URL's. I think is it a range of addresses because I occassionally run into pages that simply will not load, but will on my other computers.

I am *assuming* that whatever is causing this problem is related to the *NO PORT 80* problem that I first asked about.

If any of you have *any* clue, it would be greatly appreciated.

Rick

[POBrien]

well.... how about 1st uninstalling tcpip for the nic card. Then uninstall dialup networking (if applicable). Next, uninstall/reinstall the nic drivers for the network card.

[rick_stout]

been there, done that.....

I've been *rolling* my own computers for years and can chew up parts and spit out working machines. Of course there is more I don't know that what I do. This crap has become so complicated, I don't know how anybody keeps up with what their computer does anymore.

Anyway, this has me stumped. There has to be some *something* that would cause ranges of internet addresses to be unaccessible. I just don't know what the something would be.

Rick

[POBrien]

got it. what's up with the router? How is it configed? As a bridge, DHCP/NAT etc... Do you have any manual routing setup? How about resetting the router to it's default setup and config it again?

[Basemodel]

Im willing to bet 5 bux its the zone alarm. Never fails, i bet you've been using it for a couple months and never had a problem, but it always seems to corrupt the tcp/ip stack sooner or later. you will have to uninstall zone alarm completely to restore your connection. Try blackice if you can get your hands on it, even zone alarm pro will have its problems, i used to support countless cable users that had connection problems due to it. Good luck

[rick_stout]

Thanks for your post. The problem remains whether the router is in use or not. With the router completely removed, nothing changes.

The DSL/Cable Modem router simply passes the cable connection to the network hub. Also the other machines have no problem in accessing the sites I can't get to with my main machine.

Thanks,
Rick

[rick_stout]

Hi Basemodel,

Like the router suggestion, the problem remains whether Zone Alarm is running or not. I run Zone Alarm Pro on two machines that I use regularly. The other machine has no access problems.

I don't make claims of brilliance about tcp/ip stacks... What would be gained by completely uninstalling Zone Alarm? What process would happen to restore full connectivity?

I have access to Blackice. From all that I have read in the past, Zone Alarm is perhaps the best one available. At least Steve Gibson of Gibson Research was reporting that on his site the last time I looked a few months ago.