Internet Expolorer/Firefox Freezing

[Want-to-know]

I have WIndows 7 - my computer is only 6 months old. I prefer Internet Explorer 8 whilst my husband uses Firefox for internet access. However, we both have problems with freezing. A little blue ring goes round and around, the screen freezes and fades and we have to leave the programme, then go into it again to continue using the internet.

Not sure what the problem is. Could it be add-ons? Thinking of system restore, but not sure as to go how far back, as we have had this problem for some time. It seemed ok for a bit but has become worse again. We are not sure if one should get rid of all add-ons or what. We are not very computer literate.

Will system restore help and should we use this and what else should we do? Any help would be most appreciated..

With thanks

[Buenchico]

If BOTH browsers display the same behaviour it suggests that there's a problem with the way that your computer connects to the internet. Your problem sounds like a recurrence of a DNS fault which was widely reported here on AB a year or two ago.

Try accessing your router's settings and looking for the 'DNS' information. (If you don't know how to get into your router's settings, please post again to tell us which make it is). It will normally show that your DNS server is 'automatically assigned'. Click on the option to change that, so that you can enter the primary and secondary addresses yourself. (Don't worry if that sounds complicated. DNS addresses are simply strings of four numbers, such as 195.8.69.7). Then enter the two DNS addresses used by your ISP. You can find them on your ISP's support pages or (for most UK ISPs), here:
http://www.kitz.co.uk/isp/dns.htm
(If in doubt, simply enter the 'OpenDNS' addresses, at the foot of that page. They'll work with any ISP).

I'm not guaranteeing that following those instructions will work but I've fixed similar problems, both on my own PCs and on those of others, by changing the DNS information. What I can guarantee is that it won't do any harm to switch from 'automatically assigned' to 'user assigned' DNS addresses, so it's worth a try.

Chris

[Want-to-know]

Thanks Chris for your information. You mentioned about getting into my router settings and that you would advise how to do this. Internet Explorer was going ok for a bit this morning, then froze again, so I am willing to consider anything that can stop this from happening. Thanks.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your reply but you've not stated what make your router is.

Router settings are usually accessed via your web browser. If you've got a Belkin router simply type 192.168.2.1 into your browser's address bar and click 'Go' (or hit 'Return'). That takes you to the log-on page. (It asks for a password but, unless you've password-protected your router, you simply leave the field blank).

Other routers will have similar ways of getting into the settings but the numbers you type into the browser's address will be different. That's why (unless you've got a Belkin router) I need to know what make it is.

Chris

[Want-to-know]

Thanks Chris. I do have a Belkin router and I believe it is password protected. All I have to do is remember the password!