Cannot access secure sites

[denis567]

My daughter has a Toshiba laptop (not sure which model), she is on XP with a wireless connection. She can get onto the internet but she cannot access any of the sites that require a password. A box comes up saying she cannot access the site, with a list of recommended solutions, but none of these work.
She has had it to the local computer repair shop, but they say it is a Windows problem and the only solution is to wipe the hard drive clean and re-install Windows.
She is unwilling to pay out for this as she is shortly going to buy an iphone, when her current mobile contract expires.
Has anyone had this problem? and is there another solution?
Many thanks in advance

[Buenchico]

You've not stated which browser your daughter is using.

Here's what Microsoft suggests with regard to Internet Explorer 8:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968089

However simply switching to a better browser (Firefox or Chrome) might well resolve the problem.

Chris

[VHG]

>>>but they say it is a Windows problem and the only solution is to wipe the hard drive clean and re-install Windows.

As sure sign they dont know what the hell is wrong with it so the "easy" and "lazy" answer is to reinstall Windows. They sound a terrible company if that is their only solution (and a reinstall of Windows will rarely fix this type of problem anyway).

Is perhaps her num lock or caps lock key stuck on on the keyboard, so when she types the password in it comes out wrong?

Can she access anything where she needs to type a password? Give us some examplkes of sites she cant enter.

Are these sites she has been able to access in the past (I assume she could as she must have registered with the web site).

I have to say this is a strange one.

[ChuckFickens]

as above, you've not said what browser, but if it is IE Click on the help menu (press alt if you can't see a help menu) and select "about Internet explorer" and what does it say next to cypher strength?

[denis567]

Hi everybody, thanks for your suggestions so far. I will have a word with her tomorrow and see if I can access one of my sites, on her computer and get back to you tomorrow night.
She uses Firefox

[ChuckFickens]

"Can you access http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk and login to your account?"

The AB sign in page is not a secure site!

In answer to the OPs last part of has anyone else had this problem, if the cypher strength of IE comes back a 0 then yes I have seen it before and the only answer is to reinstall windows or use a different browser.

[VHG]

>>>The AB sign in page is not a secure site!

I am not sure poster means secure sites as in https sites.

I think she just means any site that requires a password.