IE and Firefox: Popups are blocked when they shouldn't be ...

[wiglaf]

Hi all,
New here, so I hope this is the right forum for this question. If not, point me to it please!

My problem is that IE (and Firefox) will block a popup even when I click on the link. I've turned OFF popup blocking in IE options. And I've added the website to the trusted sites list. I've tried disabling AdShield, I've tried holding down the CTRL key while hitting the link. I've tried telling the google toolbar to always allow popups from whichever site I'm on. I still get the same behavior. And I get this same behavior on my work PC, and on all 4 of my home PC's. Here's one specific example.

Using IE 6.0: Go to www.rockymountainnews.com. Click on any link to read an article. Then click on the "HOME" link at the top left hand side of the page. I get the message "blocked popup window -- use CTRL Refresh to see all popups".

Using Firefox 1.5.0.3: Go to www.rockymountainnews.com. Click on any link to read an article. Then click on the "HOME" link at the top left hand side of the page. I don't get any message at all, but I also don't go to the home page. Firefox just sits there.

When I try to search for help with this problem (either here or using google), I'm swamped with hits telling me how to block popups, so I can't find the ones that tell me how to fix this problem (even though I'm sure they exist somewhere).

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dan

[Private_Snoball]

I did what you said for both IE and firefox and I was able to go through. When you click home, the website contacts 'ad.doubleclick.net' . This site tosses a popup at you through the web page and you may be blocking that site. Otherwise a port might permenately blocked on your router not allowing access to that certain pop-up, and thus causing firefox and IE to hang.

[Mal51]

Do you have any firewalls? Some like ZoneAlarm have a built in feature to block popups, which you have to disable.

[wiglaf]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm still having the same problem through.

So far, I've uninstalled both AdShield and the Google toolbar on IE. Still failed after each uninstall. Then I went in and disabled all IE browser add-ons. Still failed. I updated all programs using Windows updater (none were IE related, but I figured what the heck). Still fails.

I uninstalled Firefox, downloaded the latest version, then re-installed it. Still fails. (Firefox doesn't give me the "blocked popup window" message, instead it just sits there and does nothing, like I didn't even click the link.)

Back on IE, I went through all of the internet options and compared them to a laptop I have that works like it should (that is, it follows the links properly).
IE still fails.

I don't think I have a firewall program since I can surf to the pages if I put the url info into the address bar. I don't think a firewall would block a site when I click on a link, but allow the site if I put it in the url.

This is damned frustrating. Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Dan

[Trogan]

Have you added anything to your Host files?

Let me know if you don't understand what I'm talking about.

[wiglaf]

um, ok I admit to not understanding what you're talking about w.r.t. Host files.

[Trogan]

OK!

Follow this location, assuming you have XP:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

Once in the 'etc' folder, double-click on the HOSTS file. Open the file with Notepad!

Copy and paste the contents of Notepad here, please.

[wiglaf]

Yes, it is XP. Here's the file (not much in it).

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

[Trogan]

That is fine!

Sorry, I'm not sure whats blocking the popups. :(

[wiglaf]

'kay. Thanks for trying.

anyone else got any ideas?

[Thrax]

Do you have Norton Internet Security?

[wiglaf]

No Norton. I use PC-cillian.

[V|P]

Do you know if the windows firewall is on? That really doesn't have anything to do with it, but it's worth a shot. Also, try uninstalling Firefox and reinstalling it. Actually they have a beta version out called Bon Echo, which is about the same with a few more features. Here it is. (http://dw.com.com/redir?pid=10543101&merid=61635&mfgid=61635&ltype=dl_dlnow&lop=link&edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3040-2356_4-10543101&ontId=2356_4&destUrl=http://www.download.com%2F3001-2356_4-10543101.html)

[Trogan]

Wiglaf, could you list every software you have on your computer please. Maybe you have something that is blocking the popups.

[wiglaf]

The Windows Firewall service is not running. I think that means it's off.
Here's a list of installed programs/versions:

Program Name followed by Version Number
Adobe Acrobat 4.0 4.0
Adobe Acrobat 7.0.1 and Reader 7.0.1 Update 7.0.2
Adobe Acrobat 7.0.2 and Reader 7.0.2 Update 7.0.3
Adobe Reader 7.0 7.0.0
AdShield
ATI Display Driver 8.012.1-040525b-016092C-Dell
BusinessObjects Enterprise 6 61.021.00000.2262
dpeg Cicada
Duplicate Finder 2.0
GO-Global UX 2.1.5 (remove only)
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
High Definition Audio Driver Package - KB835221 20040219.000000
HighMAT Extension to Microsoft Windows XP CD Writing Wizard 1.1.1905.1
Hotfix for Windows XP (KB896344) 2
Intel(R) PRO Network Connections Drivers
iTunes 6.0.4.2
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 4 1.5.0.40
Legacy 6.0 6.0
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 1.1.4322
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Hotfix (KB886903)
Microsoft Access 97
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 11.0.7969.0
Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003 11.0.7969.0
Microsoft Office Visio Viewer 2003 (English) 11.0.3709.5614
Mozilla Firefox (1.5) 1.5 (en-US)
Musicmatch® Jukebox 10.00.4033
Palm Desktop 4.1.0410
PDR Electronic Library PDR-A
PhotoSort Demo 1.25 1.25
QuickTime 7.0.4
RealPlayer
Reasonable NoClone 3.2
SAP Front End 6.20 Compilation 1
Security Update for Windows Media Player (KB911564)
Security Update for Windows Media Player 10 (KB911565)
Security Update for Windows XP (KB883939) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB890046) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB893066) 2
Security Update for Windows XP (KB893756) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896358) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896422) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896423) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896424) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896428) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB896688) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899587) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899588) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899589) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB899591) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB900725) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB901017) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB901190) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB901214) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB902400) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB903235) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB904706) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905414) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905749) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB905915) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB908519) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB908531) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911562) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911567) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB911927) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB912812) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB912919) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB913446) 1
Security Update for Windows XP (KB913580) 1
Shockwave Flash
SMS Advanced Client 2.50.3174.1152
SnagIt 7 7.1
SyncBack
Trend Micro OfficeScan Client
Update for Windows XP (KB894391) 1
Update for Windows XP (KB896727) 1
Update for Windows XP (KB898461) 1
Update for Windows XP (KB900485) 2
Update for Windows XP (KB900930) 1
Update for Windows XP (KB910437) 1
WebFldrs XP 9.50.7523
Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474) 1.5.0532.0
Windows Genuine Advantage v1.3.0254.0 1.3.0254.0
Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130) 1.5.0530.0
Windows Installer 3.1 (KB893803) 3.1
Windows Media Connect 1.0.0.0
Windows Media Format Runtime
Windows Media Player 10
Windows XP Hotfix - KB873333 20050114.005213
Windows XP Hotfix - KB873339 20041117.092459
Windows XP Hotfix - KB885250 20050118.202711
Windows XP Hotfix - KB885835 20041027.181713
Windows XP Hotfix - KB885836 20041028.173203
Windows XP Hotfix - KB886185 20041021.090540
Windows XP Hotfix - KB887472 20041014.162858
Windows XP Hotfix - KB887742 20041103.095002
Windows XP Hotfix - KB887797 20041018.133824
Windows XP Hotfix - KB888113 20041116.131036
Windows XP Hotfix - KB888302 20041207.111426
Windows XP Hotfix - KB890175 20041201.233338
Windows XP Hotfix - KB890859 1
Windows XP Hotfix - KB891781 20050110.165439
Windows XP Hotfix - KB893086 1
WinZip 9.0 (6028)

[wiglaf]

Sorry, forgot to mention that I already tried the uninstall / reinstall of Firefox. Haven't tried the beta yet though.