Unable to access a Website: Error says Site cannot be reached.

Question

Hello,

I have been working hybrid and am using a laptop from my work. There is a specific website that I need to access to do about 80% of my job. It's the only website I have consistent trouble accessing. I get an error message saying this site can't be reached. I have tried restarting my computer (often several times when I get this message, but I frankly feel that I shouldn't have to restart multiple times a day. I called my Internet provider and they think it's maybe a firewall issue, or the computer itself. I have tried resetting the chrome flags, tried different locations, etc. It appears to respond better when I am working from home. It appears to work better on my personal laptop than with my work laptop. Can someone please give me some insight as to why this is such an issue? How can I fix it? I cannot do my job at all because of this. Thanfully I have supportive coworkers and supervisors regarding this.

Answer 1

Thanks for your thorough response. I already cleared the cache several times and that hasn’t helped at all. I’m not sure if I should do that SNA flush bc I have no idea if I will screw it up. They have replaced my laptop in hopes that it clears the issue. That hasn’t. I used my personal laptop the entire day in a different space yesterday and not once was I unable to access the website. IT came out to fix something else and he thinks it could be some sort of permission thing. Thursday we are supposed to get some kind of firewall thing replaced. Lol, that’s a good term right? Anyway, I’m using my personal laptop because nothing has solved the problem yet.

Answer 2

Dear LEA3425,

Thank you for reaching out and providing detailed information about the issue you’re facing. I understand how frustrating this can be, especially when it impacts your ability to perform your job.

Let me guide you through some steps to troubleshoot and resolve this issue effectively.

Since the issue is specific to your work laptop and the website seems to work better on your personal device, the problem may be related to the following:

• Network Configuration: Your work laptop might have specific DNS or firewall settings.
• Company Security Policies: There may be restrictions or configurations enforced by your organization's IT department.
• Browser or System Settings: Cached data, DNS settings, or firewall rules might be interfering.

Here’s a set of steps you can take to diagnose and fix the issue:

1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Cached files or corrupted cookies may cause website access issues:

• Open Chrome on your work laptop.
• Click the three dots in the top-right corner and go to Settings.
• Navigate to Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.
• Select All time and ensure Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked.
• Click Clear data and restart Chrome.

Disclaimer: Your browser automatically saves temporary internet files to help pages load faster. Clearing this cache will sometimes fix website issues. Please back up all your personal files first, such as Favorites, to ensure you do not lose data.

2. Flush DNS Cache

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
• In the Command Prompt, type: ipconfig /flushdns
• Press Enter, then restart your computer.

3. Use Google’s Public DNS

• Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
• Select Change Adapter Settings from the left menu.
• Right-click your network connection (e.g., Wi-Fi) and select Properties.
• Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
• Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter: Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8 Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
• Click OK, then restart your computer.

4. Disable Firewall Temporarily

Your firewall might block the website:

• Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
• Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
• Temporarily disable it for both private and public networks.
• Test accessing the website, then re-enable the firewall for security.

5. Use a Different Browser. Browser-specific issues can cause problems. Test the website using Microsoft Edge or Firefox.

If the issue persists, your IT team may need to review:

• VPN/Proxy Configuration: Ensure work policies aren’t redirecting traffic incorrectly.
• Firewall/Antivirus Rules: Verify that the website is not blocked.
• Browser Policies: Confirm that organizational settings do not interfere with access.

I hope these steps help you regain access to the website. If you need further guidance or encounter any issues during troubleshooting, please let me know. I’ll be happy to assist further.

Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist