I have an odd computer problem. For the past month or so, every time I have tried to get onto Wikipedia, whether through directly typing their name into the address bar of my explorer or following a link, it freezes up my IE forcing me to quit out of it. I tried clearing my cache and cookies, to no avail.
A google search reveals that this is not a unique problem, but the proposed solution is usually to get rid of IE and download a different browser. However, my issue is on my work computer, and I don’t have privileges to install new, unapproved software. I could call my company’s computer support, but I feel bad doing that since I gernerally don’t use Wikipedia for work-related purposes.
The weird thing is, as far as I can tell, it only happens with Wikipedia. All the other websites I visit are fine. And it only started recently – I used to be able to visit Wikipedia fine, and haven’t changed computers since.
Obviously this is not a critical issue, but I’m curious:
Does anyone know a solution that doesn’t involve getting rid of my current browser?
Does anyone know why this would happen only to Wikipedia?
Mine asks me to install Asian fonts (uh, Chinese and “I forget”) in a pop-up. It’s possible this is the problem (maybe work is blocking the pop-up from your view). Is it possible to get the fonts installed at work?
I’m not sure this is the problem for the following reasons: a) I’m usually troubled by pop-ups, so work doesn’t appear to have a good pop-up filter; and b) I used to be able to see the Chinese characters in Wikipedia on the main page when I was able to get on Wikipedia.
I suppose it’s still possible, but if so I think I’m out of luck, at least until Wikipedia stops asking to install fonts.
Well what version of IE are you running. Go to Help -> About and make sure you are in fact running IE and not another browser that uses IE’s engine.
Second see if you can get into the cache of Wikipedia. Go to Google and enter a search term like Yankee Wikipedia and then it should bring you search results. Go see if you can get into Wikipedia from the cache version.
If not, see if you can click the cache version of wikipedia then in the upper right it says “Text Only” and see if you can get into the text only version of the cache.
If worst comes to worst you could always use something like Skweezer to allow you to browse the Wikipedia
>However, my issue is on my work computer, and I don’t have privileges to install new, unapproved software.
If youre a non-admin then a lot of the troubleshooting steps past clearing cookies/cache are really admin only. You should contact your IT support. The next few steps I can think of all require admin privs.
I’m not sure what happens when the content filter on your work server blocks certain sites but are you sure that the IT people have not blocked Wikipedia?
Positive. Everyone here around me can get Wikipedia no problem. Unless the IT people have blocked Wikipedia specifically for me, which I wouldn’t necessarily put past them.
I’m not sure what you mean by the “cache version.” Goodling Yankee Wikipedia brings up a link to the Wikipedia entry on “Yankee” which I don’t think is what you mean. Plus, that link freezes my IE as well when I click on it.
Thanks for all your suggestions, but it seems I’m out of luck unless I want to get my IT folks involved – and I’m reluctant to bother them with a non-work releated issue. I have no problem bothering you guys though.
