Hello! My Anti-Virus Program - Norton Internet Security Professional 2003 is keeping a website from working properly. Is there a way to fix this problem?
Thank you!

*Felicity2

I would guess that the Norton Firewall is actually what is causing the problem. You can temporarily disable it to view the page, but before you do that please be sure the page you're trying to open is a safe one. There may be a good reason the page is being blocked.

What is the page address?

Remember to disable the firewall very briefly, just long enough to verify whether you can view the page, then reenable it immediately.

I note you said, "keeping a website from working properly" -- in what exact way? If you can describe the problem, and NIS causes it, we can help you tweak the firewall rules.

I know the risks of turning off the firewall, even briefly, so, I don't want to do that. I was really hoping there was a way to tell it that the site is okay. The site is www.neopets.com I babysit a little girl sometimes, and she just loves to do this. I was hoping there was a thing somewhere in the anti-virus program where you could put websites for it to allow, or something.
Thank you!

*Felicity2

I'm assuming that you're using Internet Explorer for you Web surfing. If instead, you're using MSN Explorer, try using I.E. and see if that makes any difference.

There is certainly nothing harmful about the neopets.com page. In Internet Explorer, you can click the "Tools" menu, then the Internet Options, then the "Security" tab. Then click the "Trusted" sites. Click the "Sites" button and add the URL: http://www.neopets.com/

Tools/Internet Options/Security/Trusted site/Sites button

Click the Add button and then click OK.

The neopets page uses javascript extensively and if there is a problem with using scripts, that could prevent the page from displaying correctly. If adding the page to your "Trusted" list doesn't help, try clicking the Internet Zone (In the Security tab) and then the default button. See if that makes any difference.

I hope something here helps!

Dwight

[This message was edited by Dwight on 09-09-03 at 12:20 AM.]

Thank you, Dwight, but, it didn't work. The pages are displayed correctly, but, the problem is that it won't let the games be played...or neopoints be withdrawn from the bank...the actual playing of neopets. It says that internet settings could be causing neopets to not be played correctly. I know it has to do with the firewall, because, before I had that on the computer, neopets could be played.
Thank you for your reply.

*Felicity2

My guess is that Neopets has Java or Shockwave games. Under Web Content/User Settings, verify that neither Java applets nor ActiveX controls are blocked.

I went to the games at neopets.com and was unable to play them with my Windows 98 machine. I tried them with my son's Windows XP and they worked fine. My machine gave me this error message:



I discovered that my installation of the Macromedia Shockwave Active X Control was not working correctly. Following the instructions on this page, I uninstalled, then reinstalled the Shockwave player. The games are now playing correctly (with both the Norton AntiVirus and Norton Firewall enabled).

I suggest you check to see if your Shockwave Active X Control is shown as installed, and working correctly.

In Internet Explorer, click "Tools", then Internet Options.

In the General page, look under the "Temporary Internet Files" and click "Settings". Then click the "View Objects" button. Look for "Shockwave Active X Control" (the list is alphabetical).

It may show as "damaged". Even if it doesn't show as damaged, right click on it and click the "Update" button.

If that doesn't solve the problem, then I suggest you go to the "this page" link above and follow the steps to uninstall, then reinstall the Shockwave player.

Click to read about the Shockwave player.

I hope this will fix it for you!

Dwight

[This message was edited by Dwight on 09-09-03 at 06:24 AM.]

Thank you, Tom and Dwight, for replying.
Dwight, I updated it, and the games themselves can be played. It still won't allow some things, like the "Tombola". (To see what I'm talking about, on Neopets, click on "Explore", "Mystery Island", and then "Tombola".) It also still won't allow Bank use. As long as she can play it to where she can feed her Neopets (which games are needed to earn neopoints to buy things with), then, she's happy. She was so worried that she was going to have to put them in the NeoPound. So, since she can still feed them and all that, she's happy. I might try that uninstall thing you mentioned later on. Oh..here's the error message we get when we try to do certain things on there (such as the Bank and Tombola):
"ERROR : Oops you have been directed to this page from the wrong place! If you KEEP getting this error, chances are you have some security settings enabled that are not letting you play Neopets correctly."
Thanks, again!

*Felicity2

I'll have to wait 24 hours to play that game. Is there another that you can think of that I can use for troubleshooting?

Everything I clicked on seemed to work, but the one you specified said I had to wait 24 hours after registering in order to play it.

Dwight

felicity2 !

Neopets isn't JUST for kids! My sister who lives 3 thousand miles away from me couldn't understand why I played that whacky game! THEN she tried it........She ended up being hooked. Sold code stones by the tons to make her 7 million in the bank!!! TOOOOO funny!

PS Your pets will never die of starvation. I haven't fed mine for almost a year and a half and they're fine.

Don't get hooked Dwight!!! LOL!

Tree, believe me...I know Neopets isn't just for kids.

*Felicity2

I tried to play the game and saw this:

"Ugggh... out of cash
Wouldn't you know it, I just gave my last Neopoints away to somebody, so I have none left to buy prizes with So anyway, I'm taking donations so I can get my Tombola up and running again... if you donate you will be helping the poor and needy of Neopia, and I'm sure that kindness will come back to you one day!

I need 176,252 NP before I can re-open!"

Does this mean the game isn't going to run until NP (whatever that is) is filled in?

There is a note up on the "Mystery Island" page that the site is currently down of database maintenance.

Dwight

Dwight, what's your username
in there. I'll add you to my
friends list and see what I
can come up with as far as a
donation!

Dwight, don't worry about this too much. I've seen that before. You can just wait a while (it doesn't take too long, with all of the people who play Neopets), and before you know it, it will be back up. However, if you want to make a donation to it, that's good, too. Another thing - sometimes you may see "Closed. Be back in an hour." I usually see this when it's late at night, but, at certain times during the day, too. If you see it late at night, it won't be an hour. It'll be more than that. Just a little detail about "Tombola" for you.

*Felicity2