Genealogy Chat

I have just installed Broadband and now can not access any BMD records on Ancestry - everything else seems okay - and I do have a yearly subscription. Is this a computer or Broadband or Ancestry problem. I have actually emailed Ancestry support and waiting for response. Any suggestions would be welcome. Maureen

I can access BMD records but only if I go through the first search screen marked Historical Records but not by clicking on England and Wales BMDs or the Go Directly to Uk Birth, Marriages and Deaths. So I can not do any searches on BMDs. Anyone got any ideas or have Ancestry changed something in the last few days. Maureen

Sorry folks, We have broadband (NTL via BT line) and I am using my laptop on a network from our main PC, but I can access BMD on Ancestry. So no problem with Ancestry, installing broadband does throw up problems sometimes. Check with your supplier. Liz

I dont know if ancestry is in the process of adding something or other but Ive had weird problems lately. I will enter a census search and get completely the wrong results.

Thanks for the replies girls. I can not get anyone at BT to give me an answer on this - unfortunately all I get through to is their helpdesk which is in India - they will not put me through to a centre in England or to anyone that speaks good English. Very long story about the problems I have had with BT over the last 8 days. Will leave it a day or two and see if anything improves. Maureen

Still got this problem. Have altered my security settings which has had no effect. Did get feedback from Ancestry support but all they told me was how to use their site - a bit strange as I have had a subscription for two years !!!!! BT have suggested that I disconnect all cables from the router and then run IPCONFIG/FLUSHDNS. Not tried this idea yet. Any fresh ideas would be welcome. Maureen

nudge

Maureen, I am no computer buff,but could it be your server,or is your server BT?If so you will have to get in touch with them,but if it is another server,that could be the problem,as I know my friend had problems when she changed to talk talk. Hope you get it sorted soon. Brenda

I am on BT Home Hub (3 weeks now) and don't have any problems in accessing record on Ancestry or any other website. May I suggest that you check your security software and that you are not blocking 'pop-ups'. Alternatively visit the Microsoft website and download Explorer 7. Hope this helps. Shell

Trying to avoid contacting BT if I can help it as it was their fault that I had no internet connection for 8 days. Would take me an hour to explain all the problems I had over those 8 days and lost track of the number of phone calls I made. Only got back online on Thursday because they sent an IT man out to sort the problems. But he also altered settings which I can not alter back. Now finding more problems - ScanDisk will not run is just one - so really getting worried now as to how many other things they have messed up. Think I will have to be brave on Monday and make contact - really not looking forward to that - especially as you can not speak to anyone in England. Maureen

Any good running system restore? Pick a date prior to the ancestry access problems occured. This should leave all installed software since the date untouched but restore the settings you had at the selected date.

Just as another thought, it might be worth looking for a post by Errol the Sheep or Judy in the States and sending a pm.

Glen, Thanks for your reply. Sorry for delay in answering but just logged back onto site. Not sure a system restore would work. My computer was fine on Tuesday 23rd Jan and so was Ancestry as I use it every day to do lookups. This was the last date on my old contract with BT Internet. I had problems with the installation of Broadband on Weds 24th Jan, a long story but given bad info from their technical helpdesk, and I was finally connected Thursday 1st Feb. The first things I did were check emails and then logged straight into GR and Ancestry and got the problems straightaway. Think I will be pestering the one English person I did manage to speak too and thankfully kept a note of the phone number. Not sure I can take anymore overseas call centres !!!!!! Thanks everyone for their input. Maureen

Not at all sure if this is relevant. I was speaking to my sister tonight - she has just changed to BT and says shes having enormous problems and they have told her its something to do with BT not recognising IE7. Spoke to son earlier - he has BT broadband and is having same probs with it recognising IE7. Is it worth a google to see if anyone has found a solution - not that I know if this is your problem too.

Heather, The IT man on Thursday wanted me to upgrade to IE7 but I refused as I had heard that people were having problems with it. Wish I had never agreed to Broadband. Had none of these problems before with my old BT internet. Will have to let battle commence again in the morning which I am not looking forward to. Maureen

It may depend on which Broadband ISP you use. Comment by ' Brenda from Wales ' is very pertinent - TalkTalk is still diabolical and I speak from very recent experience. My PC is doing extremely strange things since I signed up with them even though I have now cancelled and, allegedly, they have not yet connected my telephone line. Have to wait 10 days for BT to recover the line from them so God help me !

Maureen I note you mention a router. Are there other PC's using the router which have IE6 ? Does Ancestry work OK on those? If so it would suggest that it's nothing to do with broadband but your installation of IE6. Downloading Firefox and trying Ancestry would also confirm this ( does not interfere with or replace IE, every one should have it as standby at least ) The DNS should flush on reboot in any event, but to be completly sure you can tun it off in Control Panel/administative tools/services (Mine is turned off all the time) Running CCleaner will clean all the crap and sometimes solves problems like this (easiest way of removing this sort of stuff). Just have to remember your passwords and set CC to leave them alone (easy) I assume you have not installed IE7 and then removed it. Bob

Hi Brenda, Thanks for your reply. Just logged onto site. Everything is BT and yes I have already got problems with their Talk. Can not get a straight answer for any questions on that either. Had no problems with the previous internet contract - I paid for 150 hours a month - and only changed to Broadband because of the promised free evening and weekend calls. Will phone them this afternoon and see what they have to say about it but not very hopeful given their performance over the last few days. Maureen

Bob, Just seen your reply. Only one computer. I had to install IE6 when I loaded FTM2005 almost 2 years ago. Maureen

Have you tried deleting temporary files in IE ? http://www.microsoft(.)com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx Bob