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Firefox "cannot find server at bbc.co.uk" for about three or 4 days. It worked perfectly the day before and I changed nothing. Any ideas?

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  • Last reply by brenda37

SarahMooring
SarahMooring
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Since Tuesday 22nd March 2011 I have been unable to access the BBC website at bbc.co.uk. I always receive the error message that Firefox "cannot find the server". The previous day it worked fine and I was watching programmes as usual. I am based in the UK, connected via BT Home Hub, using Firefox on a 13" Macbook. I have downloaded the latest Firefox, cleared the history and cache to no avail. I cannot get onto the site using Chrome or Safari either. My partner can access the BBC site just fine on his Windows laptop connected via the same Home Hub. Any ideas???

Since Tuesday 22nd March 2011 I have been unable to access the BBC website at bbc.co.uk. I always receive the error message that Firefox "cannot find the server". The previous day it worked fine and I was watching programmes as usual. I am based in the UK, connected via BT Home Hub, using Firefox on a 13" Macbook. I have downloaded the latest Firefox, cleared the history and cache to no avail. I cannot get onto the site using Chrome or Safari either. My partner can access the BBC site just fine on his Windows laptop connected via the same Home Hub. Any ideas???

All Replies (3)

egnm69
egnm69
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I'm in Spain & my ISP is Telefonica/Movistar & I use a Mac. I started having the same problem about the same time too as everyone else. After looking around various websites & finding other people here had the same problem, I found someone who came up with a simple solution which now works & I can see all the BBC websites again ! All you have to do is change your DNS Server setting to use Google's Public DNS Server address of 8.8.8.8. First close down Firefox & any other browsers. Then open SYSTEM PREFERENCES, choose the NETWORK pane and then on the right hand side of that screen is a line called DNS Server. Write down the number in that section somewhere safe just in case anything goes wrong, so if you need it, you can just type it back in (it's the default DNS Server address your ISP provided you). Then delete that number in the DNS Server section and type in 8.8.8.8 Then in the bottom right hand corner of that Network pane click the APPLY button and that's it ! The change should be instant, but if need be just restart your Mac. Once back on your Desktop, open Firefox & try the BBC News or any other BBC website & it should work ! (I've attached a Screenshot so you can see what it should look like)

SarahMooring
SarahMooring Mwenye swali
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Thanks for that. I've saved your reply as a pdf in case the damn thing plays up again. One of my friends managed to sort it out for me using similar tactics, but remotely. I think it was because my I seemed to have a couple of DNS numbers too many from when I borrowed a friend's dongle while in hospital. Again, many thanks. Sarah M.

brenda37
brenda37
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I have the same problem. I am in the United States. I keep getting message on Firefox, Safari can't find server. What do I do?