NAWS store website acess issue.

James
James Solar Expert Posts: 250 ✭✭
Hello folks, I'm not sure this post should be in this section.
I cannot open the NAWS store website. I get a statement directing me to upgrade to a couple of specific browsers. I'm not computer savy, so I'm not sure what to do. My current browser (Windows Explorer) works everywhere else...is this a result of the end of suppport for Windows XP??? Thanks

Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    I don't think it is a windows XP issue (still have couple of computers running XP--No problems so far).

    The only upgrade issue I can think of--There is Java Script used on the NAWS website, and sometimes you will get warnings to upgrade:

    What is Java Update and how do I change the update

    Download Free Java Software

    Those are the only "cross browser brand" upgrade/warnings I can think of off hand.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • James
    James Solar Expert Posts: 250 ✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    Hello BB,
    thanks for the response. Here is a copy/paste of what shows up when I try to bring up the homepage for NAWS;

    You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

    Thanks, James
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    It may be related to the fact that every version of Windows Internet Explorer has an as-yet unfixed security flaw; perhaps they don't want people logging in to what should be a secure site using an unsecure browser.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    My guess, java script is not turned on or not working correctly... If you click on this link below, do you see something like:

    http://www.javatester.org/javascript.html
    Test Results
    JavaScript IS NOT WORKING in your web browser

    Either your web browser is not capable of supporting JavaScript at all
    -or-
    the use of JavaScript has been purposely disabled.

    Or something like this:
    Test Results
    JavaScript IS WORKING in your web browser

    Your web browser supports JavaScript version 1.5
    Your web browser is Firefox version 29.0

    This is what your browser is telling the forum website:
    Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; Trident/4.0; AskTbARS/5.15.4.23821; .NET CLR 2.0.

    and this is what mine says:
    Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:29.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/29.0

    BIG GUESS COMING--I AM NOT A COMPUTER SOFTWARE GUY: You MAY have the "Ask tool bar helper" -- Which I think behaves more like a virus (can really impact the performance of a Windows PC) and may be responsible for the warning(s) are you are getting:

    Remove asktbar.dll virus

    AskTBar Removal Tool. Remove AskTBar Now

    I don't know anything about the above two links--But they do have information about the Ask Tool Bar -- Typically installed when you load some "free" software from the web and one of those "check boxes" that you forget to check off (i.e., do you want XYZ toolbar, do you want ABC antivirus helper, etc.).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.
    BB. wrote: »
    I don't know anything about the above two links--But they do have information about the Ask Tool Bar -- Typically installed when you load some "free" software from the web and one of those "check boxes" that you forget to check off (i.e., do you want XYZ toolbar, do you want ABC antivirus helper, etc.).

    -Bill

    Worst thing about those 'accessories' is that the default is "yes" to install and you have to realize what it's trying to dump on you and check "no" instead. Why they assume everyone wants this garbage is because no one really does and it's the only way to distribute it; by default!
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    I missed the check box on updating a very old/reliable/well reviewed PDF creation tool... It loaded so much "malware" that I pretty convinced I had a major virus infection.

    PDF Creator---Used it for decade or more--Top review on CNet:

    "Trust Everyone Else - Installs Malicious Malware!!!"

    Apparently ongoing stuff:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDFCreator

    -Bill

    I use Malware Bytes as a "second virus scanner"

    [h=3]Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software[/h]
    and here is some more information on removal:

    [h=3]Remove Ask Toolbar and Ask.com Search - MalwareTips.com[/h]
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Aguarancher
    Aguarancher Solar Expert Posts: 315 ✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    MS IE is one of the most insecure browser ever created. With MS no longer supporting XP the browser updates from them are no longer available. Suggest you download Firefox and all your problems will disappear. IMO
  • inetdog
    inetdog Solar Expert Posts: 3,123 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.
    MS IE is one of the most insecure browser ever created. With MS no longer supporting XP the browser updates from them are no longer available. Suggest you download Firefox and all your problems will disappear. IMO
    You can still get IE updates and apply them to Windows XP computers, but at some point the versions of IE that are being maintained will no longer be ones that run on XP.
    What MS has ended their commitment for is to produce IE updates that will install on and patch old versions of IE that may be running on XP.
    I do second the Firefox suggestion, but that is not guaranteed to protect against OS level bugs that are exploited via the browser.
    SMA SB 3000, old BP panels.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    I use Firefox with PDF Creator (and turn off java script, etc.)... Not answering the check marks corrector during a "simple" software update--My system was still malwared up the behind.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • James
    James Solar Expert Posts: 250 ✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    You guys lost me 3 threads ago! :)
    But seriously, I'll try the javatester thing
    j
  • jcheil
    jcheil Solar Expert Posts: 722 ✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.
    James wrote: »
    You guys lost me 3 threads ago! :)
    But seriously, I'll try the javatester thing
    j

    And I hate to say it, but you should really just give up on XP. There are security flaws (especially in the SSL code-HeartBleed) that are NOT being fixed anymore. It was great in it's time and MS has kept it on life-support WAY longer than they should have.

    You can get a simple PC for a few hundred dollars now-a-days with Win7/8 on it. It's only going to get harder and harder to keep these old apps working especially since everything has switched to 64-bit. Your problem with the website is just the beginning and you'll be pulling your hair out in no-time.
    Off-Grid in Central Florida since 2005, Full-Time since June 2014 | 12 X Sovello 205w panels, 9 X ToPoint 220w panels, 36x ToPoint 225w panels (12,525 watts total) | Custom built single-axis ground mounts | Complete FP2 Outback System: 3 x FM80, 2 x VFX3648, X240 Transformer, FLEXnet-DC, Mate-3, Hub-10, FW500 AC/DC | 24 x Trojan L16RE-B Batteries 1110ah @ 48v | Honda EU7000is Generator and a pile of "other" Generators | Home-Made PVC solar hot water collector | Custom data logging software http://www.somewhatcrookedcamp.com/monitormate.html
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    The java script tester is just click on the link at see what comes back (nothing bad).

    The Ask Tool Bar--You probably loaded "something" from CNet.com or other website that has handy "free" tools/software for your machine (could have come from loading Adobe Reader, etc.).

    Very popular are "tool bars" for your web browser. These tool bars are supposed to be "smart integration" and block "bad" sites (porn, Nigerian Prince scams, etc.)...

    In reality, these tool bars+search engine tools typically will steer you to "their search engine", possibly skew results (results that give higher page position for "their advertisers", and also give search (and sometimes browsing history) to the company--For their further selling of your information, etc.

    And some (like the Ask tool bar has been accused of) will go and update/change your book marks and hijack website URL's to another website (scamming information, to a particular retailer, etc.).

    The problem is these browser hijackers are almost as bad a viruses--And, sometimes a little easier to remove. You don't want to give away your privacy, have things not work as they should, and many times these are badly written pieces of code that was a lot of your computer's resources (run CPUs at 25-100% of their power, use extra memory, etc.).

    The problems you are seeing (or not) with the NAWS website may or may not be related to the Ask tool bar--But getting rid of the tool bar is a fairly high priority for your computer's health (in my humble opinion).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    google has been forcing themselves on people, some through trickery like having a box needing unchecked to not download one of their items. go into tools and hit internet options. on the general tab go down and delete your browsing history. move to the privacy tab and then make sure the popup blocker is checked. hit apply if it shows and exit internet options.

    go back into tools and go to safety. note that you can delete browsing history here too, but below that it shows inprivate browsing. this will bring up a new private window that you can put the address of naws' store into and try it from there to see if the google crap still shows up or not. if it does then you may have an imbedded thing in your pc and may be tougher to weed out.
  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: NAWS store website acess issue.

    hmmm, i wonder if he got it to work right and what he found did it?