To run a traceroute:
1.  Click on Start
2.  Click on Run
3.  Type in "cmd" (without quotes) and click OK
4.  At the prompt type "traceroute yourhost.com"  i.e:  traceroute yahoo.com
5.  Hit enter

This will trace the path between your PC and the destination site you specify.

Trace route does exactly what it describes, it traces the route a packet takes from your computer to each of teh other PCs, servers, routers, etc to the destination website. Big numbers are bad because that means stuff is getting hung up somewhere.

To learn more about packets, check out the movie "Warriors of the Net" here: http://www.warriorsofthe.net/clips.html Link (note - not a direct link for those of you on dial-up).

Tracer Route using Internet Exploder...

1) 0.387 ms 0.269 ms 0.243 ms 161.58.14.161 (161.58.14.161)
2) 0.453 ms 0.312 ms 0.332 ms ge-1-1-0-278.r00.stngva01.us.wh.verio.net (204.2.123.185)
3) 0.384 ms 0.406 ms 0.316 ms vl-5.r01.stngva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.27.190)
4) 0.449 ms 0.508 ms 0.610 ms xe-1-2-0.r20.asbnva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.2.84)
5) 0.453 ms 0.475 ms 0.462 ms ae-0.r21.asbnva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.2.17)
6) 0.473 ms 0.507 ms 0.446 ms p6-3.core01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.12.21)
7) 24.177 ms 1.438 ms 1.406 ms v3491.mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.34)
8) 2.027 ms 1.535 ms 1.421 ms v3496-mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.45)
9) 7.256 ms 7.180 ms 7.197 ms ten9-2.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.254)
10) 6.964 ms 6.981 ms 7.036 ms g13-0-0.core02.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.233)
11) 29.521 ms 29.616 ms 38.424 ms p14-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com (66.28.4.86)
12) 30.402 ms 30.399 ms 29.680 ms p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com (66.28.4.61)
13) 29.595 ms 29.595 ms 29.552 ms p2-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.210)
14) 29.642 ms 29.644 ms 29.661 ms g3-1.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com (204.6.150.30)
15) 29.835 ms 31.498 ms 29.858 ms startdock-corp.demarc.cogentco.com (38.99.207.122)
16) 30.245 ms 29.957 ms 29.638 ms 38.99.229.8 (38.99.229.8)
Traceroute Complete

Using Firefox...

1) 0.420 ms 0.298 ms 0.246 ms 161.58.14.161 (161.58.14.161)
2) 65.850 ms 44.265 ms * ge-1-2-0.378.r01.stngva01.us.wh.verio.net (204.2.127.185)
3) 0.516 ms 0.384 ms 0.348 ms vl-5.r01.stngva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.27.190)
4) 0.457 ms 0.439 ms 0.424 ms xe-1-2-0.r20.asbnva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.2.84)
5) 0.496 ms 0.519 ms 0.483 ms ae-0.r21.asbnva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.2.17)
6) 0.546 ms 0.527 ms 0.453 ms p6-3.core01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.12.21)
7) 0.505 ms 0.670 ms 0.805 ms v3490.mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.3.226)
8) 1.459 ms 1.434 ms * v3496-mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.45)
9) 7.133 ms 7.156 ms 7.170 ms ten9-2.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.254)
10) 6.993 ms 7.068 ms 6.990 ms g13-0-0.core02.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.233)
11) 29.517 ms 29.467 ms 29.613 ms p14-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com (66.28.4.86)
12) 29.714 ms 29.548 ms 29.634 ms p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com (66.28.4.61)
13) 29.608 ms 29.532 ms 29.561 ms p4-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.214)
14) 29.650 ms 29.552 ms 29.555 ms g3-1.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com (204.6.150.30)
15) 30.122 ms 30.440 ms 29.899 ms StardockCorporation.demarc.cogentco.com (38.112.15.250)
16) 29.639 ms 30.225 ms 29.571 ms 66.28.242.215 (66.28.242.215)
Traceroute Complete

Using MSN Explorer...

1) 0.420 ms 0.999 ms 0.348 ms 161.58.14.161 (161.58.14.161)
2) 7.425 ms 0.356 ms 0.310 ms ge-1-1-0-278.r00.stngva01.us.wh.verio.net (204.2.123.185)
3) 0.388 ms 0.393 ms 0.335 ms vl-5.r01.stngva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.27.190)
4) 0.401 ms 0.434 ms 0.457 ms xe-1-2-0.r20.asbnva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.2.84)
5) 0.559 ms 0.511 ms 0.490 ms ae-0.r21.asbnva01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.2.17)
6) 0.443 ms 0.455 ms 0.421 ms p6-3.core01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.12.21)
7) 0.510 ms 0.573 ms 0.533 ms v3491.mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.34)
8) 150.963 ms 184.829 ms 3.460 ms v3496-mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.45)
9) 7.225 ms 7.550 ms 11.252 ms ten9-2.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.254)
10) 7.027 ms 6.984 ms 7.041 ms g13-0-0.core02.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.233)
11) 29.515 ms 29.589 ms 29.972 ms p14-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com (66.28.4.86)
12) 29.609 ms 29.609 ms 29.562 ms p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com (66.28.4.61)
13) 29.637 ms 29.585 ms 29.531 ms p2-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com (154.54.5.210)
14) 211.091 ms 30.171 ms 29.671 ms g3-1.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com (204.6.150.30)
15) 30.073 ms 30.018 ms 29.882 ms startdock-corp.demarc.cogentco.com (38.99.207.122)
16) 29.800 ms 29.706 ms 34.930 ms 38.99.229.8 (38.99.229.8)
Traceroute Complete

C:\>tracert www.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to www.wincustomize.com [38.99.229.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 21 ms 10 ms 14 ms 24.115.0.1.res-cmts.flt.ptd.net [24.115.0.1]
2 8 ms 8 ms 8 ms gateway-fas0-0-2.flt.ptd.net [24.229.54.225]
3 10 ms 9 ms 12 ms gateway-atm4-0-0-328-all2flt.all.ptd.net [207.44
.126.62]
4 11 ms 18 ms 26 ms gateway2-atm4-0-0-323-sm22all.sm.ptd.net [207.44
.125.13]
5 13 ms 15 ms 23 ms POS4-1.GW2.PHL6.ALTER.NET [157.130.43.33]
6 34 ms 13 ms 15 ms 0.so-7-0-0.CL1.PHL6.ALTER.NET [152.63.37.174]
7 31 ms 23 ms 15 ms 0.so-4-2-0.XL1.DCA5.ALTER.NET [152.63.35.253]
8 15 ms 15 ms 30 ms 0.so-6-0-0.BR1.DCA5.ALTER.NET [152.63.43.169]
9 29 ms 30 ms 28 ms p9-0.core02.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.12.
25]
10 36 ms 32 ms 40 ms p10-0.core01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2.
29]
11 31 ms 50 ms 29 ms v3493-mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.3
8]
12 43 ms 49 ms 70 ms v3494-mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.4
1]
13 72 ms 37 ms 48 ms ten7-2.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.
245]
14 39 ms 39 ms 40 ms g13-0-0.core02.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.
5.233]
15 45 ms 45 ms 45 ms p14-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.8
6]
16 47 ms 50 ms 46 ms p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.6
1]
17 56 ms 47 ms 44 ms p2-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.2
10]
18 50 ms 53 ms 47 ms g3-2.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [204.6.150.34
]
19 49 ms 48 ms 46 ms startdock-corp.demarc.cogentco.com [38.99.207.12
2]
20 48 ms 47 ms 50 ms 38.99.229.8

Trace complete.

I don't use my browser to access WinCustomize but rather the WCBrowser, but I do have IE6 running on my system.
DD

WebGizmos's readings:

Okay, lets just say I'm jealous!  

Keep that front door unlocked, Web!   

Thanks, Karen for the info about posting. I'll use that control v next time I have trouble.  Karen, your readings seem alot higher than everyone elses. Are you running off a broadband account or a dsl or dialup?

These are my readings a few moments ago: (and I used control v)

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Donna Gorman>tracert www.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to www.wincustomize.com [38.99.229.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     3 ms     2 ms     2 ms  192.168.2.1
  2     8 ms     9 ms     9 ms  73.162.100.1
  3    16 ms    11 ms     *     ge-1-42-ur01.lowell.ma.boston.comcast.net [68.87
.155.169]
  4    11 ms     *       14 ms  10g-9-4-ar01.needham.ma.boston.comcast.net [68.8
7.144.157]
  5    15 ms     9 ms    12 ms  12.117.239.5
  6    31 ms    25 ms    25 ms  br2-a350s3.cb1ma.ip.att.net [12.127.5.26]
  7    32 ms    24 ms    24 ms  tbr2-cl16.n54ny.ip.att.net [12.122.10.22]
  8    31 ms    29 ms    29 ms  tbr2-cl15.wswdc.ip.att.net [12.122.10.54]
  9    26 ms    25 ms    26 ms  ar9-p3110.wswdc.ip.att.net [12.123.8.189]
 10    49 ms    48 ms    46 ms  att-gw.dc.cogent.net [192.205.32.86]
 11    49 ms    43 ms    46 ms  v3490.mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.3.2
26]
 12    51 ms    45 ms    46 ms  v3496-mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.4
5]
 13    49 ms    44 ms    43 ms  ten9-2.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.
254]
 14    50 ms    45 ms    45 ms  g13-0-0.core02.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.
5.233]
 15    50 ms    45 ms    46 ms  p14-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.8
6]
 16    53 ms    45 ms    45 ms  p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.6
1]
 17    51 ms    46 ms    53 ms  p2-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.2
10]
 18    52 ms    47 ms    46 ms  g3-1.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [204.6.150.30
]
 19    51 ms    48 ms    46 ms  startdock-corp.demarc.cogentco.com [38.99.207.12
2]
 20    52 ms    47 ms    47 ms  38.99.229.8

Trace complete.


That damned Webgizmos sure likes to brag, doesn't he?    

Traceroute and browser have no bearing on one another. Every browser you use will follow the same path to the destination as defined in your DNS settings...

Fairyy~,
Go to a command prompt. (Start - Run - cmd)
Type...
ipconfig /flushdns

run the trace again.

From what I see. You are the only one hitting:  ten2-4.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com

If nothing else, all of this is showing that the issue lies upstream from WC. Getting Cogentco to look at their devices is the trick. However, these tracerts that we are posting should be a good starting point if Stardock will run with it.

Keep that front door unlocked, Web!

  

Seems my MSN Explorer hit a speed bump a few times though. 

of course, after I posted #31 & #32 I can't even connect, but tracert works fine. THIS does indicate a problem at WC.

I got in here via forums.wincustomize.com....

Thanks, Karen for the info about posting. I'll use that control v next time I have trouble. Karen, your readings seem alot higher than everyone elses. Are you running off a broadband account or a dsl or dialup?

Dial-up but other traces had much lower numbers than the ones I posted this am...

I havent been here all day till after 8Pm - still took over 20 minutes to log in ..just constant spinning of cursor followed by the "Error Occured " page - please refresh "

Fairyy~, Go to a command prompt. (Start - Run - cmd) Type... ipconfig /flushdns run the trace again.

I did the flush several times but it fails...
*********************************

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Karen>ipconfig /flushdns

Windows IP Configuration

Could not flush the DNS Resolver Cache: Function failed during execution.


C:\Documents and Settings\Karen>tracert www.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to www.wincustomize.com [66.28.242.215]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1   133 ms   129 ms   129 ms  ipt-rtcb04.dial.aol.com [152.163.5.36]
  2   140 ms   127 ms   129 ms  iptfarmb-rtc-ve3.proxy.aol.com [152.163.104.62]

  3   130 ms   129 ms   180 ms  172.30.81.28
  4   139 ms   129 ms   129 ms  172.31.9.65
  5   130 ms   129 ms   128 ms  pop2-vie-P2-0.atdn.net [66.185.145.9]
  6   129 ms   129 ms   129 ms  bb1-vie-P1-0.atdn.net [66.185.139.128]
  7   130 ms   129 ms   129 ms  bb1-ash-P9-0.atdn.net [66.185.152.98]
  8   130 ms   129 ms   129 ms  pop3-ash-P2-0.atdn.net [66.185.136.5]
  9   129 ms   131 ms   129 ms  Verio.atdn.net [66.185.140.242]
 10   126 ms   130 ms   129 ms  p6-2.core01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.12.
17]
 11   125 ms   129 ms   129 ms  v3493-mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.3
8]
 12   125 ms   129 ms   129 ms  v3496-mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.4
5]
 13   135 ms   139 ms   200 ms  ten9-2.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.
254]
 14   136 ms   140 ms   139 ms  g13-0-0.core02.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.
5.233]
 15   144 ms   159 ms   159 ms  p14-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.8
6]
 16   155 ms   159 ms   149 ms  p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.6
1]
 17   155 ms   149 ms   149 ms  p2-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.2
10]
 18   154 ms   159 ms   159 ms  g3-2.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [204.6.150.34
]
 19   154 ms   159 ms   159 ms  StardockCorporation.demarc.cogentco.com [38.112.
15.250]
 20   154 ms   159 ms   160 ms  66.28.242.215

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\Karen>

  1    11 ms     *        *     10.11.0.1
  2    19 ms    24 ms    17 ms  65.198.154.33.geusnet.com [65.198.154.33]
  3    68 ms    58 ms    52 ms  500.Serial2-0-2.GW11.DFW9.ALTER.NET [157.130.153.201]
  4    52 ms    47 ms    51 ms  130.at-6-0-0.XR1.DFW9.ALTER.NET [152.63.100.50]
  5   128 ms   117 ms   117 ms  0.so-2-0-0.XT1.DFW9.ALTER.NET [152.63.101.253]
  6    56 ms    74 ms   102 ms  0.so-6-0-0.BR6.DFW9.ALTER.NET [152.63.99.2]
  7    82 ms   119 ms    85 ms  p14-0.core01.dfw03.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.12.249]
  8    71 ms    73 ms    65 ms  t3-1.mpd01.dfw03.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.178]
  9   197 ms   210 ms     *     t4-4.mpd01.dfw01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.6.61]
 10    79 ms    78 ms    93 ms  t9-2.mpd01.mci01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2.230]
 11   111 ms   109 ms   100 ms  t2-1.mpd01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.174]
 12    68 ms    71 ms    68 ms  g12-0-0.core02.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.3.253]
 13    68 ms    78 ms    74 ms  p15-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.61]
 14   102 ms   106 ms   127 ms  p4-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.214]
 15   114 ms    81 ms    91 ms  g3-1.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [204.6.150.30]
 16    84 ms    87 ms    87 ms  StardockCorporation.demarc.cogentco.com [38.112.15.250]
 17    80 ms    84 ms    88 ms  66.28.242.215

Trace complete.

So what does all that mean?  What do the asterisks mean?
Why can't I reply for another 23 seconds?

Tracing route to www.wincustomize.com [38.99.229.8]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     3 ms     3 ms     1 ms  SpeedTouch.vic.bigpond.net.au [10.0.0.138]
  2    41 ms    42 ms    42 ms  172.18.112.173
  3    43 ms    43 ms    42 ms  172.18.69.42
  4    44 ms    40 ms    44 ms  61.9.209.7
  5    42 ms    42 ms    44 ms  TenGigabitEthernet4-1.cha30.Brisbane.telstra.net
 [165.228.107.81]
  6    43 ms    42 ms    42 ms  GigabitEthernet1-0.cha-core4.Brisbane.telstra.ne
t [203.50.51.1]
  7  1091 ms   399 ms     *     Bundle-POS2.chw-core2.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.225]
  8    57 ms    56 ms    56 ms  10GigabitEthernet1-0.oxf-core1.Sydney.telstra.ne
t [203.50.6.2]
  9    57 ms    56 ms    56 ms  10GigabitEthernet2-2.syd-core03.Sydney.net.reach
.com [203.50.13.30]
 10    57 ms    56 ms    56 ms  i-6-0.syd-core01.net.reach.com [202.84.249.13]
 11   203 ms   204 ms   204 ms  i-3-0.wil-core03.net.reach.com [202.84.140.29]
 12   251 ms   249 ms   249 ms  i-3-4.wil03.net.reach.com [202.84.251.162]
 13   214 ms   216 ms   214 ms  Cogent.wil03.net.reach.com [134.159.63.70]
 14   216 ms   214 ms   214 ms  t9-4.mpd01.lax01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.3.14
1]
 15   248 ms   247 ms   247 ms  t8-4.mpd01.iah01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2.19
7]
 16   248 ms   247 ms   249 ms  g0-0-0.core01.iah01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2
.201]
 17   262 ms   261 ms   262 ms  p13-0.core01.ord01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2.
14]
 18   262 ms   261 ms   262 ms  p4-0.core01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.2
14]
 19   264 ms   261 ms   260 ms  g3-1.hc01.ord04.atlas.cogentco.com [204.6.150.30
]
 20   261 ms   264 ms   264 ms  startdock-corp.demarc.cogentco.com [38.99.207.12
2]
 21   266 ms   264 ms   262 ms  38.99.229.8

Trace complete.

 

Guess I'll just be happy that I'm here at all

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>tracert www.wincustomize.com

Tracing route to www.wincustomize.com [66.28.242.215]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.2.1
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 19 ms 19 ms 19 ms 66.28.242.215

Trace complete.



WC flying along pretty good when ran this.

So what does all that mean? What do the asterisks mean?

Each line is one hop to the next step in line to where you are goinig
The next three items are the times to the next step (* means no response returned, it got lost)
The last item is the name of the device you are passing through.

Why can't I reply for another 23 seconds?

I think that's a spam reducer WC put in. Good idea, I only wish the timer was visible before I submitted.

I think that's a spam reducer WC put in

I was wondering what the heck that was. I had it happen to me as well a few times. Kind of dumb really...more of an inconvenience for us legitimate subscribers trying to submit a reply or post. But I guess it must really upset someone wanting to post spam and having to wait for the timer to wind down. 

Spam reducer...sounds like a diet program.   


Actually...the only real grip I have with the site at this point is being held hostage by these forums every time I try to open a topic...then backing out is even worse...seems to take sometimes 3 clicks to get out.

The timer is a two fold solution. It helps prevent people (who, for the sake of optimism, we'll assume just dont know any better) from hitting the Refresh button or F5 key billions of times and making duplicate posts. We've seen the number of double/duplicate posts reduced significantly since this was implemented.

It's also a way to prevent spam. By limiting the number of posts per minute a user can make at the server, we're effectively slowing down any would be spammers. Enough so, that we can identify and 'take care' of the account(s) responsible before it gets out of hand and interrupts or floods the forums.

If you feel that subscribers to wincustomize shouldn't have to be restricted by this, please fire off an email to Tman and let him know your thoughts. (Please be kind)

Actually...the only real grip I have with the site at this point is being held hostage by these forums every time I try to open a topic...then backing out is even worse...seems to take sometimes 3 clicks to get out

I am still using SDC Discussions to navigate the forums. Fast, easy, low load.

But I guess it must really upset someone wanting to post spam and having to wait for the timer to wind down.

Any real spammer worth his salt would have a bot to handle this anyway. On the other hand . . the timer has prevented me from flaming another member once. So I guess it's a good thing.