However, if I utilise my Netscape browser on the same computer I CAN access and open the site ; the only thing I can think of that can be blocking my access is my Avast but why I have no idea
Can anyone shed any light on this phenomena? When I put in my username and password the Avast Icon starts spinning…then stops and the page freezes; IS it Avast related? If so how can I maybe bypass Avast on what IS a safe site to enter?
Firstly avast doesn’t block (it isn’t a firewall), it scans and alerts to infection, if that isn’t found the site should load as normal. If it doesn’t there is something else in the mix, see below.
Have you manually set your browser/s to use the web shield localhost proxy ?
This is required in win9x/ME, if you haven’t then the web shield won’t be scanning the http content, so wouldn’t be involved.
When this happens it is more likely to be conflict, either a firewall or another AV:
What is your firewall ?
Have (or did) you another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
Obviously we are unable to test anything not being members we can’t log in.
However, avast should effectively act the same with IE as it does with Netscape as it doesn’t really know what your browsers is, so you may need to check if you have any security settings in IE6 which could be blocking, either cookies, active scripting, etc.