Did you by chance install a new firewall?
I did. *chuckles* I installed ZoneAlarm Pro 3.0 the other night but hadn't tried to enter a room until last night. And much to My surprise I couldn't.
After much growling and stomping around and pushing of button I contacted our wonderful Administrator Mazah and together We managed to figure out why.
And while this explanation has to do with ZoneAlarm Pro 3 there is a very good chance there is a similar problem with Norton Personal Firewall so if you use either of these, pay attention. *grins*
In ZA Pro 3 there are some great new privacy features that help protect your identity and your privacy. Unfortunately one of these features cause the chat room software used on GC to laugh at you when you try to enter a room. You can log in, get to the intermediate screen with the "Click To Enter" button at the top of the page, but as soon as you click that button your blocked from the room. The reason? It's right here . . . copied straight from the ZA Pro 3 help file.
HTTP referrer header field
An optional field in the message that opens a Web page, containing information about the "referring document." Properly used, this field helps webmasters administer their sites. Improperly used, it can divulge your IP address, your workstation name, login name, or even (in a poorly-implemented e-commerce site) your credit card number. By selecting Remove Private Header information in the Cookies tab, you prevent this header field from transferring any information about you.
Now most of you have probably caught the part about "login name" in the above paragraph. That is exactly the problem! With this feature enabled your login name is stripped out the page header leaving the chat script wondering who the bloody blazes you are. *L* So it won't let you in.
The solution is actually quite simple. Go to http://www.goreanchat.net. Once your there ZA Pro 3 will add that site to the list of sites you have visited since you last started the program. To read more about the site list go read your help file.
Open up your ZA Pro 3 and go to the "Privacy" tab as shown below. Once there click on the "Sites" tab, also as shown.
Once your at this screen (below) scroll down until you have found "www.goreanchat.net".
Once you have found it right click on the entry and go to the options. Now uncheck the "Remove private header information" box. See below.
That should do it. If GC's IP address is in there you will have to do the same to that IP address. You can get that from Mazah if he is feeling so generous. *grins* But it's not too hard to find on your own if youkow how.
I hope that helps at least one of you out there. If not . . . well this was a good hour wasted on the images and crap. *LOL*
I have no idea if this applies to the free version of ZoneAlarm. I have a feeling that the free version does not have this feature so it shouldn't be a problem.
And if your using Norton Personal Firewall just look for something similar and turn it off. I have no idea where it might be though.
Have a good day . . . I'm going back to being sick for the day so 'scuse Me for a moment . . . *dashes to the washroom*
Ice Bear