Steam not working / Uploads not working

[Sl8er]

might be time to check the /etc/hosts file and see if you've got any blocking entries.

or maybe do you have a vpn?

No, I'm not using a VPN
(Does using the VPN function on Opera count? Keeping in mind that I use Chromium for general browsing.)

I opened the hosts file and it had, a staggering, 1138 pages.
Is that normal?

if you are using an add blockier that might be normal. but mine is nearly empty.

Code: Select all

┌─[dolphin@mx]─[05:32:00 pm]─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────[~]
└─> cat /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1	localhost
127.0.0.1       mx

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1		localhost ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0		ip6-localnet
ff00::0		ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1		ip6-allnodes
ff02::2		ip6-allrouters

might be worth pursuing.

Definitely.
Mine looks the same:

127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 MX-18

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 localhost ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters

# antiX-advert-blocker IPs below:

After "IPs below:" It's then followed by 1138 pages "127.0.0.1" followed by a URL.

I'm going to guess that that's the problem.

I really don't know what to do, other than perhaps completely removing "antiiX-advert-blocker"...and then reinstalling it.
I definitely did mess around with that when I was exploring the OS, hoping to get rid of any ad blocker extensions / add-on's in the browser.

(Sigh...I'm such a noob, but I have to ask these questions, else I'll never learn.)

I'm going to give the uninstall / reinstall option a go and will post an update.

[Sl8er]

Update:

Alright, so I uninstalled the antiX-advert-blocker.
Tried Steam and got the same "cannot connect" error.

I also noticed "advert-block" when I searched for "advert" in the menu.
There is no icon next to it and nothing happens when I click on it.
I can't remember if I installed that or not -I obviously must have if it doesn't come installed by default.
Anyway, so I removed that as well, although it still appears in the menu.

BTW, I tried to purge the above mentioned apps -after I did the uninstall- and it came back saying the apps can't be found.
This must mean I must've successfully uninstalled everything.

I can'f find anything else ad-block related.

[dolphin_oracle]

After you removed the ad blocker did you check to make sure the entries were removed from the hosts file?

[Sl8er]

After you removed the ad blocker did you check to make sure the entries were removed from the hosts file?

No, I didn't.
I didn't know I had to delete those.

Do I just open it up and delete everything in it?
Or just everything with the exception of what you have in your example?

[dolphin_oracle]

everything except what's in my example.

[Sl8er]

everything except what's in my example.

Ok!
I did that and then speedtest worked!

So I opened Steam...but still the same "could not connect" error.
I rebooted and tried again...no success.

Dang it.
I thought this would be it.

Ok, let me just mention that I see 7 "host" files:

host.conf
hostname
hosts
hosts.allow
hosts.deny
hosts.ORIGINAL
hosts.saved

Is this what I'm supposed to see?
Are the "hosts.allow" and "hosts.deny" supposed to be there?

[ThomasPhillip]

Ok, let me just mention that I see 7 "host" files:

host.conf
hostname
hosts
hosts.allow
hosts.deny
hosts.ORIGINAL
hosts.saved

Is this what I'm supposed to see?
Are the "hosts.allow" and "hosts.deny" supposed to be there?

AFAIK, yes.
In the /etc/ directory,
hostname = Contains the hostname of your system
hosts = The hosts file
hosts.allow and hosts.deny are there by default.
hosts.ORIGINAL and hosts.saved are added by antiX-advert-blocker , just as backups of your /etc/hosts file.

I joined this forum only a few days back, that is why I could answer only now. I am very interested in adblocking (especially the hosts file).