Here is a tip for Freeserve users (and maybe the others). the default connection for Freecrap will use their proxy server. property displayed as follows for IE:
TOOLS>INTERNET OPTIONS>CONNECTION>LAN SETTINGS>ADVANCED . Here there is an option called "Do not use proxy server for the following addresses" , just put in the box >>>
http://www.pprune.org Et voila, it did the trick for me. Hope it helps. Superfly