PCTech Forums

I'm not sure quite where this problem should fit on the forum, but as I use Windows 98SE, I'd put it here and if it needs moving, then hopefully a moderator will do so.

Anyway, here's the problem: When I connect to the internet, every so often my PC simply stops communicating. Nothing in or out of the telephone line. Everything else still works, but any web links don't work (you have to wait until it all comes back to life before anything happens), and the send/receive command merely brings up the progress box (the one that says 'receiving 3 of 4 messages 'etc), but nothing happens until the thing starts working again. (I often use the box as an indicator of when everything is working again, when it completes, I know I have a live connection again.)

A bit of background info: I bought this PC back in February, and was originally on a dial-up connection. I always assumed it was the modem, but now I have a broadband connection (through a different modem, naturally) it is still happening. It's very frustrating at times. It's great having a high-speed connection, but annoying when that connection doesn't work.

I'm assuming it's my PC that's at fault, as this only began when I changed it...

Anyone got any thoughts?

Chris.

Hi DoctorDeath

If you were having the same trouble as before, you thought it was the modem, and now with an external modem you are still having trouble I would suspect something with your telephone lines and/or phone jack. I know you still bring the lines through the phone jack, did you place filters on the lines?

Yup, there are filters installed okay. I think it's the PC accessing something- a network setting that's awry, perhaps. (I'm not on a network).

I'm reasonably sure it isn't the line, as when it works, it's perfect. It just stops dead from time to time.

The fact that it only started with the new PC points to a problem with that. I used it on dial-up for several months, it's only recentlythat I changed to broadband.

The problem never occurred wit my old computer. At all.

I think other posters may be barking up the wrong tree with the telephone line. While DSL does run over the same telephone line, it runs at completely different frequencies, and for the same issue to happen on both analog and digital connections would be rare.. the telephone line would have to have more than noisy interfereence, it would have to go completely blank. At which point the poster would also have trouble having a standard telephone convorsation.

Anyway, I'm thinking there is another problem. Something like a spyware program downloading Ads to pop-up at you, and for some reason blocking other internet programs while doing so. Or a Virus causing you problems. I would try running housecall antivirus, and LavaSoft Adaware as a next step. Find links to them here

I already use ad aware on a fairly regular basis, and that has never turned anything up, but I'll try the other one.

It's nothing accessing the net when it goes dead (at least I don't think so...), as the wee green monitors down in the system tray also go dead, and when I double-click on them to bring up the dialogue box, there are no bytes being received or sent.

Will give the program a go though...

do you use any type of firewall such as zonealarm? ...

i garee in the sence it probably isnt the line ... because as he said there would be problems with having a normal convo..

it might be worth your time to post a hijack this log...
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000 ... ag=lst-0-5

that will bring you to its download site...


after you run hijack this id suggest creating a new post with a title of .. "Hijackthis log" in it ...

also try running hijack this when you are connected. and in the period of time your losing your connections... perhaps there could be some type of program running on a timer? .. but it wouldent hurt to check for log differences in the uptime and downtime period.

do you happen to be using VPN ? if so please give this a look
http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -US;237751

Hi DoctorDeath

After further investigating your problem I would suggest using and scan for viruses.

Then Download / Install / Update / and Run:


Then I suggest downloading and post a logfile.

(Always create a Folder for HiJackThis anywhere but your Temp/Temporary Internet Folders. A good place to make a folder would be in My Documents,
as this is where it will save the backup files needed if there's a problem.)


***DO NOT TRY TO FIX ANYTHING, MAJOR DAMAGE CAN BE DONE TO YOUR SYSTEM IF THIS TOOL IS USED INCORRECTLY, PLEASE WAIT FOR OUR MODERATORS TO GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS***

I've downloaded Hijackthis, but it won't run. It says it's missing a .DLL file:
MSVBVM60.DLL
I even tried downloading it from elsewhere, but the problem still persists....

FYI: I put it in its own folder in my documents.

Hey Doc
Go here and d/l the and drop it in your System folders. (C:\Windows\System & C:\Windows\System32)

Then try again.

Okey doodle, downloaded .dll file (what a useful ite...) and ran Hijack this. The files can be found at:

Hijackthis Logs (Relating to peculiar problem post):


http://www.pctechforums.com/modules.php ... highlight=