Dial-up to Internet freezes computer upon connection

[Bruce A. Johnson]

I'm a computer tech and have encountered the same problem on several of my
clients' computers. This is a dial-up problem in Windows XP, and has
occurred on several different machines that had different configurations.

Dial-up to Internet, and it freezes up the computer for awhile. Not
totally frozen, just cannot open any new processes. Eventually the
freeze-up resolves itself, and all the processes/programs I tried to start
suddenly all start at once.

I've spent months trying to solve this problem. Now I'm asking for help!
Please!

I've finally discovered what starts the problem: Running the Network Setup
Wizard.

If I start with a clean re-installation of Windows XP & software, the
dial-up Internet works fine. Then I run the Network Setup Wizard, so I
can network the client's computer with mine over my network (router
connecting multiple computers and high-speed Internet together), so I can
transfer large amounts of data back and forth with ease. THAT'S when the
dial-up problem starts. Once I have run the Windows XP Network Setup
Wizard, anything I try to do to clear up the freeze-up problem with the
dial-up will inevitably not work in the long run. Stuff I've tried may
work a few times (giving me false hope), but then the freeze-up problem
reoccurs.

When connected to high-speed Internet using the network card, the Internet
connection works fine.

Thus, I'M THE ONE who has caused this freeze-up problem on my clients'
computers, by running the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard.

What I've eliminated as causing the problem:

It is not hardware. I've confirmed that the modems work fine. There are
no conflicts with any hardware. I've tried several different modems in
different PCI slots. I've even cleared the BIOS by discharging it, and
reconfiguring the BIOS.

Of course, I've disconnected my network from the computer(s) in question.

It is not any non-Microsoft software. The problem is independent of
firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spyware, modem helpers, and all other non-
Microsoft software.

It's not the Windows Firewall. It does not have any effect on the
problem.

What I've tried to do since learning that it has to do with the Windows XP
Network Setup Wizard:

Rerunning the Network Setup Wizard, and choosing any and all other
options, including, "This computer connects directly to the Internet. I
do not have a network yet." Logically, this would be the correct choice,
but it, like all the other choices, will not solve the problem.

Internet Properties: Connections: LAN Settings: Automatically detect
settings - Changing this to be on or off. This seemed to have an effect,
but eventually proved not to.

Internet Properties: Connections: Dial-up Settings: Automatically detect
settings - Changing this to be on or off. Again, at first this seemed to
solve the problem, but then problem came back.

Internet Properties: Connections Tab - "Always dial my default
connection", or "Dial whenever a network connection is not present", or
"Never dial a connection". No effect.

I tried disabling the Network card in the computer. No effect.

I tried deleting the dial-up connection, and creating it new again. No
effect.

Properties for the dial-up connection: Networking: Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP): Properties: Advanced: General Tab: "Use default gateway on
remote network". Turning it off results in no freeze-up, but no actual
connections to the Internet either.

Properties for the dial-up connection: Networking: Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP): Properties: Advanced: General Tab: "Use IP header compression".
Turning it off or on has no effect.

Properties for the dial-up connection: Networking: Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP): Properties: Advanced: WINS Tab: Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. No
effect either way.

If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. Please? I'm going nuts here,
trying to figure it out.



--
» Yesterday it worked
» Today it is not working
» Windows is like that
» -- Haiku by Margaret Segall
~
• Bruce A. Johnson in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada
• E-mail: (e-mail address removed)
¤ Web: http://BruceJohnson.ca

 

[Bruce A. Johnson]

That sounds like the same problem.

Did you run the Network Setup Wizard before the problem cropped up?

I have almost the same problem. It has started now 'again' since I
reinstalled SP2 - only reason was to get latest security upgrades. My
XP Home version came out before SP2. No problem until I upgraded with
SP2. Upon start-up everything works well. As soon as I dial-up, the
cursor becomes unresponsive and programs won't launch. A left mouse
click gets a spin of the hour glass and then nothing runs on the
desktop. After some time - several minutes usually- all the clicked
programs start at once and then it works until the next shutdown and
start-up of the dial-up. I too have tried all the obvious without any
lasting success (including getting a new modem). I have an observation
but no solution - perhaps someone knows what's going on here. If I get
into DOS using the Command Prompt, I can run the "NET", "NETSTAT" but
not "NETSH" commands. Once it unfreezes, NETSH then works fine. I was
checking this option to attempt to reset the Winsock while it was
frozen. Can't do that since NETSH is frozen too. Any help would reduce
my level of stress -- I would hate to have to uninstall SP2 just to
solve this problem but I need to since the wife won't use "her" broken
computer for email and spends all her time on my computer, which is
working fine.

-- Jeff VA

--
» Yesterday it worked
» Today it is not working
» Windows is like that
» -- Haiku by Margaret Segall
~
• Bruce A. Johnson in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada
• E-mail: (e-mail address removed)
¤ Web: http://BruceJohnson.ca

 

[Guest]

Bruce,

Yes, I have been using the New Connection Wizard. However,that did give me
an idea which - probably temporarily - seems to have helped. Go to "Show All
Connections"...
1) delete all dial-ups (write the numbers down! -oops)
2) go to the Local Connection using "properties". Inspect the TCP/IP use
connections. Delete all except for the local connection IP address
168.192.....etc.
3) Disable the local connection
4) Reinstall the primary dial-up connection using the wizard
5) Restart the computer
6) Say a prayer

The above seems to have done some good in that I could start/stop the
dial-up 3X without a freeze (not seen that in a while).

Let me know if this helps and I'll do same...

Jeff

 

[Bruce A. Johnson]

Bruce,

Yes, I have been using the New Connection Wizard. However,that did
give me an idea which - probably temporarily - seems to have helped.
Go to "Show All Connections"...
1) delete all dial-ups (write the numbers down! -oops)
2) go to the Local Connection using "properties". Inspect the TCP/IP
use connections. Delete all except for the local connection IP address
168.192.....etc.
3) Disable the local connection
4) Reinstall the primary dial-up connection using the wizard
5) Restart the computer
6) Say a prayer

The above seems to have done some good in that I could start/stop the
dial-up 3X without a freeze (not seen that in a while).

Let me know if this helps and I'll do same...

Jeff

I didn't mean the "New Connection Wizard", but the "Network Setup Wizard",
which is used to set up a home network.

I found that the dial-up connection would work fine, until I used the
Network Setup Wizard to network the client's computer to mine to transfer
lots of data. Unfortunately, once I've done that, there seems to be no way
to go back, short of reinstalling Windows Xp.

As for deleting the existing dial-up connections, and recreating them, I've
tried that. It made no difference.

Disabling the network card does not help either.

...

I spent 2 hours and 20 minutes on the phone today with Microsoft Technical
support trying to solve this problem. The various problems with dealing
with him are not for a discussion here. Suffice it to say, it wasn't until
the 2 hour mark that he finally suggested something that I hadn't already
tried.

What he suggested didn't work.

Now I'm waiting for a call-back sometime in the next day: them following up
to see if the problem has been solved. I'm certainly not going to let that
$45 go without the problem being solved.

--
- Yesterday it worked
- Today it is not working
- Windows is like that
- -- Haiku by Margaret Segall
-
- Bruce A. Johnson in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada
- E-mail: (e-mail address removed)
- Web: http://BruceJohnson.ca

 

[Bruce A. Johnson]

Solution finally found. See:
Freeze-Up Dial-Up Networking Problem
http://brucejohnson.ca/dun-problem.html

My experience with Microsoft Support
http://brucejohnson.ca/ms-support.html

I'm a computer tech and have encountered the same problem on several
of my clients' computers. This is a dial-up problem in Windows XP,
and has occurred on several different machines that had different
configurations.

Dial-up to Internet, and it freezes up the computer for awhile. Not
totally frozen, just cannot open any new processes. Eventually the
freeze-up resolves itself, and all the processes/programs I tried to
start suddenly all start at once.

I've spent months trying to solve this problem. Now I'm asking for
help! Please!

I've finally discovered what starts the problem: Running the Network
Setup Wizard.

If I start with a clean re-installation of Windows XP & software, the
dial-up Internet works fine. Then I run the Network Setup Wizard, so
I can network the client's computer with mine over my network (router
connecting multiple computers and high-speed Internet together), so I
can transfer large amounts of data back and forth with ease. THAT'S
when the dial-up problem starts. Once I have run the Windows XP
Network Setup Wizard, anything I try to do to clear up the freeze-up
problem with the dial-up will inevitably not work in the long run.
Stuff I've tried may work a few times (giving me false hope), but then
the freeze-up problem reoccurs.

When connected to high-speed Internet using the network card, the
Internet connection works fine.

Thus, I'M THE ONE who has caused this freeze-up problem on my clients'
computers, by running the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard.

What I've eliminated as causing the problem:

It is not hardware. I've confirmed that the modems work fine. There
are no conflicts with any hardware. I've tried several different
modems in different PCI slots. I've even cleared the BIOS by
discharging it, and reconfiguring the BIOS.

Of course, I've disconnected my network from the computer(s) in
question.

It is not any non-Microsoft software. The problem is independent of
firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spyware, modem helpers, and all other non-
Microsoft software.

It's not the Windows Firewall. It does not have any effect on the
problem.

What I've tried to do since learning that it has to do with the
Windows XP Network Setup Wizard:

Rerunning the Network Setup Wizard, and choosing any and all other
options, including, "This computer connects directly to the Internet.
I do not have a network yet." Logically, this would be the correct
choice, but it, like all the other choices, will not solve the
problem.

Internet Properties: Connections: LAN Settings: Automatically detect
settings - Changing this to be on or off. This seemed to have an
effect, but eventually proved not to.

Internet Properties: Connections: Dial-up Settings: Automatically
detect settings - Changing this to be on or off. Again, at first this
seemed to solve the problem, but then problem came back.

Internet Properties: Connections Tab - "Always dial my default
connection", or "Dial whenever a network connection is not present",
or "Never dial a connection". No effect.

I tried disabling the Network card in the computer. No effect.

I tried deleting the dial-up connection, and creating it new again.
No effect.

Properties for the dial-up connection: Networking: Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP): Properties: Advanced: General Tab: "Use default gateway on
remote network". Turning it off results in no freeze-up, but no
actual connections to the Internet either.

Properties for the dial-up connection: Networking: Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP): Properties: Advanced: General Tab: "Use IP header
compression". Turning it off or on has no effect.

Properties for the dial-up connection: Networking: Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP): Properties: Advanced: WINS Tab: Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
No effect either way.

If anyone can help, I would appreciate it. Please? I'm going nuts
here, trying to figure it out.

--
- Yesterday it worked
- Today it is not working
- Windows is like that
- -- Haiku by Margaret Segall
-
- Bruce A. Johnson in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada
- E-mail: (e-mail address removed)
- Web: http://BruceJohnson.ca

 

[Guest]

Thanks Bruce for a great article. A Paypal note for your trouble is on its way.

 

[Guest]

Dear Bruce,
I have been suffering from the exact problem you and Jeff describe, but only
for the last two weeks. It affects me 'every other time' I connect to the
internet, whether by dial-up or by LAN. I have read your article, and would
like to find and uninstall the Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 you mention, but do
not know how to do it. Please advise!

Thanks in advance,
MKSafer

 

[Guest]

MKSafer,

Go to: Start,
Control Panel,
Network Connections,
Right click on your specific "Lan or high-speed connection"
which may be shown as a "Local area connection"
In the drop down is Properties - click it
Use the General tab for your Network card
Find the connection Microsoft TCP/IP Version 6
Highlight it and Uninstall it
Restart your computer

That's what I did...
Bruce may have done somethings a little differently, Let us know if that
works.

Jeff VA

 

[Guest]

Dear Jeff,
Thanks. I had already figured it out myself, and emailed Bruce directly,
but forgot to post it. Thankfully, this has cleared up my problem
completely. Whew. I wonder if my system will become 'infected' with this
file upon future updates.
Moshe