HELP- Intermittent Connection Problems....Blamed on XP!!??

[phil6666]

Using XP Home Edition with all of the current updates....

I've noticed some significant time-out problems with my email for the
past week or two and today I've had intermittent email time-outs and
connection problems to the internet.

Called Time-Warner Cable and they are empathic that the signal to the
cable modum is fine, that the "IP address is not processing correctly"
and if it continues, to call a pc "pro."

They went on to say it appears to be an XP problem and to be prepared
to re-format and start again.

Any suggestions for a more definitive way to diagnose the problem???

thnx!

 

[Guest]

Time-Warner is full of bleep! If the "IP address is not <resolving>
correctly" then it's a network problem. All this clown did was to ping your
cable box and call it macaroni. You need a network pro. Try to get to tier
2 or above at Time-Warner. The first level helpdesk does not have the
expertise to understand this problem.

FYI: IP addresses are resloved on a network computer called the DNS server,
not on your pc.

 

[phil6666]

I did get to tier two...twice!

Updated XP this morning & I still lost internet after about 1/2 hour.

Removed most everything from my start-up menu, re-booted, and it's
working for the moment.

Anyone have any suggestions or keep trying Time-Warner?????

 

[Guest]

I think that you need to be on the phone with 1 of their techs while your
connection is down. Then the tech needs to talk you through a few command
line commands to see what is going on. If they are merely telling you that
they can connect from their end, it's not helping you very much.

Another option is to find a network certified tech that will come to your
house. If there is a network group at your work, you may be able to pay one
of them to look at your setup. However, they will need to be there when you
lose connectivity.

 

[phil6666]

YES, they are pretty much telling me that it's fine on their end, it's
on my end.

They certainly don't show any interest in any command line checks!!!

I just went for one hour without a connection....re-booted the pc, all
is fine!!!???

I'm concerned about having someone come out since the problem comes
and goes....often on it's own without me doing ANYTHING....

Any other ideas????

Two questions:

1) Is there a possibility that this actually is a problem strictly on
my end and Time-Warner is blameless?

2) Should I expect a little more assistence from them?

 

[Guest]

It is possible that the problem is at your end. But if you cannot stay
connected via their service, you might as well be using Netzero, and save
some money.

I don't think we can fix this via a help forum, but here is something you
can do. The next time you are connected to the internet:

1 Click Start.
2 Click Run.
3 Type in cmd and click the OK button.
4 On the resulting screen type in "ipconfig" and press Enter; don't use
quotes.
5 Look for the first entries for "IP Address" and "Default Gateway".
6 Write down he numbers next to these entries. They will be in the form
000.000.000.000.

Then the next time you lose the connection:
1 Follow steps 1-3 above.
2 On the resulting screen type "ping 127.0.0.1" without the quotes.
3 Note the result.
4 Then type "ping" with the IP address you previoulsy recorded and note the
result.
5 Then type "ping" with the Default Gateway address.

I'm hoping that 1 of these will respond with a "timed out" message. Then
you will have something to work with. After that you can repost the question
to this forum or the Windows Networking and the Web forum, with the results
of your tests: "I recieved a timed out message when I tried to ping...".

Also try if you can to ioslate the problem. Hook another computer up and/or
bring yours to, and connect from another location. See if the problem
persists. If it does it is your computer, if not it is something beyond it.

Good luck,

Paul

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

First of all, I really appreciate your help!!

I've already checked and saved the "ipconfig" info for the last couple
of days, but I'll keep this info handy and try the ping test as you've
suggested.

So far, I haven't had a problem for the last 12 hours.

Since the problem involves email, internet, and usenet (nothing
connects), I assume it's not likely to be a browser, email client,
etc. problem....more likely an OS problem and/or a cable
problem....right?

(Eliminating the firewall didn't help)

I wish the problem had manifested itself BEFORE my daughter took her
pc and the router back to college so that I could've seen if both pcs
had this problem at the same time, but no such luck...If it persists,
I'll see if I can borrow a laptop from someone.....

Again, thnx!!!

Phil

 

[phil6666]

OK.....one day later, I lose my internet connection about an hour
after boot-up.

As you suggested, here's the PING results:


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : kntnny.adelphia.net
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.69.60.129
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.248.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 68.69.56.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil>ping 127.0.0.1

Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil>ping 68.69.60.129

Pinging 68.69.60.129 with 32 bytes of data:

PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.

Ping statistics for 68.69.60.129:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil>ping 68.69.56.1

Pinging 68.69.56.1 with 32 bytes of data:

PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.

Ping statistics for 68.69.56.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),


SOOOOO, does this mean something to you?????

 

[Guest]

Hey Phil,

I tried to ping both 68.69.60.129 and 68.69.56.1. I was timed out on the
first address probably because this address doesn't accept pings for security
reasons. I was successful with the 2nd address. Note, I did not receive an
error message.

Error code 65 can be caused by Internet Connection Sharing. See this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q316414

This error can also be caused by 3rd party firewall software. If you think
that may be the case, try uninstalling and reinstalling. If you are using a
3rd party firewall, turn on the Windows firewall before uninstalling. Check
this out:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/removefirewall.htm

I hope this solves it, because we are at the limit of my expertise.

Good luck,

P.

 

[phil6666]

Well, your expertise is 1,000 times greater than mine and I really do
appreciate your help!!

I'll do my research and keep my fingers crossed....although I haven't
ever done any diagnostic work in this area, I'm pretty comfortable
with pc maintenance and have fixed quite a few problems in the
past...many that I've created myself!!!!

Again, thnx for your help and patience!!!!!!!!!

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

One last follow-up.

Right now my connection is rock-solid, so I repeated the "ping test"
that you suggested--

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : kntnny.adelphia.net
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.69.60.129
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.248.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 68.69.56.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil>ping 127.0.0.1

Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil>ping 68.69.60.129

Pinging 68.69.60.129 with 32 bytes of data:

PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.

Ping statistics for 68.69.60.129:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil>ping 68.69.56.1

Pinging 68.69.56.1 with 32 bytes of data:

PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.
PING: transmit failed, error code 65.

Ping statistics for 68.69.56.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

I repeated this a second time with no change.


I find it interesting that you successfully pinged 68.69.56.1 and I
couldn't.


Is that significant????

thnx

Phil

 

[Guest]

Phil,

The fact that I can ping an address and you cannot partially isolates the
problem, to your machine. I received "request timed out" on the first
address. I never received "transmit failed" on either address.

If my prevoius suggestions concerning ICS and the firewall didn't help, try
this:
Start->Control Panel->Network and Internet Connections.
At the left under Troubleshooters, click Network Diagnostics.

Do this both when connected and when down, and note the differences. This
should give you enough information to post a question to the Windows XP
Networking and the Web forum.

Paul

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

So far, 2 days with no problems....not sure if something I've tried
has helped or it's just a "good" period.

I uninstalled ZoneAlarm and turned the MS firewall on...

Read the ICS article and 3 or 4 that were referenced, but I didn't see
an obvious path to take....I got a bit confused...

One of the procedures suggested that I:
Control Panel>
Network Connectiopns>
Local Area Connection (right click)>
Properties>
Advanced>
ICS

BUT, ICS wasn't listed under Advanced, just "Windows Firwall," which I
turned on...

1) If I only have one pc connected, do I NEED ICS?

2) If not, is it nessary / is there a way to turn it off?

thnx

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

Someone else suggested that I do the following if I lose my internet
connection:

Go to Start, Run, and enter "cmd" then enter "ipconfig /release". After
the confirmation, enter "ipconfig /renew" then close all open windows
and restart the computer.

Since re-booting always has fixed the connection problem anyways, is
this of any value?

thnx

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

This might be part of my confusion....you said to try:

Start->Control Panel->Network and Internet Connections

I don't have a "Network and Internet Connections" under Control
Panel!!

I do have a "Network Connections," but I don't have "Troubleshooters"
listed, just "LAN or High-Speed Internet" and TWO Wizards!!!

(There was a similar procedure I was trying to follow yesterday that
didn't match what I have available under Control Panel.)

??????????????????????

 

[Guest]

Phil,

My apologies for the confusion. It appears that we have options different
set.

In Control Panel click Tools.
Click Folder Options.
Under Tasks, the radio button for "Show common tasks in folders" should be
selected.
Click OK.

Back in Control Panel, on the left , if you see "Switch to Category View",
click on it. You will then see "Network and Internet Connections" under
"Pick a Category". If you are already in category view, the "Network..."
option will already be there.

Paul

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

Again, thanks for your patience!!!!

So far, 3 days with no problems....not sure if something I've tried
has helped or it's just a "good" period.

I've made the "folder options" changes you suggested and run "Network
Diagnostics" for the control (properly funtioning) period.

One add'l question-- I read the ICS article you recommended, but I
didn't see an obvious path to take....I got a bit confused...

One of the procedures suggested that I:
Control Panel>
Network Connectiopns>
Local Area Connection (right click)>
Properties>
Advanced>
ICS

BUT, ICS wasn't listed under Advanced, just "Windows Firwall," which I
turned on...

1) If I only have one pc connected, do I NEED ICS?

2) If not, is it nessary / is there a way to turn it off?

thnx

Phil

 

[phil6666]

Paul,

I went to Network Diagnostics>Scan Your System both before I lost my
internet connection, while the connection was out, and after I used
Network Connections> Network Tasks> Repair This Connection (which
worked to get me back on-line!)

Two Questions:

1) I have 3 scans (saved files,) each of which has 8 major headers
(Network Adapters, DNS Servers, Default Gateways, etc.) and hundreds
of pieces of info in each.

Which areas do I try to compare?

2) Should I post this data in: microsoft . public . windowsxp .
network_web

thnx

Phil

 

[Guest]

Phil,

This is such a long thread, I got lost in the middle. Forget about ICS,
Internet Connection Sharing. It was only a possible cause of the error you
are receiving.

As far as ipconfig goes there's is an easier way. Get into Network
Connections via the Control Panel. Right click the connection, and click
Repair. Give it shot, it may be a workaround for your problem. But, you
should not have to do this.

Try going to the Networking forum and indicate there the error message,
"transmit failed, error code 65" ,that you receive when the connection is
down.

I apologize for confusing you. Some of my suggestions were for the XP Pro
operating system. If repairing the connection works, or you get a resolution
to the problem, please contact me directly at (e-mail address removed).

Paul