IE6 - long connection delay at startup

[Euc1id]

After dialup connecting to my ISP, attempts to connect to the internet are
futile for the first 1-3 minutes. If I try to goto a website with IE6,
nothing happens. If I try to read my hotmail with OE6, nothing happens.
There are no error messages, just a long delay of 1-3 minutes before
anything happens. After a connection has been made initially, then
everything works normally thereafter during that online session.

During that initial 1-3 minute delay, other kinds of connections work OK,
such as pop email. Thus my OE6 earthlink email comes through immediately
after I connect, but not hotmail.

I have all of the critical & security updates for IE6/OE6, and most of the
Windows XP Home updates. I've tried everything I could think of to fix it.
I've run the SFC to verify that all of my protected files are intact. Of
course I've done routine maintenance such as delete cookies, temp internet
files, and defrag.

Is this a general problem with IE6 on Windows XP Home? Or am I the only one
to experience it?

 

[Euc1id]

After testing, I've determined that it is the HOSTS file and Windows XP Home
causing the delay.

I didn't have that long delay with the same HOSTS file on my W98se computer.
So it must be a problem with Windows XP Home related to the HOSTS file.
Maybe it's related to the pre-loads in XP, which are failing with the HOSTS
file for some unknown reason.

I have no idea how to fix it...so would appreciate any info in that regard.
--
Euc1id

| After dialup connecting to my ISP, attempts to connect to the internet are
| futile for the first 1-3 minutes. If I try to goto a website with IE6,
| nothing happens. If I try to read my hotmail with OE6, nothing happens.
| There are no error messages, just a long delay of 1-3 minutes before
| anything happens. After a connection has been made initially, then
| everything works normally thereafter during that online session.
|
| During that initial 1-3 minute delay, other kinds of connections work OK,
| such as pop email. Thus my OE6 earthlink email comes through immediately
| after I connect, but not hotmail.
|
| I have all of the critical & security updates for IE6/OE6, and most of the
| Windows XP Home updates. I've tried everything I could think of to fix it.
| I've run the SFC to verify that all of my protected files are intact. Of
| course I've done routine maintenance such as delete cookies, temp internet
| files, and defrag.
|
| Is this a general problem with IE6 on Windows XP Home? Or am I the only
one
| to experience it?
| --
| Euc1id
|
|

 

[F. Edwin Felty]

After testing, I've determined that it is the HOSTS file and Windows
XP Home causing the delay.

I didn't have that long delay with the same HOSTS file on my W98se
computer. So it must be a problem with Windows XP Home related to the
HOSTS file. Maybe it's related to the pre-loads in XP, which are
failing with the HOSTS file for some unknown reason.

I have no idea how to fix it...so would appreciate any info in that
regard.

In Win2K and WinXP, if you use the hosts file (for example, to block
adservers, as I do) the DNS Service has to cache all the entries in the
hosts file and then everything is fine. Since I am just on a workgroup, I
don't need the DNS service, so I disabled it and solved the delay problem.

Eddie in Colorado Springs

"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a
battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Bill Watterson
(as Calvin)

 

[Euc1id]

|
|
| Euc1id wrote:
| > After testing, I've determined that it is the HOSTS file and Windows
| > XP Home causing the delay.
| >
| > I didn't have that long delay with the same HOSTS file on my W98se
| > computer. So it must be a problem with Windows XP Home related to the
| > HOSTS file. Maybe it's related to the pre-loads in XP, which are
| > failing with the HOSTS file for some unknown reason.
| >
| > I have no idea how to fix it...so would appreciate any info in that
| > regard.
| >
| > | >> After dialup connecting to my ISP, attempts to connect to the
| >> internet are futile for the first 1-3 minutes. If I try to goto a
| >> website with IE6, nothing happens. If I try to read my hotmail with
| >> OE6, nothing happens. There are no error messages, just a long delay
| >> of 1-3 minutes before anything happens. After a connection has been
| >> made initially, then everything works normally thereafter during
| >> that online session.
| >>
| >> During that initial 1-3 minute delay, other kinds of connections
| >> work OK, such as pop email. Thus my OE6 earthlink email comes
| >> through immediately after I connect, but not hotmail.
| >>
| >> I have all of the critical & security updates for IE6/OE6, and most
| >> of the Windows XP Home updates. I've tried everything I could think
| >> of to fix it. I've run the SFC to verify that all of my protected
| >> files are intact. Of course I've done routine maintenance such as
| >> delete cookies, temp internet files, and defrag.
| >>
| >> Is this a general problem with IE6 on Windows XP Home? Or am I the
| >> only one to experience it?
| >> --
| >> Euc1id
|
| In Win2K and WinXP, if you use the hosts file (for example, to block
| adservers, as I do) the DNS Service has to cache all the entries in the
| hosts file and then everything is fine. Since I am just on a workgroup, I
| don't need the DNS service, so I disabled it and solved the delay problem.
|
| Eddie in Colorado Springs
|
| "A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to
a
| battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." -- Bill Watterson
| (as Calvin)

Thanks. I understand now.

I tried disabling the DNS service but then I can't connect to anything with
Windows XP Home. I'm not on a network or in a workgroup, just have an
isolated personal home computer with a dialup modem.

So maybe the question resolves to...

How can I make the DNS service remember my HOSTS file entries, i.e. retain
them in its cache? Apparently it discards them everytime the computer is
reset. That's a good idea in general. But I don't change my HOSTS file very
often, perhaps once every 3-6 months, and only to block ads. I don't use it
to speed up access. So it would be beneficial for the DNS cache to remember
my HOSTS file entries until I clear them manually. I wonder if that's
possible, or if there's another workaround?

 

[F. Edwin Felty]

Thanks. I understand now.

I tried disabling the DNS service but then I can't connect to
anything with Windows XP Home. I'm not on a network or in a
workgroup, just have an isolated personal home computer with a dialup
modem.

So maybe the question resolves to...

How can I make the DNS service remember my HOSTS file entries, i.e.
retain them in its cache? Apparently it discards them everytime the
computer is reset. That's a good idea in general. But I don't change
my HOSTS file very often, perhaps once every 3-6 months, and only to
block ads. I don't use it to speed up access. So it would be
beneficial for the DNS cache to remember my HOSTS file entries until
I clear them manually. I wonder if that's possible, or if there's
another workaround?

Hmmmm...that's odd. I don't think disabling DNS Service should make any
difference, but nevertheless...

news://grc.privacy

These guys are where the idea to block adservers with the hosts file
originated, as far as I know, and

http://accs-net.com/hosts/

Gorilla's site now supports the hosts file information and downloads the
Steve Martin originated. Maybe someone there could give you a hand...I just
followed the directions and it worked for me.

Eddie in Colorado Springs

"Aliens of sufficient intelligence to visit earth are smart enough not to."

 

[F. Edwin Felty]

Hmmmm...that's odd. I don't think disabling DNS Service should make
any difference, but nevertheless...

news://grc.privacy

Oops, make that:
news://news.grc.com/grc.privacy

Obviously I should keep to one thing at a time!!