Unstable dial-up connection

[Guest]

I am having a problem when I access the internet. I am using a dial-up
internal modem (USR) to access the internet. I receive a lot of " can not
access this page" views, and when I try to go to another page, the same thing
happens. Sometimes the dial-up will go fine for a good while, and then it
will stop trying to find the next page. Then the same old "can not access
this page" comes up again. Could this be a memory problem? I have 256mb of
ram. This has just started in the last few months. I have all the latest
updates from Windows update. I replaced the modem 2 weeks ago. The last
modem every once in a while would have a window pop up saying to notify
Microsoft about the problem. And when it did that, it would drop the line.
So the new modem is doing the same thing without the pop-up window for
Microsoft error logging.
Thanks

 

[Malke]

I am having a problem when I access the internet. I am using a
dial-up
internal modem (USR) to access the internet. I receive a lot of " can
not access this page" views, and when I try to go to another page, the
same thing
happens. Sometimes the dial-up will go fine for a good while, and
then it
will stop trying to find the next page. Then the same old "can not
access
this page" comes up again. Could this be a memory problem? I have
256mb of
ram. This has just started in the last few months. I have all the
latest
updates from Windows update. I replaced the modem 2 weeks ago. The
last modem every once in a while would have a window pop up saying to
notify
Microsoft about the problem. And when it did that, it would drop the
line. So the new modem is doing the same thing without the pop-up
window for Microsoft error logging.
Thanks

This can be caused by a couple of things: malware or a bad phone line.
You've already determined that the modem is good because you replaced
it. I would definitely start by ensuring your computer is 100%
malware-free (instructions follow). Then, after you've done all that,
if you are still having problems try connecting to a different phone
jack. Change out the cable. Think about what changed, like if you
stepped on the cable or moved the computer to a different part of the
room and are using a longer cable. But it is best practice to start by
knowing the computer is clean:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke

 

[Guest]

I am using XP. I also have the latest Norton updates with anti-virus &
internet security software. I am also using Windows firewall. I have the
latest XP-SP2 update installed. Unless this SP2 update is causing a problem.
I will do what you suggest and see what happens.
Thanks again

 

[Chuck]

I am having a problem when I access the internet. I am using a dial-up
internal modem (USR) to access the internet. I receive a lot of " can not
access this page" views, and when I try to go to another page, the same thing
happens. Sometimes the dial-up will go fine for a good while, and then it
will stop trying to find the next page. Then the same old "can not access
this page" comes up again. Could this be a memory problem? I have 256mb of
ram. This has just started in the last few months. I have all the latest
updates from Windows update. I replaced the modem 2 weeks ago. The last
modem every once in a while would have a window pop up saying to notify
Microsoft about the problem. And when it did that, it would drop the line.
So the new modem is doing the same thing without the pop-up window for
Microsoft error logging.
Thanks

This reminds me of an ongoing problem I used to have with my Earthlink dialup
service years ago, and the problem was neither the modem, the phone line, nor
spyware - it was the Earthlink DNS servers.

The next time this happens:
From a command window:
1) Ping www.yahoo.com.
2) Ping 66.94.230.33.
Report success / exact text of error messages.
From your browser:
3) Browse www.yahoo.com.
4) Browse 66.94.230.33.
Report success / exact text of error messages.

 

[Guest]

I did a Ping from the "Run" command which showed: request timed out.
This after I started getting "can not display page" error, and everything
slows down on the internet. I had the modem phone cable plugged into a surge
connector, but I bypassed it now. I was hoping that would be the problem,
but no.

 

[XPUSER]

I did a Ping from the "Run" command which showed: request timed out.
This after I started getting "can not display page" error, and everything
slows down on the internet. I had the modem phone cable plugged into a surge
connector, but I bypassed it now. I was hoping that would be the problem,
but no.

===========================================
Assuming that this is not a virus / spyware issue -
Give this a try -

1. Boot to Safe Mode and log on as the most often used Computer Administrator type
account -
(If only choice is between Administrator and Owner, choose Owner)

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315222

If the F8 key does not produce the Advanced Options menu so that you can choose
Safe Mode, then you can use the BOOT.INI tab in System Configuration Utility
{MSCONFIG} but the /SAFEBOOT check box will have to be cleared again in order
to be able to boot back to Normal mode.

2. Once in Safe Mode do all of the following:

Open System Configuration Utility (START > RUN > msconfig) and verify that it is
set to "Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services"
If it is already in "Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services" then just
click
"Cancel" at the bottom. If not, then set it to "Normal Startup - load all device
drivers
and services" and then click on "Apply" and then "Close" and then "Exit Without
Restart"

Open Control Panel | Internet Options | General tab -

Delete all cookies

Delete all temporary Internet files
(include all offline content)

Remove all Downloaded Program Files that are not identifiable with your Anti Virus
Program. To do that, you click on that "settings" button and then click on the "View
Objects" button and then right click and choose remove/delete for all of them, if any,
one at a time.
(Some of them may not remove. Don't worry about that.)
Close the Downloaded Program Files window,
Click OK to the Settings window.

Click on the Clear History button and click Yes to doing so

Now click on the "Advanced" tab at the top of Internet Options.
In the Browsing section, uncheck the box for
"Enable third-party browser extensions (requires restart)"
Click "Apply" and then "OK" at the bottom of Internet Options

Close out of Control Panel

Open Windows Explorer by right clicking on My Computer and then clicking on
Explore -

Navigate to and rename C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts to oldhosts
(This is done by right clicking on hosts and choosing Rename and then typing in
oldhosts and then pressing Enter)

Delete all files in C:\WINDOWS\prefetch folder

Close Windows Explorer

3. Restart the computer to Normal Mode:

4. START > RUN > services.msc
DNS Client service should have a Startup Type of Automatic and the Status should be
started -

If not then need to set it as such by double clicking on it to get the Properties -

If already Automatic and Started - try stopping it and then starting it again -

Close services.msc

5. Try browsing with your Dial-Up connection again.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the information. Now I moved the US Robotics 5610b modem to
another XP Professional computer, and it is having the same effect on the
internet, but worse than before. I think I will try a different phone number
to see if it could be the phone line. By the way, I bought this modem from
Dell computers, and now that it is over 21 days since I bought it, I can not
return it. That Stinks! Since I can not afford a DSL line, I have to stick
with the dial-up modem. I might try another brand like Diamond Media modems.
Thanks
WPK

 

[w_tom]

You solutions are too much "do this and do that" in a wild
attempt to fix things. Break the problem into parts. For
example, before getting professional assistance (ie Telephone
Company), first eliminate your own home wiring as reason for
problem. And yes we are too far yet to present the problem to
telco. When ready to call them, you want to give them a
definite problem - else they will also spin wheels and blames
something different.

Phone line enters the house at an NID. Open the customer
access side of box and disconnect the phone plug that connects
your house to their line. With a phone wire direct from your
computer, out window, to their NID - nothing else - test the
modem.

Pictures of NID to help you locate it and find the customer
access side:
http://www.alarmsuperstore.com/bw/bw connectors.htm
http://www.bass-home.com/gotoproduct.cfm?item=91598

Again, you are testing with too many unknowns. Another tool
is Hypertermainal. Simply your keyboard outputs characters to
phone line AND phone line input is displayed on screen. You
enter a phone number into Hyperterminal and tell it to call
(press DIAL). It calls and connects to some 'answer only'
modem such as your ISP.

You can do with with your own ISP and with phone numbers
from any other ISP with a local number. Yes get numbers for
other computers (ISPs or local BBSes if any still exist).

Typically, the connection to any ISP will come back with a
message such as
LOGIN:

Ok. You are not part of their service. So when you type in
a login name, it will complain. You don't care. You only
care that the conversation happens without errors.

Furthermore, how errors appear can tell us major information
about your problem. For example, if you type letters and
they periodically come back erroneous. Or if undesirable
characters appear for no reason. More important is that
undesirable characters appear AND the same erroneous character
is echoed back later. Or if the only errors are what you
type. These details that you will not see with the so many
"shotgun solutions proposed elsewhere" go a long way to tell
us what is and is not happening.

Is it your home phone wires? Is that a communication (phone
wire) noise problem - and what is it - using Hyperterminal.

BTW I assume you have performed the obvious. I assume you
have put a conventional POTS phone on that line, made a phone
call, and heard no hum, popping noise, clicking noise, etc.
Furthermore, try same line with a phone at also uses AC
electricity - ie portable phone base station. Again breaking
the problem down into parts. All these little tests should be
reported in your original 'complaint'. All these little tests
are how be break the problem into components parts and that
only solve for each part.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that information. I have checked most of what you brought up. I
have also replaced problem modem with one of my old modems. It is a Zoom
brand modem, which is supposed to be a V92 model. It works fine without any
drop-offs or other problems, although it is very slow. This is compared to
the other modem which is alot faster when it worked correctly. I am still
waiting for the US Robotics tech person to e-mail me back so I might be able
to return the modem.
Thanks again.
WPK