Internet connection terminates

Lotek · 04-15-2006, 07:21 PM

Hi, I'm new here. My computer kicks me off of the internet after 5 - 30 minutes. Sometimes the computer will freeze and the only thing I can do is to turn it off and start over. I have dial-up and it has been suggested that the modem might be the problem. I have contacted my provider and they have run a diagnostic on the service line and claim that there is no trouble with their equipment. I also took the tower to a local computer fix-it shop and for $35 they told me that there was nothing wrong with it. After taking it home and finding no improvement, I took it back and they gave me a ribbon to replace, which I did. Took it back to them again and they tested it again and ended up replacing another smaller ribbon and sent me home. It still does the same thing and I have lost what little confidence I had in the shop to begin with. Do any of these symptoms ring a bell with any of you knowledgeable folks? Thanks, Steve

**DCIScouts** · 04-16-2006, 03:39 AM

Have you checked to make sure the drivers are up-to-date? If they are and this is still happening, at a possible virus/spyware problem or something else. After checking drivers, do a House Call virus scan at www.pc-cillin.com, if this comes up empty, try some of the malware steps posted here:
Basic Malware Removal
If that doesn't work, let us know. Otherwise, a reformat might be in order...

P.S. How long has this been happening, and has it been happening since you've been using the modem and dial-up service?

OvenMaster · 04-16-2006, 11:50 AM

I had this problem a year ago. Started all of a sudden. I eventually found that I had to disable hardware compression. It seems that if you try to compress info that's already compressed, it can raise cain with the modem's DSP unit.
Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options -> Modems tab -> Select your modem, then click Properties -> Advanced tab -> Click Change Default Preferences button -> Select "Disabled" in the Compression dropdown box. Keep clicking OK til all your boxes are closed.
Tom

Lotek · 04-16-2006, 06:15 PM

Thanks for the responses. We suffered a lightening strike to our house before Christmas that fried the surge protector. I replaced that but could smell something hot in the tower for a while but after time the smell subsided. Then we did the dance with the local computer shop as described above. I was able to follow Tom's instructions with regard to the compression issue but had no success resolving the problem. I am not savvy enough to investigate the driver issue so will have to wait for my son to get home from college. I spoke with him on the phone about this and he reminded me that he tried to download some programs that he thought would help but the computer won't stay connected long enought to complete them. I'll need to take some classes and educate myself about this technology. I can rebuild an old car from the ground up but my brain turns to mush and my eyes glaze over when it comes to electronics. Thanks again, Steve

**DCIScouts** · 04-17-2006, 12:10 AM

Hey dude, no problem, we've all got our strengts. I've got SOME knowledge on cars, but not nearly what you have. Anyway, talk to him and have him download the files at school and bring them home with him. Have you tried replacing the modem? The smell and damage could have come from there...

04-15-2006, 07:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lotek New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Age: 55 Posts: 2	Internet connection terminates Hi, I'm new here. My computer kicks me off of the internet after 5 - 30 minutes. Sometimes the computer will freeze and the only thing I can do is to turn it off and start over. I have dial-up and it has been suggested that the modem might be the problem. I have contacted my provider and they have run a diagnostic on the service line and claim that there is no trouble with their equipment. I also took the tower to a local computer fix-it shop and for $35 they told me that there was nothing wrong with it. After taking it home and finding no improvement, I took it back and they gave me a ribbon to replace, which I did. Took it back to them again and they tested it again and ended up replacing another smaller ribbon and sent me home. It still does the same thing and I have lost what little confidence I had in the shop to begin with. Do any of these symptoms ring a bell with any of you knowledgeable folks? Thanks, Steve

04-16-2006, 03:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 25 Posts: 4,949	Have you checked to make sure the drivers are up-to-date? If they are and this is still happening, at a possible virus/spyware problem or something else. After checking drivers, do a House Call virus scan at www.pc-cillin.com, if this comes up empty, try some of the malware steps posted here: Basic Malware Removal If that doesn't work, let us know. Otherwise, a reformat might be in order... P.S. How long has this been happening, and has it been happening since you've been using the modem and dial-up service? __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

04-16-2006, 11:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North American Union Age: 49 Posts: 1,907	I had this problem a year ago. Started all of a sudden. I eventually found that I had to disable hardware compression. It seems that if you try to compress info that's already compressed, it can raise cain with the modem's DSP unit. Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options -> Modems tab -> Select your modem, then click Properties -> Advanced tab -> Click Change Default Preferences button -> Select "Disabled" in the Compression dropdown box. Keep clicking OK til all your boxes are closed. Tom __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: WD 80GB Master, Seagate 320GB Slave * DVD: Pioneer DVR-115DBK & LiteOn SOHW-812S DVD/CD burners PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 350W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: eMachines * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * PRN: Epson C88+ * OS: XP Home SP2 *** ROUTER: Linksys BEFSR41

04-17-2006, 12:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 25 Posts: 4,949	Hey dude, no problem, we've all got our strengts. I've got SOME knowledge on cars, but not nearly what you have. Anyway, talk to him and have him download the files at school and bring them home with him. Have you tried replacing the modem? The smell and damage could have come from there... __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

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04-16-2006, 06:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lotek New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon Age: 55 Posts: 2	Thanks for the responses. We suffered a lightening strike to our house before Christmas that fried the surge protector. I replaced that but could smell something hot in the tower for a while but after time the smell subsided. Then we did the dance with the local computer shop as described above. I was able to follow Tom's instructions with regard to the compression issue but had no success resolving the problem. I am not savvy enough to investigate the driver issue so will have to wait for my son to get home from college. I spoke with him on the phone about this and he reminded me that he tried to download some programs that he thought would help but the computer won't stay connected long enought to complete them. I'll need to take some classes and educate myself about this technology. I can rebuild an old car from the ground up but my brain turns to mush and my eyes glaze over when it comes to electronics. Thanks again, Steve