Dial up question

[Seekermeister]

As I said, I don't know too much about HJT, but I did notice that you had alot of startup items in the registry keys. I would disable everything that isn't essential, especially Winamp Agent. A good program for controlling this is Startup Control panel:

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

 

[Seekermeister]

You are using Norton, which may not slow your connection down (I'm not sure), but it does slow your system down alot. I would recommend using something else for AV and firewall functions.

 

[CorCentral]

Okay, I have scanned with all these programs so far:


Spybot
Norton Internet Security Suite 2005 (no problems found)
Adaware SE Plus (no problems found)
A-Squared free anti spyware software (no problems found)
HijackThis with log posted above
F-Secure Rootkit eliminator (no problems found)
Kaspersky free online virus scanner (to wait all night for this free online scanner)??? 30min= 5% completed!!!!!

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister
You are using Norton, which may not slow your connection down (I'm not sure), but it does slow your system down alot. I would recommend using something else for AV and firewall functions.

(Logged onto problem computer)

I've been using Norton for years with "zero" problems though.

The comuter I'm having the problem on is:
Win2000Pro
Intel P4 3.6
Intel 955x
2gb Crucial Ballistix 3-3-3-12
EVGA 7800gtx 256
Raptor 74gb


I have the same software on the other computer (not having problems on) but it's like 2years old.
Win2000Pro
Intel P4 3.2
Intel 865Perl
1gb Mushkin (I forget what it was, but it was decent 3-2-2 I believe)
EVGA 6800gt
Maxtor 80gb


Could it be my modem by chance? After running all these programs and finding zero........ I'm suspecting the modem. I have had 3 fry on me since '94 (storms)

It just does not make sense that I have no problems before 7pm!!!!!!

 

[Lemon law]

To CorCentral,

The after 7 pm freaks me out also--hard to make much sense of it---but any small addition in line noise---and a bad modem error corrections could really go to hell.
Since modems are cheap---or just try swapping it with the back up PC modem--don't take it off the table as a future troubleshooting step.

But I live in the land of thunderstorms---and I always disconnect the phone line from the modem when I log off---after losing two modem surge suppressors and one modem inside of three months.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To CorCentral,

The after 7 pm freaks me out also--hard to make much sense of it---but any small addition in line noise---and a bad modem error corrections could really go to hell.
Since modems are cheap---or just try swapping it with the back up PC modem--don't take it off the table as a future troubleshooting step.

But I live in the land of thunderstorms---and I always disconnect the phone line from the modem when I log off---after losing two modem surge suppressors and one modem inside of three months.

I really thank you for the input. I always unplug the phone line and all other lines when a thunderstorm arrives but usually you can't get on the internet at all when a modem is fried.
As for the modem...... I just had the back up computer on the same line and not one glitch. Give's me a good excuse to update to XP. I wanted to wait 'till Vista but I'll wait untill SP1 comes out

Unless someone comes up with what's wrong. I have no clue and have run numerous programs. I know the problem lies with this computer. I even tried hooking it to our main phone line with bad results........ 23k something......... I know it's something with the computer.

 

[Lemon law]

To CorCentral,

After all the sound and fury--to arrive at a definitive diagnosis that its indeed the computer is quite a bit of progress in itself. But why should something in your computer screw up only after 7 pm?----so there may be another outside factor at work---so I would almost assume it has to be a small added bit of line noise in the phone company lines that occurs with cooling temperatures---or noise added as various electric eye devices kick on lights after dark----but mis-setting your computer clock should rule that hypothesis in and out if some software on your computer can tell time---and is pre-programmed to come on at a given time.

But if you have a typical el-cheapie win modem---signal processing is done mainly by your computers cpu---and the modem driver. And get a new modem or just uninstall and then reinstall its drivers might be the first place to start. And losing modem noise processing could just occur in the process of bit rotting--or some component in the hardware of the modem
failing.---and neither would necessarily totally fry the the modem.

But I think you are a long way from nuking the entire OS yet.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To CorCentral,

After all the sound and fury--to arrive at a definitive diagnosis that its indeed the computer is quite a bit of progress in itself. But why should something in your computer screw up only after 7 pm?----so there may be another outside factor at work---so I would almost assume it has to be a small added bit of line noise in the phone company lines that occurs with cooling temperatures---or noise added as various electric eye devices kick on lights after dark----but mis-setting your computer clock should rule that hypothesis in and out if some software on your computer can tell time---and is pre-programmed to come on at a given time.

But if you have a typical el-cheapie win modem---signal processing is done mainly by your computers cpu---and the modem driver. And get a new modem or just uninstall and then reinstall its drivers might be the first place to start. And losing modem noise processing could just occur in the process of bit rotting--or some component in the hardware of the modem
failing.---and neither would necessarily totally fry the the modem.

But I think you are a long way from nuking the entire OS yet.

What you say about electric eye Light/motion detectors. The tech support guy also mentioned this. I have one but it's turned off. Not sure about neighbors but remember it's only happened in the last week or so. He also mentioned "invisible" fences (for dogs/cats?)

My modem is a US Robotics 56k v92 (internal). Bought it from Newegg retail for $55.00+ (don't remember price bit it was 50.+) The modem is fine during the day though.
Could my service provider possibly be limiting my internet usage after 7pm? Sounds wierd but I am on it alot. I pay for unlimited usage $20.00 monthly. It's not like i'm downloading huge files all day **LOL** Mostly just surf computer info sites like this, TH, reading news about computer hardware/software, game reviews, etc.

It's like clockwork that it happens around 7pm every night and only on this computer. The other one's fine. Just logged off, set my computer clock to 8pm and logged back on and everything's fine w/zero internet lag.



Cliffs:
Internet lag after 7pm for a week+ (only after 7pm) Computer/Internet is fine earlier in the day like now
Internet lag after 7pm only on this computer. Other is fine at any time
Called tech support and he says he's stumped
Ran multiple virus, anti spyware and anti malware programs (all clean)
I dread 7PM ^$&%!&*BS^&&*!%*

 

[CorCentral]

Okay, I went to this Modem Speed Test page HERE this morning just to check my connection.

At 1pm or so, I got 51k+ *I ran it multiple times with near same results never below 49k*

All these runs were done after 6:30pm (when one run finished, I tried again)
1st-- 23.1k
2nd-- 8.5k
3rd--- 4.8k
4th--- 38.4k
5th--- 27.4k
6th--- 16.3k
7th--- 38.6k
8th--- 34k
9th--- 37.9k
10th--- 37.4k

 

[Lemon law]

To CoreCentral,


It's like clockwork that it happens around 7pm every night and only on this computer. The other one's fine. Just logged off, set my computer clock to 8pm and logged back on and everything's fine w/zero internet lag.

Here is the critical diagnostic---did you mean 8am---not 8pm---and on the computer that is giving you fits.---and how off actual time did you set your computer clock.

I also see you happen to use the same modem test I use---not saying one is better than another---but there you are measuring actual throughput---not just initial connection speed.
And the thing that slows modems down are bad check sums----a fast modem connect to another fast modem---and a send large packets and then check back with each other with a check sum---if the check sums agree---the transmission is assumed good---if not the same data is sent again---in ever smaller hunks before they compare checksums.--tearing up overall speed in the process.---if your usr modem does not have good internal error correction---even a small increase in overall line noise---could have big effects in speed reduction.
Alternately---a piece of software on your computer--can tell time---and is getting a lion's share of bandwidth.--or alternately the lions share of processor cpu cycles--leaving the
modem starved for signal processing

But since your other computer gives you no problems---you have to exonerate your isp---and phone company.

 

[CorCentral]

To: LL

I meant 8pm. I set it around 3:20pm ahead about 5 hours.
I'll try to list all the software loaded on my computer. It's really not much.

Win2000Pro
PaintShop Pro8
HP software
Nero 6.6
Adobe Reader7
Palm software
Quicktime Player
Soundblaster X-fi software
Winamp
Napster
3dmark05
YahooMessenger (not used anymore/should delete)
WinZip

Norton Internet Security 05
TrendMicro Sysclean
Spybot
A-Squared (anti spam/malware)
Spampal
Adaware se plus
F-Secure Blacklight rootkit destroyer
GMER (rottkit and anti virus program)
HiJackThis

Games:
Chuzzle
Doom3
SW: Empire at War
Master of Defense
Farcry
Fear
Flatout
Call of Duty (demo)
Titan Quest
Guild Wars

Those are the majors. All other are minor like modem software,etc

 

[Lemon law]

To CorCentral,

One rule you have to watch out for----you can have only one active AV program running on a given computer at a given time==get two and you get conflicts---same with software firewalls.---or an active program could be requesting evening updates--but something is screwed up--so they keep requesting updates---but I am unfamiliar with trend micro sysclean
so I am only speculating.---not sure if it has active AV parts---or is just a passive scanner---but suspect anything that auto updates.---or gives you active protection===with something like the black light totally passive---and Norton very active in the firewall and AV areas.---spybot is by in large passive but its companion tea timer is active--but not in the AV area.

Only way to tell is to uninstall or prevent them from starting at boot time---one at a time---until you find the one culprit or rule the lot out.

 

[CorCentral]

Already checked into every program that may auto update and disabled, but usually I never have anything auto update on any of my computers ever. I'm online enough where I manually update everything 1-2 times a week.

The only AV program running is Norton. All others are trial type programs and don't run in the background......... only when I execute
As for Trend Micro...... System clean Package

Called Tech support again tonight and had them on the phone for 30+min. Told them about how it's ok during the day. They're going to send a line tech out to check the lines and main box outside. He kept adding it may be from moisture/cold temps, etc.

I'll let you know how it goes


EDIT: forgot to mention I updated the Firmware and Driver for the modem. It seems smoother than it was lastnight but earlier after update, it was doing the same thing. Too early to tell yet.

 

[Lemon law]

If nothing else---you have me intrigued.---real strange problem.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
If nothing else---you have me intrigued.---real strange problem.

A quirk here and there tonight so far with the connection, but when something starts loading, it rolls on through and finishes....... with no lag/pauses.

I better not praise it too much, as I may be posting back in an hour saying: GODAMMIT (1word)...... why did I jinx myself by posting too early. It's all BS I know, just ranting

I have a few more hours of testing, but looking smooth so far.

 

[CorCentral]

Still having the problem. Still no viruses or Malware showing their heads.

Since my Internet Security is expiring in 12-14 days, I'm ordering Kaspersky Internet Security Suite 6.0
If anything, it will rid me of any suspicion that I had Norton let something through which I should'nt have.

I've read that Kaspersky is a jump up from Norton.

 

[Seekermeister]

Kaspersky is much better than Norton, but it is still a bit of a system hog. If it were me, I would buy Nod32.

 

[Lemon law]

To CorCentral,

Sorry to hear the problem is still there---but now that we know its a problem unique to your PC--and not phone company and isp. The first thing I would do with your modem is to DELETE all your modem drivers---then reinstall the latest drivers---if anything was corrupted in the existing modem drivers--installing the latest revisions may not have helped. If that does not help, try swapping modems next---it may be a fine modem---but if it and your isp's modems just don't get along--you need to try a different modem.---just try the one on your back up PC. Net cost zero.---or even try swapping the slot its installed on your mobo---net cost zero.

And yes malware may be the cause---but posting your hyjack log here does zero good---post it in the proper place on spyware warriors forums where it will be read by someone expert. But if you want to see if Kaspersky will find your piece of POSSIBLE malware---take their on line scan--its time consuming but free---if it can't, their suite will do no better.

Nor am I a fan of security suites---or a fan of spending any money on security for that matter---one can find very good freeware alternatives---but in the freeware area---I can't think of any freeware alternatives better than Norton--or Kaspersky.----I happen to use Avast---also highly rated---and free---and sygate 5.5 as a firewall---also free. And if I get into a troubleshooting situation---both are easy to turn off on a temporary basis.---a security suite is a troubleshooting nightmare.

Also, something I have not mentioned before---it could be in your winsock file---download a free repair your winsock file utility---and appy it---a screwed up winsock could be the sole cause of your problem---and make sure you do not have two or more copies of winsock.--------just google winsock or fix winsock.

But at least you know its in your PC--and still in troubleshooting mode---and when you troubleshoot something--you are wasting your time by half-assing it---you either completely eliminate something as a cause--and move on to another area if it does not help--or you have to go back and do it right--and your modem is an example of this.---you don't just install updates---you totally uninstall the drivers first---then reinstall with the latest updates to eliminate modem drivers as a cause.

But given it only occurs after 7PM---I still have to guess that extra signal noise processing is involved---and that lies in the modem.---making modems and malware the most likely trees to bark up.----something knows how to tell time or temperature related contraction..

 

[CorCentral]

Thanks for all your help L L

Recent Cliffs:

Deleted all modem drivers and installed the newest ones.
Have run all these programs up to date in search of intruders!
Adaware Plus
SpyBot,
A-Squared
Trend Micro Sys. clean
Norton Internet Security '05
Kaspersky free online scanner (found 7 old blocked viruses in Norton's Quarantine)
McAfee
Gmer rootkit and virus cleaner
HijackThis
F-Secure Blacklight rootkit destroyer
(Everything comes back clean in everthing)


I posted my Hijack log in the forum you said to (Spyware Warrior forum), but no one has responded or helped. I posted it Nov 1st HERE

I just ordered a new modem off the forums here and Kaspersky's Internet Security Suite. Both should arrive on about the same day.

I dug my current modem box out of storage. This is the exact modem I bought from NewEgg Nov of last year and have had no troubles with whatever the problem is, 'till about 2 weeks ago. U.S. Robotics USR5610B 56Kbps PCI Bus (Plug and Play) Internal PCI Performance Pro Fax Modem