!HELP! Corrupted network sytem?

[nikeairj]

I'm currently trying to fix a customer's laptop (Toshiba Satellite A45-S121) and I cannot make it connect to AOL using its modem. AOL wont recognize it and it keeps doing "searching for connection" thing forever, and nothign will happen. In the device manager, the modem is there (Toshiba Software Modem) and its network adapter is also there (Intel PRO/100 VE). It's an Intel Celeron 2.8 Ghz, 256MB RAM w/ a 40GB HD. And also its running slower than it's supposed to be at 2.8 Ghz. I've tried running different anti-spyware program such as MS's Antispyware, Adaware, and Spybot. They found little to no spyware or malware. It has Norton Antivirus 2004 installed.

In network connections window, theres NOTHING there. Its Intel network adapter isn't there, and its Toshiba Software modem isn't even there, too. I've tried resintalling the Toshiba modem driver and AOL 9.0 (so it can reinstall dial up adapter thing) and I've got no luck so far. I've recently upgraded it to sp2 and still, nothing. What's strange is that I can use the internet on the laptop with my cable connection at home. All I need to do is to make that damn thing connect to AOL using the modem. Help me out, guys!

 

[RelaxTheMind]

what does it show for it in network connections? Is it enabled? they can sometimes be disabled.

I would try to look for and updated driver other than the toshiba one.

Of course its going to run slow with that much memory. You have a laptop with xp sp2 w/both norton and AOL 9.0 and lord knows what else. You will see a huge performance increase with 512mb ram. xp usually only runs fine with 256mb if its bare stock windows.

Im guessing you used the "expert" modem configuration for AOL. I havent had that virus on my computer in years so I cannot recall the exact process in which to do so.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Im guessing you used the "expert" modem configuration for AOL. I havent had that virus on my computer in years so I cannot recall the exact process in which to do so.

Lol funny you should call AOL a virus.....I have seen more problems on family computers caused by AOL than I have seen from real viruses.....(I don't use AOL personally..hate it!!) probably cos AOL stops them connectiing to the net.....more like a firewall...than a virus in that respect...LOL


The 256 MB RAM thing is an issue as Relaxthemind said I presume the laptop also has shared video RAM...so there is between 32 and 128MB of RAM gone before windows even tries to take its share!!!so windows realistically has about 192MB RAM maximum to run on....windows XP won't like that.......One way to help it is to turn all performance options off.i.e make it look like windows ME....if there is any way to control the amount of video RAM i.e software or bios then put it down to 32 MB

SP2 has windows firewall turned on by default.....make sure it is turned off...

if the software modem and the network adapter show up in the device manager then that is half the battle......I believe that if you do the expert setup/destruction then you can select the adapter that you want to use for the connection to the net.....Does it have to be AOL...there are many better ISPs out there?
Someone should sue AOL for breach of contract or even (in the UK) under the trades descriptions act because they fail to provide a decent service due to their software constantly crashing.....

I installed AOL broadband on my Aunties' computer a couple of days back cause they used AOL dial-up and need the email adresses etc and within 5 minutes the browser had crashed and forced me to restart the computer......The computer was perfectly stable before this....(I built it!!!)

Does anyone else have the problem with AOL when you try to use another browser (firefox, I.E etc) not AOL front end and it forces the thing to crash??

 

[jackschmittusa]

If you run the diagnostic query on the modem in "device manager" and it passes, it is an AOHell problem. Manual setup of the AOL connection would hopefully fix it.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

Originally posted by: fuzzynavel

Im guessing you used the "expert" modem configuration for AOL. I havent had that virus on my computer in years so I cannot recall the exact process in which to do so.

Lol funny you should call AOL a virus.....I have seen more problems on family computers caused by AOL than I have seen from real viruses.....(I don't use AOL personally..hate it!!) probably cos AOL stops them connectiing to the net.....more like a firewall...than a virus in that respect...LOL


The 256 MB RAM thing is an issue as Relaxthemind said I presume the laptop also has shared video RAM...so there is between 32 and 128MB of RAM gone before windows even tries to take its share!!!so windows realistically has about 192MB RAM maximum to run on....windows XP won't like that.......One way to help it is to turn all performance options off.i.e make it look like windows ME....if there is any way to control the amount of video RAM i.e software or bios then put it down to 32 MB

SP2 has windows firewall turned on by default.....make sure it is turned off...

if the software modem and the network adapter show up in the device manager then that is half the battle......I believe that if you do the expert setup/destruction then you can select the adapter that you want to use for the connection to the net.....Does it have to be AOL...there are many better ISPs out there?
Someone should sue AOL for breach of contract or even (in the UK) under the trades descriptions act because they fail to provide a decent service due to their software constantly crashing.....

I installed AOL broadband on my Aunties' computer a couple of days back cause they used AOL dial-up and need the email adresses etc and within 5 minutes the browser had crashed and forced me to restart the computer......The computer was perfectly stable before this....(I built it!!!)

Does anyone else have the problem with AOL when you try to use another browser (firefox, I.E etc) not AOL front end and it forces the thing to crash??

actually that was mainly in regards to the resource hog tendencies of aol which a lot of viruses do.

In fact most customers that have AOL 9.0 with all the bloat software had the least viruses and spyware as compared to customers who had cable/dsl or the cheaper dialups.

Im guessing AOL started doing at least some things right with the 9.0 release but it is still a resource hog.

I think those "just internet" people who buy those dirt cheap crippled AOL optimized computers are better off buying a friggin camera phone with web access.