Strange behavior in Win2K when disabling network connections.

[P3guy]

Hello people:

I get strange behavior in Win2K (SP4; dual boot config with WinXP pro) when I disable the network in the Network Connections folder. Afterwards the pointer begins to lag on screen. Often there is also a distinct background clicking sound that's heard as if someone were laying on the keyboard. When the connection is enabled, all's well, but a warm boot is required to bring around normal behavior. What's up here?
Update: I've booted into Safe Mode with both networking enabled and disabled. In disabled mode, the mouse pointer behaves normally and there's no clicking noise.

 

[thetxstang]

I'm not sure if this is related to what you're experiencing, nor if you meant disabling an Ethernet or a wireless connection when you said you, "...disabled the network in the Network Connections folder." All the same, here's my experience: If I try to disable my onboard Ethernet connection within Windows XP, even in Safe Mode, my computer will BSOD every time. It's the only thing I've ever come across where my system will BSOD.

If I disable the Ethernet connection in the BIOS, however, there are no problems whatsoever. Let us know what the issue is if you are able to resolve it.

 

[P3guy]

Originally posted by: thetxstang
I'm not sure if this is related to what you're experiencing, nor if you meant disabling an Ethernet or a wireless connection when you said you, "...disabled the network in the Network Connections folder." All the same, here's my experience: If I try to disable my onboard Ethernet connection within Windows XP, even in Safe Mode, my computer will BSOD every time. It's the only thing I've ever come across where my system will BSOD.

If I disable the Ethernet connection in the BIOS, however, there are no problems whatsoever. Let us know what the issue is if you are able to resolve it.

Hmm, that's interesting to hear about XP. Since I''m running both XP and 2K Pro, I've found that 2K Pro is more stable compared to XP.
The reason why I had been wanting to disable the connection in the Network folder (or in the systray) is so that I may disable the antivirus on those occasions when I would want to install an app, or for gaming, as the av is CPU intensive and can interfere or impede performance when undertaking these things. The workaround I've found thus far has been to warm boot the PC after disabling the network connection. I can then disable the network connection and the PC will show no symptoms like a slow mouse pointer or clicking noise. There's no other way to fix the problem without having to warm boot, thou?

 

[thetxstang]

Originally posted by: P3guy

...I had been wanting to disable the connection in the Network folder (or in the systray) is so that I may disable the antivirus on those occasions when I would want to install an app, or for gaming, as the av is CPU intensive and can interfere or impede performance when undertaking these things. The workaround I've found thus far has been to warm boot the PC after disabling the network connection. I can then disable the network connection and the PC will show no symptoms like a slow mouse pointer or clicking noise. There's no other way to fix the problem without having to warm boot, thou?

I believe I understand. You can disable the network connection in Win2K Pro, but then experience this issues you mentioned above. If you simply do a reboot (i.e., you don't need to shut the PC completely off and then on again), everything works as it should. Is this correct?

I simply don't have an answer to your specific concern. The only suggestion I can offer: You shouldn't have to disable your network connection first in order to the disable your anti-virus software.

While I agree (and I do the same--provided the software is completely legit) that you might want to disable your AV software when installing an app (perhaps when gaming as well, though I wouldn't do so), disabling the network connection shouldn't be a necessary first step. I always shut down my applications and disable anything running in the system tray before I install software, but I've never come across an instance where disabling the network connection is suggested/required.

Are you, perhaps, running a certain AV program that requires your network connection be disabled prior to disabling the AV software? Is there a situation I'm unfamiliar with where the disablement of the network connection improves system performance?

 

[P3guy]

Originally posted by: thetxstang

Originally posted by: P3guy

...I had been wanting to disable the connection in the Network folder (or in the systray) is so that I may disable the antivirus on those occasions when I would want to install an app, or for gaming, as the av is CPU intensive and can interfere or impede performance when undertaking these things. The workaround I've found thus far has been to warm boot the PC after disabling the network connection. I can then disable the network connection and the PC will show no symptoms like a slow mouse pointer or clicking noise. There's no other way to fix the problem without having to warm boot, thou?

I believe I understand. You can disable the network connection in Win2K Pro, but then experience this issues you mentioned above. If you simply do a reboot (i.e., you don't need to shut the PC completely off and then on again), everything works as it should. Is this correct?

I simply don't have an answer to your specific concern. The only suggestion I can offer: You shouldn't have to disable your network connection first in order to the disable your anti-virus software.

While I agree (and I do the same--provided the software is completely legit) that you might want to disable your AV software when installing an app (perhaps when gaming as well, though I wouldn't do so), disabling the network connection shouldn't be a necessary first step. I always shut down my applications and disable anything running in the system tray before I install software, but I've never come across an instance where disabling the network connection is suggested/required.

Are you, perhaps, running a certain AV program that requires your network connection be disabled prior to disabling the AV software? Is there a situation I'm unfamiliar with where the disablement of the network connection improves system performance?

After I do a warm boot (reboot), the system is stable with no flakey mouse afterwards when I disable the network connection through the mentioned methods.
I run a high speed connection here, as most people do nowadays, to access the Internet. It's always 'live',you see, when the network is enabled, so it makes good sense to keep the av running in the background as it should except for those occasions when I want to do the aforementioned things. I suppose I'm seeking to streamline things when I get set to install apps and for gaming, but I can probably live with warm booting the system then disabling the network connection afterwards.