Windows 2000 Internet Issue

[Bovinicus]

Hello, I have this little nuisance that occurs every time I boot into Windows 2000. For some reason, for approximately the first 30 seconds after I get into Windows, I cannot connect to the internet. I have DSL, but I use WinPoET to connect. My ISP is Earthlink. I know, it's crap, but it's all I've got. When I try to connect at the very beginning, I get a Hardware Device Failure error most of the time. Some other times, I will open the WinPoET program and it won't respond for about 30 seconds. Once it begins responding, I am able to connect. When this happens, my status windows in the bottom right of the screen is not active. I thought it might be because I disabled some services, but that is just not the case. I have tried enabling a lot of them, it does nothing. Also, I checked to make sure that once I connected, none of the services listed as manual started up in order for the connection to establish. I have the latest version of WinPoET, the latest drivers for everything on my computer, the latest Windows updates, the latest BIOS for my motherboard, and all that good stuff. If anyone has an idea as to what I can do to resolve this problem, let me know. It used to be solved by me installing AOL. AOL would install some kind of adapter, so I could connect to it with my existing connection. That no longer works, for some reason. I am thinking perhaps Windows 2000 appears to have finished booting when it actually is still opening applications and such in the background. Once some application that is necessary for the connection process to take place is opened, the connection begins to work. Thanks for your help. Here is my system configuration if you are interested.

 

[SPB]

First of all I work for earthlink and that dsl isn't crap from what i have seen. I do tech support for them and most people i talk to get over 1000kbps down and for dsl that cost about 40bucks thats darn quick. If you want to try and increase your speed about 10 percent then go to dslreports.com and then to the dslrtools section and run the tweak test. After getting indication that the test is done click results and on the next page fill in the vairus boxes with whatever you should using the pull down menus. For the speed advertiesd box put in 6000 and then click the button on the end (can't remember what it was called).

On the bottom left area of the next page you will see a link to download DRTCP (Doctor TCP), download that someplace the kids or whoever won't mess with it. Next (after downloading) close all your windows and disconnect and browse to where you downloaded DRTCP to and double click it. In the field for TCP Receive Window put in 60000. Where you see "adapter settings" select your addapter (for example your ethernet card) using the pull down menu (even if its already show in the box). Leave everything else in there alone and click on "apply" and then "exit". Now reboot your system and enjoy the added speed of having your receive window about 4times its original size.

As for you problem with not being able to connect for about a minute after rebooting uhhhhh. Is your modem a usb modem? Is it really worth being worried about it? If it is a usb modem with the option for ethernet switch to ethernet even if you have to buy a card and install it your self. If its usb and it has no rj45 jack on the back then call up whoever you got it from and demand an ethernet modem to replace it. Sounds to me like its a usb modem 😉

 

[Bovinicus]

I'm not that worried about it. I just like to be able to connect when I want to connect. This is especially true since I didn't realize I was going to have to connect at all. Also, I have an ethernet modem. I figured why not spend 5 minutes posting this message on a message board to see if someone can help me. If not, oh well, I'll live with it. Also, the dslreports crap does little-nothing. I get about 50K/sec downloads (Nowhere near where ELink advertised). As well, until recently, my connection had stability problems for months. Don't tell me wether or not my connection is crap. Just because you work for Earthlink doesn't mean you know everything about all of your customers. I am just kind of frustrated because this is my 3rd DSL ISP. Two companies previously involved in my connection to the internet have gone out of business (Northpoint, then Telocity). The connection has gotten worse with each new ISP. It is still OK, but none the less, it bothers me.

 

[YoungFart]

May be one of several things:

Looks like Winpoet runs as a service. It may be dependant on other services and that means that they all have to start first.
It may also be a slow DHCP server @ EarthLink.
See if you find an answer here.

 

[Bovinicus]

Ah, I fixed it! This has been a little nuisance for so long, I am very happy. I went into device manager and selected the option to show hidden devices. I was looking around and stumbled upon one called WrKPoET2000. I check out some of the properties, and the startup type option was set to demand. I changed it to boot and my problem was solved. =)