XpPro+DSL+Lots of rebooting...HELP PLEASE!

[whomhead]

hey guys, i've got DSL directly connected to an XpPro box. I've gotta reboot my machine constantly cause my connection just "freezes". I don't know how else to describe it. I cannot ping when this "freeze" occurs. can anyone help?

 

[amdskip]

Sounds to me its more than just your connection. What condition is your computer in? Have you ran an updated version of adaware and do you have a current antivirus installed and updated? Is it possible to hook a different computer up to test the connection out?

 

[whomhead]

Well, I just did a fresh install of XP, and on the previous install I religiously ran Adaware and AVG. Unfortunately at this time I can't hook up another machine to this connection. Device manager is clear of any flags. I read on the dslreports faq's that it might have something to do with obtaining ip addresses automatically, but when I followed their instructions to enter in a dummy IP I couldn't connect at all. I couldn't see how that'd work anyways. Any ideas?

 

[InlineFive]

Without any firewall you might be getting hacked. I would run SpyBot: Search And Destroy and Adaware. After that I would install the SP2 RC1 beta (which IMO is very solid) so you can get a really transparent good firewall.

-Por

 

[whomhead]

I use ZoneAlarm. I'm fairly positive this is a networking issue. It's happened since I got DSL but I'm just now getting around to fixing it. It's always been like this since day one, so viruses/spyware/hacking aren't a part of it. Any more ideas? Thanks for the quick replies fellas.

 

[amdskip]

Make sure you have all microsofts critical updates downloaded and installed. Check to see if your isp has any updates for the software you are using to connect (I'm assuming this is what you are doing). Can you do a "repair" on the connection so it grabs a new ip address when the connection freezes?

 

[imported_Phil]

Could be:

1. Your network cable - worth trying another
2. Your network card - see above
3. Your DSL box - possible to test it out at another location? i.e. swap DSL boxes with someone for a day or so?

 

[whomhead]

Hey guys...i'm not using any software. I just plugged my modem into the jack and the cat5 cable into the pc.

I've tried repairing the connection. It doesn't do anything.

Installing M$ updates didn't work.

I've tried both onboard NIC's, same result. Drivers are current.

I'll try another cable. I'm fairly sure this isn't the issue.

I'll see what I can do for switching modems. My old man has the same service so it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Any other ideas? Thanks again guys.

 

[dmcowen674]

Try manualy assigning the DNS, IP address and Gateway address.

I've found XP to assign some bogus numbers sometimes and hangs itself up.

 

[whomhead]

OK guys, I've switched cables and modems, same story. No change at all by doing this. I forgot to mention in the previous posts that they ran a new phone line into the house when I got my DSL account. So we can rule that out too.

I was told by tech support I could not manually assign my IP because "the modem has it's own DHCP server", whatever the hell that means.

I'm reaching the boiling point here guys. No one seems to be able to give me any answers. The ISP's tech support is completely worthless. So far you guys have been the only ones to bring anything new to the table. Have anything else up your sleeves?

 

[amdskip]

DHCP means that it automatically assigns you an IP. Try a pci nic, onboard can sometimes be crappy.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: amdskip
DHCP means that it automatically assigns you an IP. Try a pci nic, onboard can sometimes be crappy.

This is true. I had to disable the onboard NIC in my wifes computer and dropped a D-link in and all was fine then.

 

[whomhead]

Sorry fellas, tried that as well. Disabled all three onboard network devices last night and threw in a linksys pci card. I couldn't even get the linksys to work! Man I'm gettin sick of this!

 

[amdskip]

If you couldn't get it to work, how do you know thats not the problem?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: whomhead
Sorry fellas, tried that as well. Disabled all three onboard network devices last night and threw in a linksys pci card. I couldn't even get the linksys to work! Man I'm gettin sick of this!

You've got bigger problems than keeping your DSL Connection up.

Memory timing issues maybe?

 

[whomhead]

Maybe I failed to mention that these networking issues i'm having are the ONLY problems I'm having with my PC. Everything else runs A OK.

When I installed the Linksys nic the other night it installed fine, no errors, etc. I just couldn't "renew" the IP.

 

[amdskip]

LSPfix might help you. I would delete everything to do with network and do a reinstall.

 

[whomhead]

Welp, I was able to coax the ISP into giving me the admins number. Hell of a nice guy. Anyways, I called him in the midst of one of my "freezes" and he said the network was being completely flooded by one of the users. He called them from another phone while i was on the line and of course they were clueless. Regradless, seems like "my" problem's been solved. Thanks again for your help guys.