Internet connection failure

Hello all,
This is the first time I have used a service like this and I apologise for any stuff ups.
I do not know if this is posted to the right forum or not, so please forgive me and, if it is not direct me to the right forum.
The platform I'm using is as follows:-

ASUS A7VL133 m/board.
AMD 1.0 ghz Duron (Morgan Core) cpu.
128 mb PC133 Kingmax ram
Windows XP Pro (Clean Install)
Netscape 6.2.2 (Default Browser)
ZoneAlarm 2.g firewall.(XP ICF disabled)

The problem I am encountering is that when I connect to my ISP after an initial boot, everything works fine. This may or may not occur for the next few connection attempts during the day.
When it fails on the next connection attempt, the DUN in the system tray pops up and says that I have connected to my ISP, however my browser says that it failed to connect to server.
I don't believe this to be a Netscape error as the same thing occurs in IE6 that came with XP. I have renewed my DUN twice, done several system restores and this still occurs.
I read a post on resetting TCP/IP protocols but it didn't seem to have any relevance to my problem. Am I wrong in this assumption? If not, does anyone have any ideas on what I need to do to resolve this problem?
I am a loss.
Cheers and TIA
Scruff

 

Scruff - welcome to the bbs.

As far as where to post this particular issue, I wouldn't be sure myself since you have possible OS/2 browser/networking problems. So this is probably as good a spot as any.

Nothing specific springs immediately to mind (and must not have for anyone else either since you had no responses for a while). And if some of the stuff below doesn't seem to work, I have been connected to the internet thru a NIC/Router for so long I have gotten real rusty on DNS stuff and don't have a system handy to test any of this before I post it.

A thought, a question and some testing suggestions.

Thought - you might find the answer to your problem with Local DNS Caching that 2K & XP do. They will cache failures as well as successes so if you have a connection loss at the wrong time, you may wind up with a bad URL that your PC will persist in trying to use. The article explains more and offers suggestions.

Question - does your email work even when you have a browser connect failure?

Testing1 - find out the IP addresses of the ISP's http (browser) server and mail server. Then, next time you have one of these failures, try to ping them. If the ping succeeds, you have one sort of problem. If it fails, you have another.

Testing2 - (this works with a NIC - not sure about the DUN pseudo-NIC) if the ping (above) fails, next try
ping -t 127.0.0.1 and let it run for a hundres or so reps before using CTRL-C to stop it. Since you are using a TCP/IP feature to talk to the back side of your own computer, you should see only successes. If so, it will at least tell you that TCP/IP is working at that level.

 

Hi Newt,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will have a look at those the next time I have the problem.
Yes, my email does the same thing.
I thought I would try something different this morning and logged into my ISP without starting my default browser (Netscape) and when I connected I started IE6 and the error occured. I then shut down IE6 and started Netscape and guess what? No Error!!
I thought to myself 'wonder if it's IE6 that's causing the problem'. My guess is that some part of windows is using some part of IE6 is trying to access the net unannounced the instant I log on to my ISP.
I have decided to "uninstall" IE6 via "Add or Remove Programs > Add/Remove Winows Components ". I will give that a go first and if that doesn't work I will have a look at your suggestions. I'm not a fan of fiddling with the registry simply because I don't know enough about it yet (If I ever will). If, however, it comes to that, I will.
I will post again if this seems to have worked.
Cheers and thanks for your prompt reply,
Scruff

 

Ouch. Scruff, I'm not sure how much good (if any) that will do for you.

If you prefer to use IE 5.5 under XP, you'd think you can just use the Uninstall feature to remove IE6, then install IE 5.5. Simple, right? Wrong!!!

With XP, my understanding is the Uninstall tool removes only the user interface for IE6. The actual code has to remain because some XP features depend on IE6. Using the Uninstall option actually does little more than remove your ability to customise IE6’s security options.

And my guess is that future updates to XP will assume you have a full copy of IE6 running so they may not work right.

 

Your right Newt.
It didn't make a difference. Easy enough to put IE back if I want to. Thought it might have been worth a try. Next target will be the modem. I am going to borrow a new modem for a few days and see if that makes a difference. I must admit that mine (Tasmanian Devil 56ES by Auslinx) is 4+ years old even though it had never let me down on my other machine (Win 98SE). It has been detected by XP as a Rockwell DPF PnP and has installed the appropriate drivers. I could not obtain the latest Auslinx drivers for XP as they are no longer in existance.
It's going to take time to fix, whatever the problem. But as it's more nuisance vale than anything else. I will keep on rebooting each time it happens until I get it fixed.
Cheers and thanks.
Scruff

 

Hi Scruff you Cane Toads have no chance against the mighty Blue's. Your problem is an intersting one as some problems along similiar lines have been occuring along the eastern seaboard lately,maybe yours is one of them. Your ISP is probably rolling out broadband and doing a lot of system updates , at telstra's bequest. You could check with them to see if they are reporting similiar problems, which would be only temporary. If not Newts suggestion re DNS cache with XP & 2k ,whilst correct may not be the problem. We have tried these two simple reg fix programs on a number of clients machines and found the situation worse,just as well they provide an undo (which might tell you something?).
My suggestion is for you to delete your present DUN connection and make a new one.But do not use "the make new connection "provided in Networking(control panel). Use Network connection wizard found in programs/accessories /communications. This loads with IE and is linked to that OS. Use the do it manually (the last option) and follow the prompts. Let us know how you got on.

 

Thanks Jenae,
Have just followed your suggestion and will see how that works.
It's only a matter of time before it's get sorted. The question is, how much time?
BTW EX Sydneyite. 20 years in Brisbane.
Lifetime Sharks supporter. Hate Broncos and Morons..... Oops Maroons.
Go you mighty Blues.
Cheers
Scruff