10-week long problem - Misunderstood Connection?

Hello,

I apparently have a very confused modem or Windows XP problem, but I don't know which.

Since the middle of June, I have been having a problem where I lose the ability to open web pages, send/receive e-mails, IM's go off-line, and yet according to my PC (little blinking monitors in the task bar) I am still connected to the Internet. If I want to get anything done, I have to TELL the pc to disconnect, and then re-connect. Of course, in a short while the connection will not be functioning again, so we do this again and again.

Now, here's another confusing thing about this. Some days it happens rarely. Just this past weekend I managed good strong connections spanning 6 hours or more with no problems. But generally speaking, I will have many days where the connection seems lost almost every 10 or 15 minutes, or even more quickly.

About viruses........I have run Avast, PC Pitstop, Housecall........all clear!

Spyware ........... Ran Spy Sweeper, Adaware, Spybot Search & Destroy.......not there!

reset winsocks files.....problem persists

installed program to repair possibly corrupted TCP/IP settings......problem persists

I have updated modem drivers, all necessary Microsoft updates are installed.

I just know there is a tiny little setting somewhere that is controlling this, but I don't have a clue where or how to fix it.

I had my phone lines checked, they are clear. Even listened myself, and heard nothing. Did the "ping" thing, and that seemed to be just fine too.

Any thoughts? I'm about to lose my mind trying to solve this problem.

Sandie
Windows XP SP2
AMD Athlong Processor 2200+
oper. 1.8 GHz
428 Mgs RAM

 

The first thing I would try is getting an external modem. You don't specify but I'm guessing you are using some sort of internal device and that it is probably a variety of 'winmodem' where the thing uses PC memory to help it operate. Yuck.

You can get a decent external modem like This one for a fairly low cost and from my experience, if I had to use a modem again, it would be an external every time.

 

I agree with newt, try an external modem or replace the existing one.
Basically it is loosing its connectivity, but not dropping the connection.
Is this on a dedicated line ? Or one shared with phones? Do you have caller ID/ Call waiting? I have seen this on some V92 modems when an incomming call trips it to stand by and the person hangs up and it never rings the phone so you never pick up.

 

Having had a very simliar problem YEARS ago where an incoming call would knock me off line. So I switched to an External and no more problems.

BillyBob

 

Hello Newt,

I am assuming that you strongly believe that the problem lies somewhere with my modem. I looked at the modem you suggested, and I agree, the price is more than reasonable. I am getting a bit desperate here, so it is quite likely I will order it. Now, would you please assure me that changing over to the external modem will not require me to go poking around inside my machine, because just the thought of doing that gives me the willies. Sorry about that, but I am afraid of my own clumsiness.

Hello Steve and Oshwyn,

First, this does not occur when the machine is idle, but while I am actively using it.

Secondly, the line is for this computer only, nothing else. It does not have call waiting or caller ID since they are not required for Internet connection. I don't even have them on my regular house phone. Can't be bothered.

And I have just noticed, that the "half" connection has occured at this moment, while I am answering your questions.

Ok, I have reconnected, but there were problems disconnecting, and now I am thinking this might be what is causing the problem in the first place, but how do I discover what that is? Here is the message I received:

error 633: Com prot in use by another active connection or process (phone line monitoring program or fax modem)

So I did some checking in Help & Support, and it said: If the Com port is already in use by another connection, hang up the connection, or modify the connection to use a different port.

Now, here's the rub. I don't have a clue as to what other program is using this COM port. Maybe once I find out, I can find a way to stop it from doing this. I hope someone has some suggestions here.

Thank you,
Sandie
Windows XP SP2
AMD Athlong Processor 2200+
oper. 1.8 GHz
428 Mgs RAM

 

Hello Sandie,

What's probably happening is this from oshwyn;
Basically it is loosing its connectivity, but not dropping the connection

So when you want to connect, it's busy with a connection the modem didn't drop from before and that's what is giving you the error message.

Regards - Charles

 

You can get that if you have a damaged telephone.ini file
you can rebuild it by locating Tapiini.exe (In windows system folder) and running it by double clicking.
http://www.modemhelp.net/dunerror/error_633.shtml
(Note also their reference to rnaapp still running after modem is disconnected. Check out that article too).

But it also will occur if the modem is defective and not releasing the com port when the connection is dropped due to an increase in line noise.


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q150619/
is another possible cause

 

Hello Pete,

I did open the task manager, and found no rnapp running in the list of processes running at this time.

As to the telephone .ini file, I am assuming that to fix that, I disconnect first, then find the file, double click on it, and it will repair it's self? I will check into that.

Charles,
Thank you also, for responding.

Cordially,
Sandie
Windows XP SP2
AMD Athlong Processor 2200+
oper. 1.8 GHz
428 Mgs RAM

 

Doubleclicking the tapiini.exe should rebuild your telephone.ini file

 

Hi Pete,

I think I'm in deep doo-doo.

Just before this problem surfaced, I had major problems with my PC, and finally came to the conclusion that the only way I was going to get back to normal was to do a complete recovery. So I reformatted the hard dirve, and started all over again. I spent weeks updating everything and re-installing all of my favorite programs. When this problem first began, I just put it down to irregularities with our ISP, and for a week or two I didn't even seek help. I just disconnected and re-connected. Now I am wondering, if when running the recovery CD's, if something went awry right then and there, and I was just so busy with everything else, I never made the connection.

I just ran a search for both the telephone.ini file and the tapiini.exe.

Guess what?

They are nowhere on my PC!!! Now, is it possible THAT is why I am having these problems????????

And, if so, how and/or where do I get them???

EEK!! HELP!!!

 

Hi Sandie,

They are nowhere on my PC!!!
FWIW, I don't either. Running a V92 internal modem.

Regards - Charles

 

I'm not at all sure that the problem is with your modem but I have been so much happier with the functioning of external units that I don't hesitate to suggest one. It may well cure your ills but at worst, it will just work better and you will have a device with all sorts of nice diagnostic lights on the front to tell you what is happening.

Absolutely no poking around inside the case needed. Plug modem cable into the only port on the PC where the connector will fit. Plug phone line into modem. Deed done and no s c r e w driver required. (dang autocensor - hates that word)

 

Hi Sandie,

You're symptoms sound very much what happens if the line itself is noisy or otherwise of low quality. As someone alluded to in one of the posts in this thread, noisy lines affect the ability of the modem to disconnect.

You can judge the state of the line by plugging the line into a hand set, when you get the dial tone, dial 1 - there should be silence or near silence. If not, that and perhaps the modem is combining to give you you're problem. This may happen intermittently, so always a hard problem to trouble shoot. You should see worse performance for instance in bad weather.

If the above is true, then I would concentrate on line improvement first.

Regards - Charles

 

Hello Newt,

Just to let you know, I have ordered the external modem you suggested. Thank you very much for your input, suggestions, and all the helpful information. I will be crossing my fingers and holding my breath after the new modem is installed, waiting to see if the problem is solved. Let's hope that it will be.


Hello Charles,

As to the quality of the telephone line being used by my PC, everything checks out just fine. I had the phone company do a line test, and all was well. I also did as you suggest myself, and found no noise to cause this problem. And the fact that I am now using a different ISP proves that it was not the fault of the ISP I was previously using when the problem began.

As always, thank you everyone, for all the help and suggestions. I will make sure to check back and let you know how goes after the new modem is installed.

Cordially,