Curse

Correction · Apr 23, 2007, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Lately my desktop has been experiencing strange symptoms, and after exausting every solution I could think of I've decided to ask around for suggestions. Here is the problem:

While browsing web pages, the computer will "randomly" stop loading web pages. I've only noticed this to happen while using a browser, and I can't determine what triggers it. It does occur while using both FireFox and Internet Explorer. All my current connections such as AIM, any games running, etc, will remain intact, but if I log off and try to reconnect, it will fail. It's like the computer suddenly stops accepting any new connections from anything. I can still see the entire LAN, though, just nothing outside of it. All other computers on the network are fine when this happens. The problem is localized to only this computer.
At first this sounded to me like an issue with the router getting upset and denying everything to this address. Sometimes when I come home and connect my laptop it gets mad and I have to do some quirky things to get the router to accept the new connection, so I tried rebooting the router. This did not solve the problem. So then I tried disabling and re-enabling the network connection from this computer (again, something that often works with the laptop), and again the problem persisted. What's most baffling about this to me is that rebooting the computer is what ultimately solves the issue, so it's got to be a software problem on my end, I just have no idea what.

The problematic computer has an Intel P4 and is running Windows 2000; the router is an old D-Link DI-704P. I think that's all the relevant information but if you need to know more please ask. This network setup has been operating without a problem for at least four years now and the problem just showed up a few weeks ago. I've put a lot of effort into trying to remember what I possibly could have changed or installed to bring this about, and nothing comes to mind.

Thanks for your suggestions.

FlameoutAlchemist · Apr 24, 2007, 01:02 AM // 01:02

You got a dickens of a problem there.

Have you tried checking to see if D-Link has an updated IOS for your router? Also, is your computer wired into the network, or is it wireless?

Correction · Apr 24, 2007, 02:25 AM // 02:25

I don't see any updates from D-Link that are newer than August of 2003.
It is a wired connection. This router does not have wireless capabilities.

Thanks, again.

FlameoutAlchemist · Apr 24, 2007, 03:37 AM // 03:37

What happens if you swap the port the computer uses for another one?

AnkaraShadowsgale · Apr 24, 2007, 10:21 AM // 10:21

Try scanning for spyware, (Adaware free or Spybot Search and Destroy are good ones, just dont run them at the same time, they dont play well together.) Sometimes that causes the issues that you're having. Also do you perhaps have another NIC card handy that you could install to see if the NIC in the pc is going bad as this sometimes also causes these problems.

FlameoutAlchemist · Apr 24, 2007, 02:44 PM // 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnkaraShadowsgale

Try scanning for spyware, (Adaware free or Spybot Search and Destroy are good ones, just dont run them at the same time, they dont play well together.) Sometimes that causes the issues that you're having. Also do you perhaps have another NIC card handy that you could install to see if the NIC in the pc is going bad as this sometimes also causes these problems.

I'm hoping he doesn't have to do that. Always a good idea to have him do what's easiest first before he has to tear the computer apart.

Nice catch though.

Correction · Apr 24, 2007, 03:18 PM // 15:18

I was going to try switching router ports yesterday, but I had to leave. I'll be back at that computer Thursday and that is when I'll give all your suggestions a shot.

I have tried scanning for spyware, but not very vigorously. I'll try that again a little more seriously when I get a chance.
The computer does happen to have two NIC cards in it, I didn't even think about that. The one in use is a dedicated card, and the other is integrated with the motherboard. If nothing else works I'll try switching those... like I said, the problem never appeared until several weeks ago, but I suppose it's possible that one simply wore out and has gone bad.

Thanks for your help. I'll post on Thursday with an update.

DutchGun · Apr 24, 2007, 09:25 PM // 21:25

You could try running Gw with -diag at the command-line to see if it's a network-related issue when you're experiencing this. This is a simple way to do a traceroute test (ping-time and connectivity test).

viper11025 · Apr 24, 2007, 10:42 PM // 22:42

Sounds wierd.Maybe your router needs to be reset?

Correction · Apr 27, 2007, 01:46 AM // 01:46

Well I'm at a complete loss again. I've tried all of the following solutions, and not one of them worked:
-running a number of Adware and Spyware scans
-physically switching ports on the router
-installing drivers for and switching to the integrated NIC from assumed problematic PCI NIC
-uninstalling FireFox and reinstalling with a more recent version

I don't get this at all. Possibly related is that NOTHING can seem to find an open port on this computer, though I know I'm using port forwarding correctly because I have the same ports opened for another computer on the LAN and their associated programs work fine.

FlameoutAlchemist · Apr 27, 2007, 07:36 AM // 07:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Correction

What's most baffling about this to me is that rebooting the computer is what ultimately solves the issue, so it's got to be a software problem on my end, I just have no idea what.

Hmm...since you've done everything else, I'd suggest that you reinstall Win2k on the computer and see what happens. You sound pretty savvy to begin with, since you know about port forwarding and stuff, so reformatting and reinstalling's about the only thing I can suggest.

Correction · Apr 27, 2007, 01:12 PM // 13:12

Well I guess this couldn't have happened at a better time, at least, since next week begins my summer vacation and I should have all the time in the world to do it.

Many thanks again for your time and attention.

FlameoutAlchemist · Apr 28, 2007, 03:14 AM // 03:14

Anytime. Make another post here again if the problem persists after the reinstall.