Network bug in XP? [Archive]

mgfx

2 Dec 2003, 08:15pm

Hi all

For about 2 years I've been on a 0,5mbit ADSL line without problems, though last friday I got a new ISP, now with 10mbit. Since then I've been having problems with the Local Network connection in WinXP.

To quickly describe the problem, a help bubble appears in the tray telling me that "A Network cable is not connected", and then 2 seconds later it reconnects and it goes away and I'm online again. This is quite irritating since I get disconnected from IRC and generally hands me a lag period when I'm playing online games.

My attempts to solve this so far then?

I called my ISP, and got the answer that it is probably the Network Card or the Network Cable. So I started out switching cables, and so far I've tried 3, still ending up with the same problem. Then I went to a local computer store and talked to a guy there about the problem, and he mentioned something about a bug in WinXP. He told me to check WindowsUpdate for updates.

I went home and found out that windows was allready updated to the latest.

Then I switched Network Card, installed the latest drivers and tried.. still the problem occurs.

so I'm kinda out of ideas now, and I'm posting this mainly cause I wanna hear if any1 of you ever ran across this?

Black Hawk

2 Dec 2003, 08:26pm

Try a diffrent modem (or router).

mgfx

2 Dec 2003, 08:31pm

the modem came with the starter package my ISP sent me, and it's brand new so.. ?

Templar

2 Dec 2003, 08:32pm

m.gosling

2 Dec 2003, 08:33pm

Ive come across this at my old college before. On several different computers, on different parts of the network\building this happened quite frequently. No idea what the cause of the problem is tho, I came to the same conclusion that it could be some kind of bug. Check to see what the connection is like on whatever the other end of the cable is connected to (e.g, the hub, router, etc) and maybe try another one if you can. Apart from that I dont know what else to suggest

Black Hawk

2 Dec 2003, 08:33pm

It may have arrived damaged (DOA). Maybe you can ask your telco/ips to test your line. Something could be damaged. I once had problems for over a month and it was just the damn filter =/

mgfx

2 Dec 2003, 08:41pm

Sounds like your router may be the culprit if you have one. Try switching it out or doing a factory reset (sets all settings to factory default. You manual should explain how to do that. Usually it's a small hole with a button that you press with a thin object)

I don't have a router, the modem is connected directly to the Network Card, and on the other side it's connected directly to the phone line

Get all the updates for XP. I don't remember any specific release describing this problem, but it might work.

I did, it's all updated

If that fails, try formatting and reinstalling XP. If that fails, at this point, I might say either your ISP, motherboard, or the line going to your house might be the problem. When you switched Ethernet cards, did you try different PCI slots by any chance?

I wanna avoid reinstalling XP if possible, gonna try all possible solutions before this one. Yes I've tried all my empty PCI slots.

And if you want, you could try installing 2k in place of XP to see if it is an XP problem. If it happens in 2k, then you know it's either a PC hardware problem or a physical problem (with the line).

Yeah, I guess I could do that if I'll have to go that far

Are the cables you tried store bought?

1 is store bought, 2 came with the modem.

Black Hawk

2 Dec 2003, 10:59pm

mgfx had this to say
I wanna avoid reinstalling XP if possible, gonna try all possible solutions before this one. Yes I've tried all my empty PCI slots.
Repair installation ;)

Dexter

2 Dec 2003, 11:05pm

These may be basic questions, but do the other phones on your line have DSL filters installed? Some phones will send signals that interefere with some DSL connections.

Your old ISP may not have required these, but the new one might.

Also, are your virus scans up to date? Certain viruses have been known to cause this type of behaviour, notably the Welchia worm.

Also, what hardware settings are set for your NIC? Check under the Network Connections window, right-click Local Area Connection and select Properties. Click the Configure button for your adapter. Select the Advanced tab. Check the speed, and see what it is set for.

And, are you running any sort of firewall on that system? If the answer is no, you better duck ;)

Dexter...

keto

2 Dec 2003, 11:10pm

It's almost certainly the modem causing it. When our local ISP goes down, I get that same message. It happens very infrequently but did happen twice this weekend. AT LEAST FOR MY SYSTEM (which is connected thru a router to the modem) I get that popup bubble any time the modem loses either the signal or the power.

It is probably either a problem with the modem cycling power for some reason OR the isp dropping for very short periods of time (or the modem thinking it is for some reason).

**edit** the post above this one could cause exactly what I'm talking about.

Course, it could be none of the above.

Dexter

2 Dec 2003, 11:22pm

keto had this to say
It's almost certainly the modem causing it. When our local ISP goes down, I get that same message. It happens very infrequently but did happen twice this weekend.

I will bet you that it is not. He is having the problem very regularly. You were having it very infrequently. I think he has an entirely different problem than you had.

Dexter...

mgfx

3 Dec 2003, 01:56pm

These may be basic questions, but do the other phones on your line have DSL filters installed? Some phones will send signals that interefere with some DSL connections.

This is out of my league, I have no clue wether or not there are DSL filters installed :)

Your old ISP may not have required these, but the new one might.

Also, are your virus scans up to date? Certain viruses have been known to cause this type of behaviour, notably the Welchia worm.

Yes, the virus scanner is up to date and no viruses were found in the previous system scan

Also, what hardware settings are set for your NIC? Check under the Network Connections window, right-click Local Area Connection and select Properties. Click the Configure button for your adapter. Select the Advanced tab. Check the speed, and see what it is set for.

Most options there are set to "Auto Detect" or just "Automatic"..

And, are you running any sort of firewall on that system? If the answer is no, you better duck ;)

Ofcourse, I'm running ZoneAlarm :)

Dexter...

Jimborae

3 Dec 2003, 03:28pm

[QUOTE]mgfx had this to say
[B]These may be basic questions, but do the other phones on your line have DSL filters installed? Some phones will send signals that interefere with some DSL connections.

This is out of my league, I have no clue wether or not there are DSL filters installed :)
[B]

No its not, just look at where your phone socket is on the wall. Connected to that should be a little box (the DSL filter)into which should be the phone cable to your modem. :) All this assumes that your isp requires you to have DSL filters. (in the uk they all do) But is it still sounds like a fubared modem to me.

Regards

Jim

Dexter

3 Dec 2003, 03:40pm

mgfx had this to say
These may be basic questions, but do the other phones on your line have DSL filters installed? Some phones will send signals that interefere with some DSL connections.

This is out of my league, I have no clue wether or not there are DSL filters installed :)

Many DSL providers require you to have a filter connected on every other phone in that house. It goes between the wall jack and the phone. Here are some links to some more info:

https://ssl.dca.net/teleproducts/dsl/showoneitem.cfm?ItemID=85FE5D43-D457-4DC4-84665BBA930E91CE

http://www22.verizon.com/ForHomeDSL/Channels/DSLSupport/450.asp

Who is your ISP? Maybe you can find out online if you need filters. Or just phone them and ask. The phone company here provides a couple of them fre of charge with the "quick connect" kit for self-installs. You can likely purchase some straight from the ISP if you need them, or from Radio Shack:

http://www.radioshack.com/search.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&find=dsl+phone+filter&SRC=1

Start there and see what your ISP says about those.

Also, on the NIC configuration advanced options, try setting the Connection Type to 10 Base T Full Duplex or Half Duplex and see what happens. But I would check into the filters first, that is the most likely cause, I think.

Dexter...

Dexter...

mgfx

4 Dec 2003, 10:49am

No its not, just look at where your phone socket is on the wall. Connected to that should be a little box (the DSL filter)into which should be the phone cable to your modem. All this assumes that your isp requires you to have DSL filters. (in the uk they all do) But is it still sounds like a fubared modem to me.

Regards

Jim

Ah, I see.. well then there is no DSL Filter afaik, and I've mailed my ISP about it, so I'm waiting for an answer to hear what they have to say about it.

Thanx all for your effort in trying to help me, really appreciated! :)

Dexter

5 Dec 2003, 11:10pm

Any word back from your ISP...?

Dexter...

mgfx

6 Dec 2003, 10:01am

no not yet.. I was down at another computer store the other day and told the guy that worked there about my problem.. he said it's most certainly the modem that has a glitch or something, and advised me to phone my ISP and demand a new one.. so that's what I'm gonna do :) I'll drop a reply once it arrives to see if my problems are solved :)

maintengr

2 Nov 2004, 02:31pm

Just so you know its not XP, I have this same issue with Win2k. I use an RCA cable modem and a linksys router.

mgfx

2 Nov 2004, 08:51pm

hehe, almost a year ago since I started this thread. My problems are now gone and had nothing to do with either WinXP, the modem or bad cables/hardware.

It was a bug in the telecom stations, something about the wires not being able to handle the bandwidth, and this is what caused it to switch on and off.