DNS delays

  • Thread starter Thread starter Luis E
  • Start date Start date
L

Luis E

A few weeks ago I began getting long delays while trying to access my Home
page.

First I get a message saying: "Detecting Proxy Settings", then I get a
message saying "Looking up www.att.net" and finally a message saying
Waiting for " http://www.att.net/s/s.dll?spage=hb/index.htm"

This takes almost 60 seconds. Then each time I navigate to a new website I
receive the last two messages again. This makes browsing a real pain.

I have a wireless Linksys router with four computers. My PC is a Dell XPS
600 with Windows Media Center SP2 and connected via ethernet. My wife's
computer is a home made with Pentium 4 with HT using Windows XP Home SP2 also
hardwired. Her system downloads pages in a flash, including the home page.
Then I have a home made Pentium III 933Hz and a Toshiba laptop both use
Windows XP Home SP2 and connected via 802.11g wireless. They both connect
without problems or delays.

Whatever happened to my system may be as a result of installing a trial
version of Adobe software. In that time frame we also upgraded our BellSouth
DSL to a higher level (speed).

Can you recommend any solutions or anything that I can investigate in my
computer?

Please do not suggest that I reformat and re-install Windows. I have not
done that since I cleanned my Dell Computer to get rid of some pre-installed
junk.

P.S. I use Norton Intenet Security 2007, ZoneAlarm (latest version),
Windows Defender, SpyBot, Ad-Aware 2007 and Advance Windows Care. All kept
up-to-date.
 
Luis said:
A few weeks ago I began getting long delays while trying to access my Home
page.

First I get a message saying: "Detecting Proxy Settings", then I get a
message saying "Looking up www.att.net" and finally a message saying
Waiting for " http://www.att.net/s/s.dll?spage=hb/index.htm"

This takes almost 60 seconds. Then each time I navigate to a new website I
receive the last two messages again. This makes browsing a real pain.

I have a wireless Linksys router with four computers. My PC is a Dell XPS
600 with Windows Media Center SP2 and connected via ethernet. My wife's
computer is a home made with Pentium 4 with HT using Windows XP Home SP2 also
hardwired. Her system downloads pages in a flash, including the home page.
Then I have a home made Pentium III 933Hz and a Toshiba laptop both use
Windows XP Home SP2 and connected via 802.11g wireless. They both connect
without problems or delays.

Whatever happened to my system may be as a result of installing a trial
version of Adobe software. In that time frame we also upgraded our BellSouth
DSL to a higher level (speed).

Can you recommend any solutions or anything that I can investigate in my
computer?

Please do not suggest that I reformat and re-install Windows. I have not
done that since I cleanned my Dell Computer to get rid of some pre-installed
junk.

P.S. I use Norton Intenet Security 2007, ZoneAlarm (latest version),
Windows Defender, SpyBot, Ad-Aware 2007 and Advance Windows Care. All kept
up-to-date.
Click to expand...

It is extremely unlikely that your issues have anything to do with
installing Adobe software. It is far likelier that you are having
conflicts between Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, and "Advance
Windows Care" (whatever that is). It is a very bad idea to have more
than one antivirus and one firewall running. Considering what you have
installed, it is completely unsurprising to me that you are having
connectivity problems. I won't suggest that you reinstall Windows
because that is not the solution. ;-) The solution is for you to get rid
of all the extra cr*p you've got installed in the mistaken belief that
the belt-and-suspenders scenario is necessary and good.

My recommendations:

1. Uninstall Norton Internet Security and replace it with a better, less
invasive antivirus such as NOD32, Kaspersky, or even Avast (free). If
you don't want to do this, then uninstall Zone Alarm. Also uninstall
"Advance Windows Care".

2. An alternative would be to simply uninstall Zone Alarm and "Advance
Windows Care" and keep NIS. If your problems are solved, then fine. If
not, then get rid of NIS too per Item #1 above.

The built-in Windows Firewall is adequate for most people. If you really
want to have a third-party firewall, then make sure you have only *one*
installed and running.

A decent antivirus, perhaps Windows Defender if you want it, and the
Windows Firewall is really all you need *unless* you don't practice
"Safe Hex". The main factor in keeping your computer clean is not having
a ton of security programs; it's *you*.

Safe Hex:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
Infected Anyway?
http://www.getsafeonline.org/
https://www.mysecurecyberspace.com/
http://www.getnetwise.org/
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2006/02/05/82584.aspx - MVP
Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on
Rogue Antispyware Programs


Malke
 
Then I do not understand why the other computer with the same software is
running much faster and with less delays browsing than mine. Except for the
AWC module, which I installed recently to remove some cr*p from the computer
we both have NIS and ZA. That computer delays the home page in less than 3
seconds, while mine takes 45 seconds, as of today.
 
Luis said:
Then I do not understand why the other computer with the same software is
running much faster and with less delays browsing than mine. Except for the
AWC module, which I installed recently to remove some cr*p from the computer
we both have NIS and ZA. That computer delays the home page in less than 3
seconds, while mine takes 45 seconds, as of today.
Click to expand...

I Googled "Advanced Windows Care" and find it is a registry cleaner and
spyware remover so all bets are off. It is probable that your computer
is 1) not malware-free; 2) that something was damaged by using a
registry cleaner. If Advanced Windows Care has an Undo feature, I
suggest you use it and then uninstall the program.

To make sure your computer is really clean, go through these general
malware removal steps systematically:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Obviously something is different on the slow computer and since I can't
see it and test it, that's my best guess.

Malke
 
I want to thank you for your help, you have taken time to converse with me
and have given me much food for thought. However, you did not address my
last point. With another PC with the same software in the same home network
why should I have a 45+ seconds response to starting IE7 to the home page and
the other computer only requires < 3 seconds. That puzzles me.

Also your suggestions to navigate to "Page 2" shows that I should be using
the programs I am using. Every Friday I scan with Ad-Aware 2007, then I scan
with SpyBot and finally I run the Norton Antivirus. All the databases are
updated weekly. In addition, I do not use all firewalls at the same time. I
disable Windows FW and Norton's FW because ZoneAlarm created firewall
software way before the others did and I like to control access to what comes
in and what goes out of my PC.

Nevertheless I will follow the procedure suggested in "Page 2". Again I
thank you for your assistance.
 
I have some good news and some bad news.

First I scanned with Ad-Aware 2007 and found nothing, then I scanned with
SpyBot and found nothing, then I scanned with AVG Anti-Spyware and found 16
tracking cookies classified as "medium" risk. I usually get those each time
I use IE 7. Then I ran Norton internet Security and it found 1 tracking
cookie "low" risk.

So at least I am 90% confident that I do not have any malicious ware in my PC.

The bad news is that I still have the bad browsing response time only on my
PC and not in the others. In fact, sometimes the Pentium III using Windows
XP Home on a wireless connection browses faster.

By the way, I am keeping a link in my favorites to "Page 2". That is the
most complete information on Mal-Ware prevention and "how to" for repairing
damage I have read.

Again, thank you for your help.
 
Back
Top