IE 6 looses internet connection

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I am running IE version 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 on a WinXP
professional sp2 computer. It will lose the internet connection periodically
and the only way i've found to re-establish it is to reboot. There doesn't
seem to be any particular event that causes this. The strange thing is that
I'm still able to send & recieve email and the browser that the Windows Help
& Support Centre uses is able to connect. I've tried disabling the firewall
and anti-virus, doesn't help. I've also tried using Task Manager to
selectively end processes that aren't essential, again no good. This
behavior has only started since I did a complete system reload about 2 weeks
ago. I am going to install FireFox to see if it works next time IE doesn't.
Until then, any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Frank
 
DrFrankZaius said:
I am running IE version 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 on a WinXP
professional sp2 computer. It will lose the internet connection periodically
and the only way i've found to re-establish it is to reboot. There doesn't
seem to be any particular event that causes this. The strange thing is that
I'm still able to send & recieve email and the browser that the Windows Help
& Support Centre uses is able to connect. I've tried disabling the firewall
and anti-virus, doesn't help. I've also tried using Task Manager to
selectively end processes that aren't essential, again no good. This
behavior has only started since I did a complete system reload about 2 weeks
ago. I am going to install FireFox to see if it works next time IE doesn't.
Until then, any ideas?
Click to expand...

Those symptoms could all be explained if:
1. your ISP's DNS was ignoring connection requests
2. connection requests established by IP address (or via HOSTS)
or via the dnscache could still be made.

To test this scenario use nslookup. (E.g. just open a command
window and enter that command without operands.)
If a DNS connection cannot be established you will see timeout
messages referring to both of your DNS addresses.
(Enter the exit subcommand to leave the nslookup interactive
mode.)

Another test would be to use ipconfig to clear the dnscache
just to see how much what you could still do was relying on it.
E.g. in a command window enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

After that I suspect you might even have a hard time doing
most of the things you list as otherwise being possible
(unless they are being done by IP address instead of DNS lookup.)


Depending on your link type rebooting may be overly extreme.
E.g. it happens to me on dial-up and all I have to do is hangup
and reconnect.

Broadband users may be able to use ipconfig options
to get another set of DNS addresses (e.g. via DHCP)
Try, for example:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Etc.



Thanks in advance,
Frank
Click to expand...


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---
 
DrFrankZaius said:
I am running IE version 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 on a WinXP
professional sp2 computer. It will lose the internet connection periodically
and the only way i've found to re-establish it is to reboot. There doesn't
seem to be any particular event that causes this. The strange thing is that
I'm still able to send & recieve email and the browser that the Windows Help
& Support Centre uses is able to connect. I've tried disabling the firewall
and anti-virus, doesn't help. I've also tried using Task Manager to
selectively end processes that aren't essential, again no good. This
behavior has only started since I did a complete system reload about 2 weeks
ago. I am going to install FireFox to see if it works next time IE doesn't.
Until then, any ideas?
Click to expand...

I'm having the same problem with my desktop. (Mozilla doesn't work either) I
noticed it after I installed Norton Internet security 2005. I can still check
outlook express email also. I couldn't find a fix on symantec's site though.
I'm going to try Robert's suggestion. Maybe you have Norton 2005 and we could
let each other know how to fix it as soon as one of us finds out. I'm glad
I'm not the only one. I am on my laptop until I get it fixed. it's highly
frustrating.
 
A little more information, I am connected to the internet via a D-Link
broadband router. When I loose internet, others on the network do not, so
the problem isn't with the ISP. We use static IP addressing within our
network and when internet access is lost, I still have a network connection
with other computers as well as email.
 
I don't use Norton Internet Security, I use Windows Firewall. As soon as IE
craps out again I will try FireFox.

Frank
 
DrFrankZaius said:
A little more information, I am connected to the internet via a D-Link
broadband router. When I loose internet, others on the network do not, so
the problem isn't with the ISP.
Click to expand...

That's fine. It's one side or the other which stops for some reason.
The net effect is that connections through the DNS port can't be made
so other connections which require DNS lookups to be done are also
severely limited in what they can do.

We use static IP addressing within our
network and when internet access is lost, I still have a network connection
with other computers as well as email.
Click to expand...

Did you try doing

ipconfig /flushdns

before using your E-mail in the problem state?
(Just to test that you aren't getting your server addresses
from the dnscache and assuming that they also aren't
hardcoded in your HOSTS file.)

Did you try the nslookup test?

You may have a different problem than mine
but so far you haven't given enough details
to require a different hypothesis that explains
the symptoms you have listed.


Robert
---
 
I haven't had a chance to try the flushdns or nslookup yet. When I get to
work on Mon I will try it out

Frank
 
I performed the nslookup and got a good connection. I then did the dns flush
and I'm waiting and watching. No IE crash yet. I also have a wifi laptop and
another desktop on my network in which both IE's work fine. It's my admin
comp that has the problem. Thanx so far for the help.
 
Robert,

Sorry about the delay, but IE won't misbehave on demand. This morning it
finally conked out again. I tried using flushdns, before trying Outlook, but
it didn't help. Outlook is still able to send & receive. I did an nslookup
with the following result:
_____________________________________________________
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>nslookup
Default Server: edtnps01.telusplanet.net
Address: 199.185.220.36
_______________________________________________________

After displaying the default server and address, I just get a blinking
cursor. There was no timeout after 20 minutes. I tried FireFox, but it
won't work either (as johnnyO said it wouldn't). One other thing, when I
enter an address, the status bar says "Web site found. Waiting for a
reply..." and the progress indicator makes it's way up to 38% and then stalls
there.
 
DrFrankZaius said:
Robert,

Sorry about the delay, but IE won't misbehave on demand. This morning it
finally conked out again. I tried using flushdns, before trying Outlook, but
it didn't help. Outlook is still able to send & receive. I did an nslookup
with the following result:
_____________________________________________________
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Frank>nslookup
Default Server: edtnps01.telusplanet.net
Address: 199.185.220.36
_______________________________________________________

After displaying the default server and address, I just get a blinking
cursor. There was no timeout after 20 minutes.
Click to expand...


This is different from what I was thinking of. The timeout I referred to
happens very quickly and you would not have seen your server's name.

I tried FireFox, but it
won't work either (as johnnyO said it wouldn't). One other thing, when I
enter an address, the status bar says "Web site found. Waiting for a
reply..." and the progress indicator makes it's way up to 38% and then stalls
there.
Click to expand...


That looks more like something is interfering with a specific port (80).
Malware can do that. Can you use https: as your protocol prefix?
(port 443).

If you are just going to be rebooting anyway you might as well try

netsh winsock reset

Before doing that though it might be interesting to save its current
status.

netsh winsock show catalog >wschang.txt


If you captured the same output after you reboot

netsh winsock show catalog >wscboot.txt


and compare them

fc wschang.txt wscboot.txt >wscdiff.txt
notepad wscdiff.txt


it may give you another clue.


BTW since it seems to be a problem with your OS networking
you may get a better answer in a newsgroup which specializes
in that. Here is a link to an interactive troubleshooter by
Hans-Georg Michna [MVP] which may also help. The page contains
a link to the XP networking newsgroup as well.

< http://www.michna.com/kb/wxnet.htm >


Good luck

Robert
---
 
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