XP and Modem Connection Problems

[Anopheles]

My friend has just purchased a new PC running XP with SP2 installed. I have
been helping set it up and have a problem connecting to his ISP. The modem
connects to the internet and message is displayed saying that it is. The
icon comes up in the system tray and is says the speed connected and reports
that some bytes have already been exchanged. However neither IE6 or OE will
establish a connection with the ISP server and behave as if off line.

I have taken this problem to the ISP who have blamed the modem. (Yes, that's
a first. ) I have thoroughly checked that the setup internet connection
data is correct. I have checked the Microsoft site in case there is a fix
but cannot find one.

Coincidently, I have a similar problem with my own machine. The same thing
happens however there is a difference. I can get on to the ISP after booting
up however, after being online and closing the connection, my computer
behaves exactly like the computer above. I have to reboot to go online
again.

I'm at my wit's end. Any solution to this problem will potentially save
lives. Please help.

Anopheles

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

My friend has just purchased a new PC running XP with SP2 installed.
I have been helping set it up and have a problem connecting to his
ISP. The modem connects to the internet and message is displayed
saying that it is. The icon comes up in the system tray and is says
the speed connected and reports that some bytes have already been
exchanged. However neither IE6 or OE will establish a connection with
the ISP server and behave as if off line.
I have taken this problem to the ISP who have blamed the modem. (Yes,
that's a first. ) I have thoroughly checked that the setup
internet connection data is correct. I have checked the Microsoft
site in case there is a fix but cannot find one.

Coincidently, I have a similar problem with my own machine. The same
thing happens however there is a difference. I can get on to the ISP
after booting up however, after being online and closing the
connection, my computer behaves exactly like the computer above. I
have to reboot to go online again.

I'm at my wit's end. Any solution to this problem will potentially
save lives. Please help.

Anopheles

First eliminate any spyware.
What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

CAUTION!!!!! Before you try to remove spyware using any of these programs ,
download a copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
(if your OS is Win2k or XP) The process of removing certain malware may kill
your internet connection. If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will
enable you to regain your connection.

See
Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each needs to be updated with the program's update function
before every use, even when just downloaded. There's also a lot more to do
than just those two programs. CWShredder is also available here:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder
**Post your HijackThis log to
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**
Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and CWShredder
may be found on this page:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.

See also:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&DisplayLang=en
for the new Microsoft program which was previously released by Giant
Software.

See this link for information about malware:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/malware.ars

If nothing there helps, please post back to this thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx

 

[Anopheles]

First eliminate any spyware.
What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

CAUTION!!!!! Before you try to remove spyware using any of these programs
, download a copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
(if your OS is Win2k or XP) The process of removing certain malware may
kill
your internet connection. If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will
enable you to regain your connection.

See
Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each needs to be updated with the program's update function
before every use, even when just downloaded. There's also a lot more to
do than just those two programs. CWShredder is also available here:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder
**Post your HijackThis log to
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**
Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and CWShredder
may be found on this page:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.

See also:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&DisplayLang=en
for the new Microsoft program which was previously released by Giant
Software.

See this link for information about malware:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/malware.ars

If nothing there helps, please post back to this thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx

This is good information, Frank, thank you, and I will apply it to my
computer. In my friend's case, however, as he has yet to get on to his ISP,
and the XP installation is pristine, would it be necessary?

Anopheles

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

This is good information, Frank, thank you, and I will apply it to my
computer. In my friend's case, however, as he has yet to get on to
his ISP, and the XP installation is pristine, would it be necessary?

Anopheles

No, it wouldn't. Open IE and go to Tools | Internet Options | Connections.
Try setting it to Never dial a connection or Dial whenever a network
connection is not needed.
Also, make sure that the dialup connection is listed in the box above.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

........

You aren't clear if you are getting just a modem connection
or the next step login, or the next step TCP-IP connection.

Before worrying about either IE or OE open a command
window and verify that you have an accessible DNS.
E.g. Run... cmd and enter in the command line: nslookup
Does it have DNS addresses to test or is it giving timeout messages?
(Type exit to leave nslookup's subcommand mode.)

You can also enter ipconfig /all and verify that you have an
IP address and DNS server addresses. That would be a proof
of connectivity if the IP address and DNS server addresses are
assigned dynamically. E.g. if ipconfig /all before connecting
doesn't show those addresses and does after then clearly you
got them as a result of connecting.

You can also use the Networking Troubleshooter to get the same
sort of diagnostics in a more obscure way. On my XP the easiest
way to get to it is via the Show All Connections Start submenu item.
(E.g. Ctrl-Esc,T,S)

Hmm... here's another one, which may be more universally available.
Use the Help and Support Center. E.g. press Win-F1 and enter
Networking Troubleshooter (without quotes for some odd reason)

....
This is good information, Frank, thank you, and I will apply it to my
computer. In my friend's case, however, as he has yet to get on to his ISP,
and the XP installation is pristine, would it be necessary?

No but before you connect to the Internet with XP please make sure
that your connection is "firewalled" or your friend's machine won't
stay "pristine" for long, unless you have installed XPsp2 from a CD.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Anopheles]

...
...

You aren't clear if you are getting just a modem connection
or the next step login, or the next step TCP-IP connection.

Before worrying about either IE or OE open a command
window and verify that you have an accessible DNS.
E.g. Run... cmd and enter in the command line: nslookup
Does it have DNS addresses to test or is it giving timeout messages?
(Type exit to leave nslookup's subcommand mode.)

You can also enter ipconfig /all and verify that you have an
IP address and DNS server addresses. That would be a proof
of connectivity if the IP address and DNS server addresses are
assigned dynamically. E.g. if ipconfig /all before connecting
doesn't show those addresses and does after then clearly you
got them as a result of connecting.

You can also use the Networking Troubleshooter to get the same
sort of diagnostics in a more obscure way. On my XP the easiest
way to get to it is via the Show All Connections Start submenu item.
(E.g. Ctrl-Esc,T,S)

Hmm... here's another one, which may be more universally available.
Use the Help and Support Center. E.g. press Win-F1 and enter
Networking Troubleshooter (without quotes for some odd reason)

Thanks, Robert. I'll try these suggestions and get back.

No but before you connect to the Internet with XP please make sure
that your connection is "firewalled" or your friend's machine won't
stay "pristine" for long, unless you have installed XPsp2 from a CD.

Absolutely. The supplier claims to have SP2 installed. The firewall was
turned off only to establish whether that was the cause of the problem. I
intend to use the Sygate Personal Firewall.

Thanks, Robert.

Anopheles