Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Finally had the time to solve this problem (intermittent internet connection). I have a piece of SW called Process Explorer which is like Task Manager on steroids, and I noticed that a lot of CPU cycles were being used when the PC should have been mostly idle. Process Explorer pointed to the Symantec firewall/AV as the big user, so I disabled the firewall and then tried surfing the net. Hit a few safe websites, didn't have a single problem. Turned the firewall back on and the problem came back. So, last night I uninstalled the firewall and installed a newer version (provided gratis at work, DON policy which really makes sense) and problem is solved. Wife promptly started surfing for a new pair of shoes. Why did I fix this thing!??! Max ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Last night I spent an hour on this, no joy. Tried to uninstall-reinstall the network adapter, updated the driver to a newer, used the maker's diagnostic software to verify the NIC was working correctly, cleared the IE cache(s), and finally I installed Mozilla Firefox. I'm down to two options I think (although there is some troubleshooting advice on the MS website that I didn't get to yet), which are (1) replace the NIC with a known good, and (2) wipe/reload the OS and all other SW. Max -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Curt Raymond Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 8:43 PM To: Diesel List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connectiontointernet Which, generically speaking, is a mistake that will give you issues. The service packs in particular have been known to break applications, SP2 on WinXP was a good one for that... Keep your antivirus up to date. Keep your security updates current, update to service packs begrudgingly. -Curt Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:47:16 -0400 From: Dillon, Meade M CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-ATLANTIC, 53310 meade.m.dil...@navy.mil Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connectiontointernet To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: 1370e90cffd2ac4b8cb65267ba10c4b801193...@naeachrlez02v.nadsusea.nads.navy.mil Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I'll have to check, but generally I keep up with all SP installments and patches. -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Curt Raymond Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 10:46 AM To: Diesel List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connectiontointernet Its not SP3 is it? We've got an issue at work where SP3 systems can't get to the internet at all... Its an infrastructure thing here and its apparently cheaper to send an IT idiot around to fix systems than it is to fix the infrastructure issue. -Curt __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090824/f7262cb7/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Lee, Thanks for the help. I'll clear the cache, and I think the next step will be to load FireFox as a browser. Wife uses some MS software that she's wed'ed to, so a different non-MS OS is not really possible. I think I may make the time to wipe and re-load, but I really just want to solve this one problem quickly and get back to important stuff. My gut tells me this is a HW problem, and I hate to spend money on a new NIC as a troubleshooting method. Methinks I'll call a buddy who may have a spare laying around... Max -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Lee Einer Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 5:24 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes before. Next, try throwing a Mepis disc in your CDROM drive and seeing if you are still bolloxed when running a different browser and OS. That should tell you whether it is a hardware problem or a software problem. Iffn it's a hardware problem, swap out your NIC. If the problem goes away, then you have your answer. If not, try putting a known good NIC in a different PCI slot. If it's a software problem, well, you are running XP Home. You could try to clean up any malware, or wipe it and reinstall. Or follow the true path to enlightenment and install Linux. Lee Max Dillon wrote: Folks, Need some diagnostic methods to figure out a nagging problem. Computer is a dell desktop, 6 years old or so, with XP Home OS. Over the last year it has developed a badly intermittent internet/ethernet connection, to the point where a web page will only load on one out of two or three attempts, sometimes one in ten attempts. I've plugged a different computer in on the same ethernet cable (which connects to our DSL modem) and had no problems at all, so I'm pretty sure the problem is resident on this dell box. It has an old version of Internet Explorer. I keep Symantec firewall/anti-virus up to date (and always have) and install all the patches to the OS etc. as they are released. Thanks in advance, Max -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090 823/aad0d315/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- Lee If you would be unloved and forgotten, be reasonable. - Kurt Vonnegut ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
tells me this is a HW problem, and I hate to spend money on a new NIC as a troubleshooting method. Methinks I'll call a buddy who may have a spare laying around... Those things have gotten so cheap that I can't believe you wouldn't be able to find a free one with a little bit of calling around to your PC friends. I think they were all of $10-20 new last time I looked. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Dillon, Meade M CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-ATLANTIC, 53310 wrote: Wife uses some MS software that she's wed'ed to, so a different non-MS OS is not really possible. It may well be possible, Max. Wifey's MS software may run well in WINE or Crossover Office and if that's the case you would be good to go with a Linux system. Lee ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
I've asked the maker of a key program she uses, and they specifically say it won't work. I don't want to spend the time trying to make it work, so I'm sticking with XP Home (or maybe an upgrade to Pro). Max -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Lee Einer Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 9:42 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet Dillon, Meade M CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-ATLANTIC, 53310 wrote: Wife uses some MS software that she's wed'ed to, so a different non-MS OS is not really possible. It may well be possible, Max. Wifey's MS software may run well in WINE or Crossover Office and if that's the case you would be good to go with a Linux system. Lee ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Dillon, Meade M CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-ATLANTIC, 53310 wrote: I've asked the maker of a key program she uses, and they specifically say it won't work. I don't want to spend the time trying to make it work, so I'm sticking with XP Home (or maybe an upgrade to Pro). I run Linux on my business computers - but there are sound system interface programs that only run on MS Windows. So I use VirtualBox to run a copy of WinXP. So far _every_ one of the stinkin' programs runs fine. So if you really need MS Windows for a couple programs and the rest can be Linux, I'd suggest VirtualBox or VMWare. -- Philip ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes before. Next, try throwing a Mepis disc in your CDROM drive and seeing if you are still bolloxed when running a different browser and OS. That should tell you whether it is a hardware problem or a software problem. Iffn it's a hardware problem, swap out your NIC. If the problem goes away, then you have your answer. If not, try putting a known good NIC in a different PCI slot. If it's a software problem, well, you are running XP Home. You could try to clean up any malware, or wipe it and reinstall. Or follow the true path to enlightenment and install Linux. Lee Max Dillon wrote: Folks, Need some diagnostic methods to figure out a nagging problem. Computer is a dell desktop, 6 years old or so, with XP Home OS. Over the last year it has developed a badly intermittent internet/ethernet connection, to the point where a web page will only load on one out of two or three attempts, sometimes one in ten attempts. I've plugged a different computer in on the same ethernet cable (which connects to our DSL modem) and had no problems at all, so I'm pretty sure the problem is resident on this dell box. It has an old version of Internet Explorer. I keep Symantec firewall/anti-virus up to date (and always have) and install all the patches to the OS etc. as they are released. Thanks in advance, Max -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090823/aad0d315/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- Lee If you would be unloved and forgotten, be reasonable. - Kurt Vonnegut ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Folks, Need some diagnostic methods to figure out a nagging problem. Computer is a dell desktop, 6 years old or so, with XP Home OS. Over the last year it has developed a badly intermittent internet/ethernet connection, to the point where a web page will only load on one out of two or three attempts, sometimes one in ten attempts. I've plugged a different computer in on the same ethernet cable (which connects to our DSL modem) and had no problems at all, so I'm pretty sure the problem is resident on this dell box. It has an old version of Internet Explorer. I keep Symantec firewall/anti-virus up to date (and always have) and install all the patches to the OS etc. as they are released. Thanks in advance, Max -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090823/aad0d315/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
From: Lee Einer l...@dosmanosjewelry.com First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes beforesnip Hi Lee, Where is the browser cache (IE on WindowsXP)? I looked at the IE programs using Windows Explorer but couldn't find a cache anywhere. Once in a while when loading a website I'll get a field that says: Stack overload or Stack overflow. Does Ccleaner (Crap Cleaner) fix that? Thanks, Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
You don't want to do it through internet explorer. There is an option in the IE menu tree which gets it done. Here's how you do it in IE 6. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx I haven't used either Windows or IE for more than a decade. I found linux was far more conducive to inner peace. Lee archer wrote: From: Lee Einer l...@dosmanosjewelry.com First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes beforesnip Hi Lee, Where is the browser cache (IE on WindowsXP)? I looked at the IE programs using Windows Explorer but couldn't find a cache anywhere. Once in a while when loading a website I'll get a field that says: Stack overload or Stack overflow. Does Ccleaner (Crap Cleaner) fix that? Thanks, Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- Lee If you would be unloved and forgotten, be reasonable. - Kurt Vonnegut ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Gerry, Run CCleaner on it. It will clear all of the IE Cache (Temporary Internet Files. Also Run Malwarebytes on the system. http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/ Russ W. archer wrote: From: Lee Einer l...@dosmanosjewelry.com First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes beforesnip Hi Lee, Where is the browser cache (IE on WindowsXP)? I looked at the IE programs using Windows Explorer but couldn't find a cache anywhere. Once in a while when loading a website I'll get a field that says: Stack overload or Stack overflow. Does Ccleaner (Crap Cleaner) fix that? Thanks, Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Thanks, Lee, got it. Other good tips on that website as well. Have a MacBook refurb and will soon start learning and using it as a replacement for the PC. After that is mastered, will go back to the Linux workbench and try to get a distro working there. Wonko sent me copies of six or eight versions of Linux and I was having a ball before something came up that set me back for quite a while. Trying to catch up now. Gerry -- From: Lee Einer l...@dosmanosjewelry.com You don't want to do it through internet explorer. There is an option in the IE menu tree which gets it done. Here's how you do it in IE 6. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx I haven't used either Windows or IE for more than a decade. I found linux was far more conducive to inner peace. Lee archer wrote: From: Lee Einer l...@dosmanosjewelry.com First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes beforesnip Hi Lee, Where is the browser cache (IE on WindowsXP)? I looked at the IE programs using Windows Explorer but couldn't find a cache anywhere. Once in a while when loading a website I'll get a field that says: Stack overload or Stack overflow. Does Ccleaner (Crap Cleaner) fix that? Thanks, Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Computer help - how diagnose intermittent connection to internet
Thanks, Russ. Also glad to get a good reference on a malware program. Gerry --- From: Russ Williams rawil...@eatel.net Gerry, Run CCleaner on it. It will clear all of the IE Cache (Temporary Internet Files. Also Run Malwarebytes on the system. http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/ Russ W. archer wrote: From: Lee Einer l...@dosmanosjewelry.com First, purge your browser cache. I've seen a full cache bugger up the works on Windoze boxes beforesnip Hi Lee, Where is the browser cache (IE on WindowsXP)? I looked at the IE programs using Windows Explorer but couldn't find a cache anywhere. Once in a while when loading a website I'll get a field that says: Stack overload or Stack overflow. Does Ccleaner (Crap Cleaner) fix that? Thanks, Gerry ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
