Member Avatar for karatelovr

I did do a search for my problem, but didn't find anything exactly like I was experiencing.

Just recently (yesterday) I've been dropping my internet connection every 10 - 20 minutes. If I right click on my local area connection and choose "repair" it fixes itself and works for a few more minutes. This gets annoying when I'm logged onto AOL or playing an online game. I've run AdAware, Spybot, and Spy Dr, as well as scanned with McAfee. Everything is fine.

I am running Windows XP, and connect via DSL (with Verizon - bastards, but that's besides the point). My nic is whatever came with my Dell Dimension 3 years ago. Here is my hijackthis log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 7:39:54 PM, on 5/1/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\111076~1\EE\AOLHOS~1.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\111076~1\EE\AOLServiceHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\tcpsvcs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\snmp.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsftsn.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdsg.dll
O2 - BHO: PCTools Browser Monitor - {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1110763334\EE\AOLHostManager.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOL Spyware Protection] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pure Networks Port Magic] "C:\PROGRA~1\PURENE~1\PORTMA~1\PortAOL.exe" -Run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcupdate.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AOL Fast Start] "C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\AOL.EXE" -b
O4 - Startup: Chris Sawyer's Locomotion Registration.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Amy A. Dowell\Local Settings\Temp\{2E0FE56E-CBB5-4208-BA1F-80459694FB5B}\{77F45E76-E897-42CA-A9FE-5F56817D875C}\ATR1.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar search - res://C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O16 - DPF: 6th Street Omaha Poker by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Aces Up! by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Blackjack by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Canasta by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Chess by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Cribbage by pogo -
O16 - DPF: First Class Solitaire by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Harvest Mania by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Hearts by pogo -
O16 - DPF: High Stakes Poker by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Jigsaw Detective by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Jungle Gin by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Lottso by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Mah Jong Garden by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Pai Gow by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Payday FreeCell by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Pebble Beach Golf by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Pop Fu by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Poppit by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Showbiz Slots by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Spider Solitaire by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Squelchies by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Sweet Tooth TM by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Texas Hold'em Poker by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Tri-Peaks by pogo -
O16 - DPF: Tumble Bees by pogo -
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) -
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - America Online - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
O23 - Service: AOL TopSpeed Monitor (AOL TopSpeedMonitor) - America Online, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
O23 - Service: IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service (ImapiService) - Roxio Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\System32\ImapiRox.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com McShield (McShield) - Unknown owner - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SecurityCenter Update Manager (mcupdmgr.exe) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com VirusScan Online Realtime Engine (MCVSRte) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by DMR

Dani AI

Generated

Quick summary and prioritized troubleshooting based on the thread and 's advice: the pattern — connection drops every 10–20 minutes and "Repair" restoring service briefly — points to one of three root areas: (1) intermittent modem/DSL sync or ISP PPPoE/session timeouts, (2) local NIC driver, power-management or hardware/cable faults, or (3) a third-party network filter/startup utility interfering with the TCP/IP stack. The Event Viewer is a key source of evidence; repeated entries that line up with the drop times usually show the culprit.

Basic, low-risk triage to run while the problem is happening

  • Find the default gateway with ipconfig /all.
  • In two separate command windows run:
ping -t <DefaultGatewayIP>
ping -t www.microsoft.com
  • Let both run until a drop occurs and note which one fails first. If gateway pings stop, the problem is between PC and modem (cable, NIC, router, or modem). If gateway stays up but external pings fail, the ISP or modem/PPPoE session is likely.

Other high-value checks and actions

  • Check the DSL/modem admin pages or logs for sync losses, CRC/FEC errors or frequent PPP disconnects; power-cycle and, if available, check firmware updates.
  • Test with a different Ethernet cable and, if possible, another PC directly connected to the modem (bypass any router) to isolate hardware.
  • Update or reinstall the NIC driver and disable any "allow the computer to turn off this device" power option in Device Manager.
  • Perform a clean-boot (msconfig) to disable non-Microsoft services/startup items and see if the drops stop — this isolates third-party network filters.

Helpful diagnostics to collect for follow-up analysis

  • Event Viewer entries from System/Application at the time of a drop (Time, Source, Event ID, full Description).
  • A short excerpt of the ping output showing failure and the ipconfig /all output taken while the problem is active.

These items narrow the cause quickly and make the next troubleshooting steps obvious.

Recommended Answers

All 7 Replies

Member Avatar for DMR

I'll just put out the fact that downloading/playing online games is a good way to get loaded up with adware and spyware, but that said, I don't see any obvious "nasties" in your log.

A few thoughts:

1. Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administratve Tools control panel and look through the Application and System logs to see if you can find any event messages/warnings/errors in those logs which might give us clues as to the reason for the disconnects.

2. Maybe your modem has glitched: power down both the computer and the modem, leaving both off for 30 seconds or more. Turn on the modem again and give it a minute or two to go through its power-up tests; reboot the computer after that and see if the problem has gone away.

3. Does the problem occur when using AOL's browser only, or does it happen when you're using Internet Explorer as well?

Member Avatar for karatelovr

I'll just put out the fact that downloading/playing online games is a good way to get loaded up with adware and spyware, but that said, I don't see any obvious "nasties" in your log.

<snipped>

3. Does the problem occur when using AOL's browser only, or does it happen when you're using Internet Explorer as well?

Actually, pogo has never given me any real problems...now my husband uses WinMX and THAT'S the REAL nasty!! I run AdAware constantly b/c of him!

But anyway, the problem occured any time I was using the net - be it AOL to check my mail, chat online, or through IE to surf (I don't use AOL as a browser - email only).

However, I did a system restore to one day prior (said husband had added a new game - fresh out of the box, but who knows, maybe that caused it). The restore took puter back before game was installed and now seems to be working. If he installs it again and I get the same problem, well, guess I'll have found the source!

Tx!!

Member Avatar for DMR

If he installs it again and I get the same problem, well, guess I'll have found the source!

I'd say that would be a good assumption, yes. :D

Member Avatar for karatelovr

It's happening again, and I've installed NOTHING new. Why am I losing connection????

Member Avatar for DMR

Something I suggested before:

Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administratve Tools control panel and look through the Application and System logs to see if you can find any event messages/warnings/errors in those logs which might give us clues as to the reason for the disconnects.

Member Avatar for karatelovr

Something I suggested before:

Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administratve Tools control panel and look through the Application and System logs to see if you can find any event messages/warnings/errors in those logs which might give us clues as to the reason for the disconnects.

OK, I'm doing this, but I don't really know what I'm looking for. I see "warning" and "error" but what do I do to correct it?

Member Avatar for DMR

If you double-click on any of the entries in the logs, an Event Properties window will open, and that window will contain details of the entry.

The top portion of the Properties window contains information such as the time the event occured, the event's ID number, and the source of the error (the "source" identifies the specific component of Windows that actually generated the log entry). Below that will be a text description of the event (which may also contain rather cryptic-looking error codes).

Look through the error/warning messages to see if you can determine which ones might relate to networking. You said that the disconnect happens every 10-15 minutes, so I'd expect that you'll find the same error messages repeating themselves at about that interval. If you find entries which appear relevant to your problem, post the following info from their Properties windows here:

- the Time
- the Source
- the Event ID
- the full and exact text of the Description

Having that information will help us pinpoint the cause of the connection drops.

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