Member Avatar for mweston

I have 2 computers at home using a cable modem. The modem is connected to a PC and then the other PC is networked. The problem is with the the main PCconnected to the modem. It is very strange.

Over the past week the Explorer (6.0) and Outlook have worked fine. After about 3 hours, sometimes a little later the main PC just trips out and disconnects access to the modem. I get rejection messages and have to reboot.

What is strange is that my other PC connected via a network keeps working through the network and I can use Explorer without a problem.

What confuses me is that it is not just Explorer but also Outlook and it only is a problem with the main PC. What also confused me last night is that the system triped again without outlook or explorer being loaded. Now I am really lost.

I have recently use a trialware version of Norton that I think must be the problem. The software also included adware and spy options and some files were deleted.

Since this I have downloaded Spybot and this works much better, has improved system performance but the problem still remains.

I hope someone can help

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Short expert summary: the pattern you describe — only the machine attached to the modem loses web/Outlook access while other LAN clients keep working — points at a local Windows TCP/IP/Winsock problem or a third‑party network filter (Layered Service Provider) rather than a modem/ISP fault. LSPs are exactly the pieces that sit between applications and the TCP/IP stack and can selectively break browsers or mail clients when they misbehave or are removed poorly. (learn.microsoft.com)

Practical diagnostic & repair checklist (run while the problem is present, save outputs):

  1. Capture basics: ipconfig /all, route print, netstat -an and netstat -s to files for before/after comparison.
  2. Test raw TCP: ping <gateway> and telnet <ip> 80 (or use Microsoft PortQry) to see whether outbound SYNs reach destinations.
  3. Identify the owning process: use tcpview (or netstat -ano) to see which process owns sockets and whether connections are stuck.
  4. Safe Mode with Networking: if the problem disappears, a third‑party driver/service (AV, proxy, VPN) is likely the cause — disable/uninstall selectively.
  5. Inspect Winsock/LSP: run netsh winsock show catalog and follow Microsoft’s Winsock/TCPIP repair steps for your OS; on older Win2K installs the automatic netsh winsock reset may not be available and Microsoft’s manual registry/TCPIP reinstall procedure applies. Back up the registry first.
  6. If you need packet level proof, capture traffic with Wireshark or Microsoft Network Monitor and examine whether SYNs/replies are present. (learn.microsoft.com)

Notes and cautions: always export the registry and keep a full backup before editing Winsock keys; use vendor removal tools for stubborn security suites; after a winsock/tcpip repair you may need to reinstall some security software. If infections are suspected and cleanup is extensive, a repair/repair‑install or image restore is safer than repeated ad hoc fixes.

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Member Avatar for bentkey

It would be nice to know what operating system you are using. Can you manually disconnect your modem connection, reconnect and then get back on line without rebooting? Did you try? You can also try going to Trendmicro.com and do an online virus scan with their Free House Call. It's pretty good. Did you completely remove Norton?

Member Avatar for mweston

It would be nice to know what operating system you are using. Can you manually disconnect your modem connection, reconnect and then get back on line without rebooting? Did you try? You can also try going to Trendmicro.com and do an online virus scan with their Free House Call. It's pretty good. Did you completely remove Norton?

OK, the server is running w2k and the other PC is windows XP. I have run Free House call and cleaned the system.

I was also on the machine when the problem occured and it is wierd. I could not get into internet sites nor outlook but I was using a phone dialer from callserve. This continued to work even though all IE atempts failed and Outlook would not send/receive. I did hear what sounded like an electron ic burst through my headset approximately when IE access failed. I am now at a complete loss....... Hope you can help

Member Avatar for bentkey

Did housecall find anything? If so, what did it find? Did you try what I asked about disconnecting your modem connection and re establishing it? What was the result. You do have an unusual problem, because obviously the lower layers of tcpip connectivity are intact. Are you entering into any special encrypted or secure sessions anywhere in this, or are you just browsing the Internet.

Member Avatar for mweston

Did housecall find anything? If so, what did it find? Did you try what I asked about disconnecting your modem connection and re establishing it? What was the result. You do have an unusual problem, because obviously the lower layers of tcpip connectivity are intact. Are you entering into any special encrypted or secure sessions anywhere in this, or are you just browsing the Internet.

Housecall would not operate properly so I installed fsecure. This seems to have solved the problem by identifying some 6 viruses that Norton had failed to identify.
System now working well,


Thanks

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