Funny Broadband Problems

westy · Post by **westy** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 11:01 am

I am using charter.net for a cable provider and have been having some really strange problems lately. Hopefully, one of you folks can help with a fix.
Lately, it seems like after I open up my browser for a minute or two, my connection disappears, and I get the network settings error. I am using a Com21 modem (from charter) and a RT314 Netgear router. I don't think it's the modem or the router, because the computer upstairs is connecting fine, and all the lights are operating normally. If I go into control panel/network and check properties of the SMC brand NIC card and TCP/IP SMC settings, my computer usally askes for the W98 S.E. disc looking for a file "secur32.dll". I point it to C:WINDOWS/SYSTEM, and it loads the file and reboots. After the reboot, I open explorer and it runs fine for one or two minutes and I lose the connection again or I am unable to connect at all. I've tried unistalling explorer thinking it might be the problem, but the earlier version on my computer does the same thing. I had downloaded, installed and uninstalled both Wirard modem and Ispeed, and was wondering if some settings got lost or re-written somehow when I uninstalled them. Could my CAT5 cable or my network card be messing up ? I do have a different card that I was going to try tonight for starters.
Could someone give me an idea of what they think might be wrong, or the steps I should use to rule out some of the software or hardware possibilities ?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated !!

Kip Patterson · Post by **Kip Patterson** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 1:29 pm

You might want to consider the possibility that you have a virus or a trojan since the systems seems to be losing touch with the Microsoft Security DLL.

Kip Patterson

westy · Post by **westy** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 1:34 pm

Kip,

If a virus was the case, would updating my DAT's and running a complete system scan find the problem ?

Thanks

bobby123456789 · Post by **bobby123456789** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 3:41 pm

I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM LIKE THAT. AND I FIGURED OUT MY PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY NIC CARD. SOMETIMES JUST REPLAING THE ETHERNET CARD FIXES THE PROBLEM. ALSO SOUNDS LIKE YOUR COMPUTER IS LOSING ITS IP ADDRESS AND NOT BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE DOHC SERVERS, OR WHATEVER THE SERVERS ARE CALLED, BECAUSE ITS LOSING ITS IP ADDRESS. TRY RENEWING YOUR IP ADDRESS ON THE OTHER COMPUTER AND ALSO ON THIS ONE IF THEY ARE LINKED, IF THAT FAILS TRY A NEW NIC ETHERNET 10/100 BY INTEL WORKS GREAT AND ITS ONLY 50 BUX.

westy · Post by **westy** » Mon Feb 05, 2001 8:43 pm

I just thought I'd post an update for all you helpful folks out there. I came home tonight ready to install a new NIC and found my wife's computer locked up with an odd screen on it. I re-booted her's and came downstairs and woke mine up. TA-DA ! No porblem with accessing the net and no network messages. Near as I came figure out, the other computer somehow locked up the router (or something) and wouldn't allow me access. I might be out in left field, but I'm just glad to be back up and running. Oh yea, by the way, her's works fine after the re-boot too. Maybe I'm just "wishful thinking". I'll keep you posted. If you've ever seen what I'm suggesting -or- if you think I'm crazy (for those of you who are real techs) please let me know.

Thanks again for the help !

crocker1 · Post by **crocker1** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 12:32 am

are the two puters networked? do you have two ip's? did you try without the router?
and how did you make out with the other nic card?

glc1 · Post by **glc1** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 12:49 am

Go ahead and try your other NIC.

westy · Post by **westy** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 12:59 am

The two are not networked other than the router. I tried doing the print share thing but never got it working correctly. Too many differesnt settings !! NETBEUI, TCP/IP and all.......

I did not try it with the modem hooked directly to my computer without the router. I am going to try the new card tonight. I also read on the forum that perhaps I should unistall/re-install Zone Alarm. Sounds like others have had simular problems like this. I should have left well enough alone but had to try to speed up the broadband. Ever heard of a NIC card going funky like this ? I figured it was either working or not. It almost appears like the thing is switching on and off (if it is the card).