Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection.

ukonline · 03-20-2007, 06:31 PM

Hi,

Hope someone can help with this.

I cannot use the internet anymore, at least most of the time I can't.

My setup:

Acer Travelmate 243x
Laptop PC
Windows XP Home
256 MB DDR SDRAM

Installed Security Software:

Adaware and Spybot S & D
Zonealarm

Modem:

Agere Systems AC97 Modem.

I'm on a dial-up and lately, the connection either works fine or goes very
slow and hangs.

It seems to be getting worse.

Typically, I'll get the message "Finding site xyz.com:" in the lower left of IE and then "Page Cannot Be Displayed" in the main browser window. Then I have to disconnect and dial up again. I might have to do this a few times before I can web browse at all and then I might be able to browse for a few minutes, or an hour...there is no consistency.

First noticed this problem a couple of months ago. I don't recall doing
anything in particular beforehand except buying quite a few PDF reports
from an internet marketing forum. No exe's were purchased though that I can think of, just text documents.

Using Internet Explorer 6, but have the same problem if I use Mozilla Firefox.

Have not had any problems like this in the last 2 years and have been using
the same ISP, UTV Internet. I've phoned them, and they say nothing wrong
their end, but it might be a bad phone line.

But I'm having the same problem in a different location, so it must be the
laptop system?

I've bought a new phone cable, but that makes no difference.

I'd really appreciate some help.

:-)

Brian.

**Chode** · 03-20-2007, 09:20 PM

The thing about Internet connection problems, particularly with dialup, it that about 95% aren't related to your computer. Line quality can be a problem, and so can the quality of switches and number thereof through which your connection passes.

More likely, though, your ISP just lacks sufficient capacity in server capability and line availability to meet demand. Perhaps your ISP even has modems that don't work particularly well with your brand. When your ISP's tech support says they don't have a hardware problem, that may be strictly true in the sense that nothing is malfunctioning. That isn't the same thing as having an adequate infrastructure to support demand. Admitting this would be tantamount to saying, "our service sucks".

Dialup services have become low-end providers, they struggle to make money. You shouldn't expect too much.

**hwm54112** · 03-20-2007, 10:47 PM

You are missing a key component-anti-virus software. Try AVG free.

Try using different dialup access numbers.

Disable Z/a and try going to safe sites -ie: google, ebay, etc to eliminate Z/a as the issue. You can also try connecting through messenger , outlook express, windows explorer to see if it's a firewall issue

Try Opera as a browser. It is faster than IE and looks much the same

See if you can specify a differerent DNS server

ukonline · 03-25-2007, 09:12 AM

Thanks.

I've disabled Z/A and that helps.

But now I'm getting a similar problem. I lose
connection to the internet completely, but
the icon lower right indicates that I'm still
connected. (The icon with the 2 computers).

If I try to reconnect, the dialog box just
appears for a fraction of a second.

I then have to reboot to dial up again.

If I try to put the system into standby, I get
an error message saying "agere modem driver is
preventing the system from going into standby....
if the problem persists you may need to update
your modem driver".

So maybe I should do this?

But how?

:-)

Brian.

**Chode** · 03-25-2007, 03:42 PM

Shop for a new ISP.

candyspaw · 04-01-2007, 07:52 AM

Yo Brian,
This may be more commiseration than tech support, but I have a similiar problem. Try this: get up at 5:00am on Sunday morning and dial in. I find speeds are greatly improved and I have no connection problems. Distance from the telephone switching station combined with heavy traffic, line conditions and overload at the ISP seems to do me. No wireless broadband? Ntelos has some availability. Look for a coverage map on their site for wireless. Donb

ukonline · 04-01-2007, 08:00 AM

Thanks everyone.

When I deactivate ZA, I can surf just fine but then after a while a box pops up saying something about host services for win32...and I have to reboot and dial up again.

With ZA activated, I don't get that...I just surf for a while and then websites don't respond.

Brian.

03-20-2007, 06:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
ukonline Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. Hi, Hope someone can help with this. I cannot use the internet anymore, at least most of the time I can't. My setup: Acer Travelmate 243x Laptop PC Windows XP Home 256 MB DDR SDRAM Installed Security Software: Adaware and Spybot S & D Zonealarm Modem: Agere Systems AC97 Modem. I'm on a dial-up and lately, the connection either works fine or goes very slow and hangs. It seems to be getting worse. Typically, I'll get the message "Finding site xyz.com:" in the lower left of IE and then "Page Cannot Be Displayed" in the main browser window. Then I have to disconnect and dial up again. I might have to do this a few times before I can web browse at all and then I might be able to browse for a few minutes, or an hour...there is no consistency. First noticed this problem a couple of months ago. I don't recall doing anything in particular beforehand except buying quite a few PDF reports from an internet marketing forum. No exe's were purchased though that I can think of, just text documents. Using Internet Explorer 6, but have the same problem if I use Mozilla Firefox. Have not had any problems like this in the last 2 years and have been using the same ISP, UTV Internet. I've phoned them, and they say nothing wrong their end, but it might be a bad phone line. But I'm having the same problem in a different location, so it must be the laptop system? I've bought a new phone cable, but that makes no difference. I'd really appreciate some help. :-) Brian.

03-20-2007, 09:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chode TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,280 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. The thing about Internet connection problems, particularly with dialup, it that about 95% aren't related to your computer. Line quality can be a problem, and so can the quality of switches and number thereof through which your connection passes. More likely, though, your ISP just lacks sufficient capacity in server capability and line availability to meet demand. Perhaps your ISP even has modems that don't work particularly well with your brand. When your ISP's tech support says they don't have a hardware problem, that may be strictly true in the sense that nothing is malfunctioning. That isn't the same thing as having an adequate infrastructure to support demand. Admitting this would be tantamount to saying, "our service sucks". Dialup services have become low-end providers, they struggle to make money. You shouldn't expect too much. __________________ Sweet!

03-20-2007, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Re: Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. You are missing a key component-anti-virus software. Try AVG free. Try using different dialup access numbers. Disable Z/a and try going to safe sites -ie: google, ebay, etc to eliminate Z/a as the issue. You can also try connecting through messenger , outlook express, windows explorer to see if it's a firewall issue Try Opera as a browser. It is faster than IE and looks much the same See if you can specify a differerent DNS server

03-25-2007, 09:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
ukonline Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Re: Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. Thanks. I've disabled Z/A and that helps. But now I'm getting a similar problem. I lose connection to the internet completely, but the icon lower right indicates that I'm still connected. (The icon with the 2 computers). If I try to reconnect, the dialog box just appears for a fraction of a second. I then have to reboot to dial up again. If I try to put the system into standby, I get an error message saying "agere modem driver is preventing the system from going into standby.... if the problem persists you may need to update your modem driver". So maybe I should do this? But how? :-) Brian.

03-25-2007, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chode TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,280 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. Shop for a new ISP. __________________ Sweet!

04-01-2007, 07:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
candyspaw Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11 OS: XP home sp-2	Re: Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. Yo Brian, This may be more commiseration than tech support, but I have a similiar problem. Try this: get up at 5:00am on Sunday morning and dial in. I find speeds are greatly improved and I have no connection problems. Distance from the telephone switching station combined with heavy traffic, line conditions and overload at the ISP seems to do me. No wireless broadband? Ntelos has some availability. Look for a coverage map on their site for wireless. Donb

04-01-2007, 08:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
ukonline Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Re: Intermittent Slow/Hanging Dial Up Connection. Thanks everyone. When I deactivate ZA, I can surf just fine but then after a while a box pops up saying something about host services for win32...and I have to reboot and dial up again. With ZA activated, I don't get that...I just surf for a while and then websites don't respond. Brian.