[BlackHorseman]

Hi,

I connect to the Internet through my landlord's rounter, using a wireless connection. My computer - an AMD Dual Core - has Windows XP installed, with all updates. I use the Wireless Zero Configuration Utility to control my USB network device, which is a:
TNN WN4054U RALINK V3.0B

The connection has been configured to go on automatically, so when I turn my computer on it connects pretty quickly. Signal strength is sometimes good, but more often it's Low.

Still, for long stretches of time I manage to get a very good connection (been downloading at 200 KB/s and uploading at 40 KB/s). After awhile the connection will be lost. I used to right click the connection icon in the task tray and do a 'Repair', which sometimes worked. Restarting the Zero Configuration service also used to help, but lately, if I try a repair, it gets stuck (the window keeps displaying a message about shutting down the networking card, and hitting 'Cancel' has no effect). Restarting the service also get's stuck.

Only thing that works is restarting the computer. I almost always manage to connect again and stay connected for a couple of hours or more.

Any idea how I can solve this? I mean, I realize that I cannot prevent the disconnects, since the signal strength can get pretty bad at times. I only want not to have to keep restarting my computer several times a day. It is very stable in all other respects.

I'd be greatful for any help,
D.

[JohnWill]

Start with a malware scan, since it runs for awhile then slows down. That's where I'd start.

[TerryNet]

the window keeps displaying a message about shutting down the networking card

Is it always exactly the same message? What is the message (or messages)?

[BlackHorseman]

Hi,

Well, haven't done a scan in ages, so I might as well perform one now. But the connection is usually OK for awhile, then it disconnects (after a short and harsh slow-down). There is no slowing-down that is typical of malware activity.

TerryNet - what I mean is, that when I right click the connection icon in the System Tray and select 'Repair', the repair process it is supposed to invoke gets stuck at it's very first stage.

I'll scan for malware, just in case, and will let you know the result.
Thanks,
D.

[Wanderer2]

Make sure in the hardware properties of the nic that the power save feature is set to disabled. Sounds like windows is putting the card to 'sleep'

[BlackHorseman]

How do I get there?

[Wanderer2]

control panel/performance and maintenance/system and then click on the hardware tab then deviice manager then double click on your network card and go to the power management tab

[BlackHorseman]

Hi,

Well, I've performed an AdAware scan and removed all the noisome objects.

Went to the Vice Manager, double clicked my wireless card, went to the 'Advanced' tab, in 'Properties' selected 'Power Saving Mode'. Its value'd been CAM(Constantly Awake Mode). I kinda expected to find something like that, since the pattern does not fit the diagnosis - I think I've neglected to stress that the time I manage to remain connected is very irregular. Can be a few minutes, can sometimes be even a few days (though not lately, lately never managed longer than a few hours, usually in the evening-night, with a series of disconnects in the morning, when I practically can't stay connected at all).

When I get disconnected I try one of the following:

a) Right-click the icon in the System Tray and select 'Repair'. This can be the source for a lot of pain, since lately it invariably gets stuck in the first stage of the operation ('Disabling the Wireless...'). Then you cannot 'Repair' again - the 'Repair' window is a die-hard that cannot be made to leave the screen, 'Cancel' doesn't work, etc. I restart, and sometimes THIS gets stuck (in the 'Windows is shutting down' phase).

b) Restart the service (Wireless Zero Configuration Utility). Often gets stuck, and then you cannot access it, since it is in 'Stopping' mode. Does it do any good when it works? Well, sometimes it can (or used to, in the past) make the Wireless Network Connection window be more cooperative.

c) Trying to 'Refresh Network List' and then Connect to my landlady's network in the Wireless Network Connection window until my fingertips become gangrenous. Efficacy? Nil.

d) Any combination of the above, before restarting the computer, which actually helps - it automatically reconnects on load.

Just now I managed to reconnect (did c, then b, then c, then finally a worked, quite miraculously).

D.

[BlackHorseman]

Hello again,

If anybody's got any ideas about this, I'll be glad to hear them, but I think it's more or less solved. Restarting the service and then doing a 'Repair' seems to be working, and I'm successfully avoiding all those needless restarts. Plus, I think it will be possible for me to install Linux on my machine now (this makeover requires a lot of time....), and this should be it.

Hopefully no more Windose woes.
Thanks for your help,
D.

[BlackHorseman]

Hi,

Well, I was wrong.

The only thing that works is restarting the computer. The 'Repair' thingie - I don't do it anymore, for fear of retribution. Restarting the service doesn't work either. I mean, it tells you 'Unable to connect....' but if I restart the computer, it will connect.

Am I the only one here who has ever witnessed this phenomenon? Is only my Windows broken? Is WinXP a thing of the past, a worthless stone, so no one bothers with it?

No ideas?

Thanks,
D.

[JohnWill]

Please post a HijackThis 2.00.2 Log here.

[TerryNet]

Signal strength is sometimes good, but more often it's Low.

If you could improve the signal strength you may experience considerably fewer disconnects. Perhaps moving the USB adapter or getting the landlord to move the router slightly or reorienting the antenna (weaker signal along the axis than at right angles). Or maybe there is an obstruction in the signal path that could be moved.

[BlackHorseman]

TerryNet,

I'm taking the signal strength as a given - can't do any more than I've already done to improve it (the landlady was kind enough to move the router as closer as it was possible to my room, and I also moved my comp etc).

The problem is that when I do disconnect, if I try reconnecting using all the tools provided by M$, I get nowhere, usually. And when I reach the M$ Land of Nowhere, I restart my machine (an operations that doesn't come too easily these days, since I must issue the command to restart several times before it is carried out, and in some cases the computer hangs shutting down, and a reset is required).

And restarting gets me connected again in more than 60% of the cases. ONLY restarting. And THIS is my problem.

HT Log:
============================================
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 15:34:57, on 7/20/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Boot mode: Normal

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:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RunDLL32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\FinePixViewer\QuickDCF.exe
C:\Program Files\RALINK\Common\RaUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Azureus\Azureus.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Notepad.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
E:\root\Software\HijackThis\HijackThis_2.00.2\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://google.icq.com/search/search_frame.php
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R3 - URLSearchHook: Nexus Radio Toolbar - {2462d2d8-b36e-44ab-84bf-c5a9383d2429} - C:\Program Files\Nexus_Radio\tbNex0.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Nexus Radio Toolbar - {2462d2d8-b36e-44ab-84bf-c5a9383d2429} - C:\Program Files\Nexus_Radio\tbNex0.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Nexus Radio Toolbar - {2462d2d8-b36e-44ab-84bf-c5a9383d2429} - C:\Program Files\Nexus_Radio\tbNex0.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SkyTel] SkyTel.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [REGSHAVE] C:\Program Files\REGSHAVE\REGSHAVE.EXE /AUTORUN
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [BitTorrent] "C:\Program Files\BitTorrent\bittorrent.exe" --force_start_minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [igndlm.exe] C:\Program Files\IGN\Download Manager\DLM.exe /windowsstart /startifwork
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Exif Launcher.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Ralink Wireless Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\RALINK\Common\RaUI.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: PokerStars - {3AD14F0C-ED16-4e43-B6D8-661B03F6A1EF} - C:\Program Files\PokerStars\PokerStarsUpdate.exe
O9 - Extra button: ICQ6 - {E59EB121-F339-4851-A3BA-FE49C35617C2} - C:\Program Files\ICQ6\ICQ.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ6 - {E59EB121-F339-4851-A3BA-FE49C35617C2} - C:\Program Files\ICQ6\ICQ.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {2E4A92AB-F2C0-456A-9935-B715439790D7} (Setup Class) - https://www.opinionsquare.com/Config/CSetup_xp.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (CDownloadCtrl Object) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/ca..._2.3.2.100.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1165024694253
O16 - DPF: {CF40ACC5-E1BB-4AFF-AC72-04C2F616BCA7} (get_atlcom Class) - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/nos/gp.cab
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\Program,Files\OpinionSquare\opai.dll,C:\Program,Files\OpinionSquare\opai .dll,C:\Program Files\OpinionSquare\opai.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

--
End of file - 6498 bytes

============================================

Thanks,
D.

[JohnWill]

Nothing jumps out at me from your log except this site: www.opinionsquare.com I'd lose that one...

[BlackHorseman]

I'll delete it then, thanks.