[dannyyoung]

I use a laptop to run Serato DJ software and a Compaq Evo D51U PC for streaming my audio on the web. The PC has no wireless card so I use a Linksys Wireless-B 2.4Ghz 802.11b Network Adapter, connected via USB.

Every now and then the wireless connection on the PC drops. This doesn't happen on the laptop, which sits right next to it, so I am wondering what the cause of this could be?

The PC spec is 1.9Ghz, 1.2GB RAM, 20GB HDD. Can anyone help? This is a problem as it is causing interrupts to my audio stream, which is for internet radio...

Each time the connection drops it is (of course) without warning, and it requires a manual reconnection.

Thanks for reading

[~Candy~]

I would think that hardwired would be a better way to go.

[dannyyoung]

Cool - how do I go about getting hardwired, is this something I can buy?

[~Candy~]

Do you have a router? Or modem?

[dannyyoung]

Aah I see what you mean. Yes I have a router, but the reason I am using wireless is that the only telephone socket connection is at the other end of my flat, in the living room, the PC and laptop are in my music studio... so connecting via a cable is going to be a problem. Is there another workaround, could this be driver related or something different?

[~Candy~]

I can't imagine that the laptop would have that much better connection luck doing something like that, unless the specs on that machine are way better than the one you posted.

[dannyyoung]

My laptop specs are P4 3.0Ghz, 2GB RAM, 80GB HDD, and the wireless card is built in. I agree, surely both machines should connect, and stay connected, unless there is a problem on my Evo desktop. Is there any troubleshooting I could go through?

[~Candy~]

Be sure you have nothing else running in the background. Especially memory and cpu intensive programs. No messenger programs, etc. I've got to run out for a bit, I'll check on you later.

You might post a Hijack This log (see instructions in malware forum, first thread) but, post results here, so we can see what is actually running and starting.

[dannyyoung]

OK well if it helps I ran a speedtest and the results were 4083kb/s download and 276kb/s upload, which seems fine to me. I will boot the PC now and simulate what is running when I broadcast (ie. what needs to be running) and then post a Hijack this log - thanks for your help so far!

[dannyyoung]

OK here is the Hijack This log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 09:16:26, on 22/10/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16735)
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:\Program Files\The Skins Factory\Hyperdesk\Common\HDThemeEnabler.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgrsx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.exe
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.bin
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WLLoginProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\SpacialAudio\SimpleCast\SimpleCast.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=74005
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\4.1.509.5470\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: &Google Toolbar - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: OpenOffice.org 3.0.lnk = C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\quickstart.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.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
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgpp.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Free8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG\AVG8\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: HauppaugeTVServer - Hauppauge Computer Works - C:\PROGRA~1\WinTV\HCWTVS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: Hyperdesk Theme Enabler (HdThemeEnabler) - The Skins Factory, Inc. - C:\Program Files\The Skins Factory\Hyperdesk\Common\HDThemeEnabler.exe

--
End of file - 5980 bytes

If anyone can point me to anything that shouldn't be running, things I can disable etc. to make the wireless connection more stable that would be great. As per my previous post, there are a couple of things that have to run - Internet Explorer and Simplecast. Preferably MSN Messenger as well as this is sometimes used for communication.

Please let me know if you need any more info!

Thanks

[~Candy~]

How full is that 20 gig hard drive?

I think I'd turn off

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - Startup: OpenOffice.org 3.0.lnk = C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\quickstart.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe


Also, for a test, shut down Messenger.

[dannyyoung]

The 20GB drive is about 2/3 full, that should be enough shouldn't it?

And also - how do I turn off those services?

Thanks for responding!

[~Candy~]

Start, run, msconfig, startup tab.

First off, the 20 gig drive runs slower, it's old. Not sure if empty space is an issue, but, I'm almost certain that a newer bigger hard drive should help.

We'll see if others have any opinions. I'll beckon some hardware guys.

[Wino]

Just a quicky - I think the PC problem is the USB antenna reception. If your PC is on the floor, try raising to a table top to see if it improves. An expensive but viable option is a WRE54G signal booster or may be cheaper would be 14db gain antenna set for your router (cheaper and worth a try). Also I would think your reception would be much better with a PCI card with antenna (like a Belkin PCI with long wire antenna).

OK, back to Aca - over and out.

[dannyyoung]

Thanks for the response Wino - both the laptop and the PC are on top of a desk. The laptop has no problems with internet connection, whereas the PC does have, but they are both next to each other on top of the desk. I'll certainly look into pricing on the other options you mentioned, and thanks for the advice!