Losing connection to net after 10 -15 minutes

[karatelovr]

I did do a search for my problem, but didn't find anything exactly like I was experiencing.

Just recently (yesterday) I've been dropping my internet connection every 10 - 20 minutes. If I right click on my local area connection and choose "repair" it fixes itself and works for a few more minutes. This gets annoying when I'm logged onto AOL or playing an online game. I've run AdAware, Spybot, and Spy Dr, as well as scanned with McAfee. Everything is fine.

I am running Windows XP, and connect via DSL (with Verizon - bastards, but that's besides the point). My nic is whatever came with my Dell Dimension 3 years ago. Here is my hijackthis log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 7:39:54 PM, on 5/1/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

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:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\111076~1\EE\AOLHOS~1.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\111076~1\EE\AOLServiceHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\tcpsvcs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\snmp.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsftsn.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: PCTools Site Guard - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdsg.dll
O2 - BHO: PCTools Browser Monitor - {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Adaptec\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1110763334\EE\AOLHostManager.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOL Spyware Protection] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Pure Networks Port Magic] "C:\PROGRA~1\PURENE~1\PORTMA~1\PortAOL.exe" -Run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcupdate.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AOL Fast Start] "C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\AOL.EXE" -b
O4 - Startup: Chris Sawyer's Locomotion Registration.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Amy A. Dowell\Local Settings\Temp\{2E0FE56E-CBB5-4208-BA1F-80459694FB5B}\{77F45E76-E897-42CA-A9FE-5F56817D875C}\ATR1.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar search - res://C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O16 - DPF: 6th Street Omaha Poker by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/omaha/omaha-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Aces Up! by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/aces/aces-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Blackjack by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.27/blackjack/blackjack-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Canasta by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.27/canasta/canasta-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Chess by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/chess2/chess2-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Cribbage by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/cribbage/cribbage-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: First Class Solitaire by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.4.22/solitaire2/solitaire2-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Harvest Mania by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/harvest/harvest-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Hearts by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.27/hearts/hearts-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: High Stakes Poker by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.4.29/drawpoker/drawpoker-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Jigsaw Detective by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/jigsaw/jigsaw-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Jungle Gin by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.27/gin/gin-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Lottso by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/lottso/lottso-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Mah Jong Garden by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.4.29/mahjong/mahjong-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Pai Gow by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.34/paigow/paigow-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Payday FreeCell by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.4.22/freecell/freecell-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Pebble Beach Golf by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.0.30/pebble/pebble-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Pop Fu by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.4.22/popfu/popfu-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Poppit by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.34/poppit2/poppit2-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Showbiz Slots by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.0.37/slots/showbiz-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Spider Solitaire by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.1.27/spider/spider-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Squelchies by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/squelchies/squelchies-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Sweet Tooth TM by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.0.37/sweettooth/sweettooth-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Texas Hold'em Poker by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.2.0.30/holdem/holdem-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Tri-Peaks by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.21/peaks/peaks-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: Tumble Bees by pogo - http://game1.pogo.com/applet-6.1.5.28/jumbee/jumbee-ob-assets.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1110840652185
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - America Online - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
O23 - Service: AOL TopSpeed Monitor (AOL TopSpeedMonitor) - America Online, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
O23 - Service: IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service (ImapiService) - Roxio Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\System32\ImapiRox.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com McShield (McShield) - Unknown owner - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SecurityCenter Update Manager (mcupdmgr.exe) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com VirusScan Online Realtime Engine (MCVSRte) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe

[DMR]

I'll just put out the fact that downloading/playing online games is a good way to get loaded up with adware and spyware, but that said, I don't see any obvious "nasties" in your log.

A few thoughts:

1. Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administratve Tools control panel and look through the Application and System logs to see if you can find any event messages/warnings/errors in those logs which might give us clues as to the reason for the disconnects.

2. Maybe your modem has glitched: power down both the computer and the modem, leaving both off for 30 seconds or more. Turn on the modem again and give it a minute or two to go through its power-up tests; reboot the computer after that and see if the problem has gone away.

3. Does the problem occur when using AOL's browser only, or does it happen when you're using Internet Explorer as well?

[karatelovr]

I'll just put out the fact that downloading/playing online games is a good way to get loaded up with adware and spyware, but that said, I don't see any obvious "nasties" in your log.

<snipped>

3. Does the problem occur when using AOL's browser only, or does it happen when you're using Internet Explorer as well?

Actually, pogo has never given me any real problems...now my husband uses WinMX and THAT'S the REAL nasty!! I run AdAware constantly b/c of him!

But anyway, the problem occured any time I was using the net - be it AOL to check my mail, chat online, or through IE to surf (I don't use AOL as a browser - email only).

However, I did a system restore to one day prior (said husband had added a new game - fresh out of the box, but who knows, maybe that caused it). The restore took puter back before game was installed and now seems to be working. If he installs it again and I get the same problem, well, guess I'll have found the source!

Tx!!

[DMR]

If he installs it again and I get the same problem, well, guess I'll have found the source!

I'd say that would be a good assumption, yes. :D

[karatelovr]

It's happening again, and I've installed NOTHING new. Why am I losing connection????

[DMR]

Something I suggested before:

Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administratve Tools control panel and look through the Application and System logs to see if you can find any event messages/warnings/errors in those logs which might give us clues as to the reason for the disconnects.

[karatelovr]

Something I suggested before:

Open the Event Viewer utility in your Administratve Tools control panel and look through the Application and System logs to see if you can find any event messages/warnings/errors in those logs which might give us clues as to the reason for the disconnects.

OK, I'm doing this, but I don't really know what I'm looking for. I see "warning" and "error" but what do I do to correct it?

[DMR]

If you double-click on any of the entries in the logs, an Event Properties window will open, and that window will contain details of the entry.

The top portion of the Properties window contains information such as the time the event occured, the event's ID number, and the source of the error (the "source" identifies the specific component of Windows that actually generated the log entry). Below that will be a text description of the event (which may also contain rather cryptic-looking error codes).

Look through the error/warning messages to see if you can determine which ones might relate to networking. You said that the disconnect happens every 10-15 minutes, so I'd expect that you'll find the same error messages repeating themselves at about that interval. If you find entries which appear relevant to your problem, post the following info from their Properties windows here:

- the Time
- the Source
- the Event ID
- the full and exact text of the Description

Having that information will help us pinpoint the cause of the connection drops.