Page 1 of Help with broadband/xp please?

Okay, I`m using broadband on my PC with windows XP.
I am not sure of the system spec but I know that the processor isn`t up to much.

The problem is while i`m using broadband, the connection appears to drop out. All pages I try to access come up with the `Page Can`t Be Displayed` page, and all downloads quit. Essentially, the connection breaks, but still shows as connected on the task bar. The result is I have to terminate the connection, close down all broadband tasks, unplug the bb modem and start again.
It works fine on other pc`s, just not my desktop.
Anyone got any ideas on how I can sort this out???

Cheers
Johnboy

Sounds weird,how much ram is onboard.
have you got firewall protection,could be a virus planted on your system.
give us some specs plz

How you connecting the broadband adapter to the PC, USB or via a net card ?

Could be a number of problems - have you run any updates of XP - what sort of modem is it ? From what you have said - sounds like the connection is still connecting to the exchange - the modem is still on but you can`t get to web pages ?
You can try to resolve through here but I would suggest that you use http://www.adslguide.org.uk - go the message boards and post your problem, an excellent site for any broadband problems - will be far quicker.

Regards,
Peter

This item was edited on Saturday, 5th July 2003, 11:59

Cheers for this chaps - a little more info for you.
128Mb of ram,
Intel Celeron processor
467Mhz,
9 g hard drive with about 61/2g free space
The modem is Intel Anypoint dsl modem and is connected via USB.

Peter, the problem is pretty much exactly like that,


Cheers
Johnboy

Johnboy - could be your USB modem sucking too much power and the motherboard shuts it down - but this is unlikely if as you say the modem is still powered up. More likely an update or installed software has wrecked your DUN ( dial up networking )settings.
Give your ISP support a ring - who are you with (?) - but if it is as above you`re better off using ADSLGuide - lets know how you get on.

Regards
Peter

Could be the chipset. It is a well known problem with USB modems.

found the below text for you at http://forums.networknews.co.uk/thread.jsp?forum=2&thread=1692

USB host controller problem.
Almost all PC chipsets have a single USB host controller which provides a maximum of 500mA of current sourcing at best -- shared by all ports. When high current draw devices such as printers, scanners or bus-powered peripherals are connected, these USB host controllers may have insufficient power to operate correctly. To be technical, they may not ramp their output fast enough to enable the attach signalling to complete handshaking within the required time frame. This is a common cause of unrecognised USB peripherals, USB glitches and dropped USB driver problems on Windows PCs. Non-Intel chipsets are particularly problematic in this regard, as described in `The VIA USB Problems Keep Filtering Through`:
http://www.usbnews.net/news/via_usb_filter_driver_110.htm
Quote: "USB has never been a strong suit for any non-Intel based motherboard. Onboard USB 1.1 function is controlled by the Southbridge of a motherboards chipset. Therefore, Intel boards have Intel USB host controllers and VIA boards have VIA USB host controllers etc.. All newer AMD systems use motherboards with either VIA, ALi, SiS or AMD chipsets. VIA is, by far, the most popular among these platforms and as such, the most problematic.
[...snip...]
Unfortunately, far too many of these screaming, new, highly rated, overclockable, AMD systems are plagued by their inability to provide proper connectivity for USB game controllers, scanners, printers, cameras, modems or even optical mice."
[...snip...]
Making matters worse, VIA has never admitted to having a problem with USB. Alas, the forum boards tell a different story. The USB-IF Public Forum and USBMan Q&A Forum are replete with pleadings from VIA system owners with USB maladies. USBMan even has a special page dedicated to VIA USB.
[...snip...]
From the credit where it`s due department: SiS and ALi are equally troublesome when it comes to respective onboard USB offerings. Neither has provided a fix or acknowledges the problem."

Hardware solutions.
Possible remedies are to disconnect other USB devices, to use a shorter USB cable which presents a lower capacitive load, to connect via a self-powered hub (not suitable for modems), or to fit one of the quality USB cards recommended by USBMan under `PCI / USB 1.1 Cards Tested and Approved`:
http://www.usbman.com/Guides/Upgrade%20Card%20Manufacturers.htm

Alternatively, fit a FireWire card and choose FireWire peripherals where possible. FireWire offers better performance and as a peer-to-peer bus technology it makes less demand on the computer`s processor.

Some recent PCs and all Apple Macs (except early tray-loading iMac models) have dual-channel USB providing a total of 24 Mbps bandwidth and one amp of current. Macs use separate OPTi USB chips and rarely have problems with USB.

Windows-USB compatibility issues.
As ever with the Windows PC there are dozens of compatibility issues surrounding USB. Some may be resolved by installing an updated chipset driver or filter. For details of those and possible fixes for other problems see the relevant sections for your `Operating System` and `Host Type` (chipset) at USBMan:
http://www.usbman.com/
Windows XP is particularly problematic. For a list of over 80 articles, see `Known Issues - Microsoft Knowledge Base and Other General Troubleshooting Issues` under `Windows XP USB Guide`:
http://www.usbman.com/winxpusbguide.htm

The Windows PC suffers greatly from having different companies responsible for the hardware and another for the operating system. Like our railways, it`s a recipe for complex interoperability issues and poor reliability.

Quote: "Microsoft makes the software in hopes that the people who make the hardware actually know what they`re doing, and Compaq, Dell, Gateway and all the other companies that make the hardware hope that Microsoft knows what it`s doing.
Yeah. Right. Let`s get real. If you`ve tried to get your Windows PC to behave itself lately, you know that nobody is actually in charge on the Windows side of things. Dell blames Microsoft, Microsoft blames Gateway, and the store where you bought the Windows PC blames you."
From: `What you get when you buy a modern Mac`:
http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/tec032402.html

This item was edited on Saturday, 5th July 2003, 13:05

Cheers chaps, this is greatly appreciated.
I`ll look into the above and let you know how it goes.

Cheers
Johnboy

I would say that you need a network card as USB connections can give alot of trouble.
you say it works okay on other systems,is that connection by USB also?

luckily ethrenet 10/100 cards are cheap and you should be able to pick one up for around a fiver.

first thing i would try is to ditch the usb connection.

This item was edited on Saturday, 5th July 2003, 18:48

Dodgy phone Filter Or a problem at the exchange? :)