Cdeg
asked on
Internet Explorer Stops Loading Pages after 10 Minutes
This is the most confusing problem I've ever encountered. I was called to check out a Win98 laptop because of problems connecting to the internet. It has a cable broadband connection through a PCMCIA network card. Basically, once the laptop loads up you can browse the internet using IE (latest version and all security fixes). After approx. 10 minutes, IE stops loading pages (you see the status bar moving, but it "Cannot Find Page"). When I send a ping request to google.com, I receive a reply. So the internet connection is working, but IE wasn't loading. It would load again when I reboot the machine (of course, until 10 minutes pass).
So I brought the laptop to my job, wiped it clean, reinstalled Win98, all the updates, the latest IE, etc... I was on the internet with no problems at work, for at least four hours. I bring it back, test it out and everything seemed fine. Two days later I get a call that its showing the same problem again. Road Runner (the ISP) says that the cable modem tests find, that it must be the computer. Now, if I reformatted this thing, there's no spyware, there's no virus, it's clean as can be, what in the world can it be? I'm lost for answers at this point and this is my last result. Has anyone else ran across any problems like this because this is getting frustrated. Especially since I dedicated two days to fix this laptop and I had it working only for it to return to its problematic state. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
(P.S., I tried a new network card also, that didn't help. The next thing I might try to do is to bring another laptop to connect to the cable modem to make sure RR isn't BSing.) This is a really difficult problem (I would say because I can solve most problems without any research, and I've done much researching on this issue) so I'm rating it at 500 points. Please provide any suggestions you guys might think is relevant. Thanks in advance.
So I brought the laptop to my job, wiped it clean, reinstalled Win98, all the updates, the latest IE, etc... I was on the internet with no problems at work, for at least four hours. I bring it back, test it out and everything seemed fine. Two days later I get a call that its showing the same problem again. Road Runner (the ISP) says that the cable modem tests find, that it must be the computer. Now, if I reformatted this thing, there's no spyware, there's no virus, it's clean as can be, what in the world can it be? I'm lost for answers at this point and this is my last result. Has anyone else ran across any problems like this because this is getting frustrated. Especially since I dedicated two days to fix this laptop and I had it working only for it to return to its problematic state. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
(P.S., I tried a new network card also, that didn't help. The next thing I might try to do is to bring another laptop to connect to the cable modem to make sure RR isn't BSing.) This is a really difficult problem (I would say because I can solve most problems without any research, and I've done much researching on this issue) so I'm rating it at 500 points. Please provide any suggestions you guys might think is relevant. Thanks in advance.
ASKER
Good suggestion, but I tried that also to no avail.
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>>Now, if I reformatted this thing, there's no spyware
yes, when you tested it, but then they had it for two days, could have gotten spyware in that time, check to be sure
yes, when you tested it, but then they had it for two days, could have gotten spyware in that time, check to be sure
ASKER
Not a bad idea Zee although I don't think it'll help. I'll make sure to try though. And I had it checked again for spyware, it's still clean.
I had a similar problems except the 10 minute factor was not there.
I was able to ping the ISP. The ISP could ping the compter but could not get to the Lan card. I moved the card to another slot and it worked. Now from here mine differs: The lan card stopped functioning in the new position and thus I replaced the Lan card.
Another time, I was able to ping the ISP. But when they pinged the PC, they lost about 90 percent of the signal.
Hopefully these comments may be the seed to a resolution.
I was able to ping the ISP. The ISP could ping the compter but could not get to the Lan card. I moved the card to another slot and it worked. Now from here mine differs: The lan card stopped functioning in the new position and thus I replaced the Lan card.
Another time, I was able to ping the ISP. But when they pinged the PC, they lost about 90 percent of the signal.
Hopefully these comments may be the seed to a resolution.
SOLUTION
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Just for additional info.
Check for open ports, etc using an https server:
https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
Test for Zombies or Spybots:
http://www.grc.com/dos/grcdos.htm
Do an "Edit > Find on this page" > and search for the first instance of "netstat".
Read the command line syntax.
Check for open ports, etc using an https server:
https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
Test for Zombies or Spybots:
http://www.grc.com/dos/grcdos.htm
Do an "Edit > Find on this page" > and search for the first instance of "netstat".
Read the command line syntax.
you can : test it at your shop (where it worked) extensively. If this is the case, it would be the modem, or the connection failing.
ASKER
That's what I figured, the cable modem is failing at some point. But RR is swearing up and down that its the computer (but who knows if they're telling the truth). As for the LAN card, like I said I had instructed her to purchase a new card and both cards exhibit the same results afterwards.
The Java system is the old Microsoft Java Virtual Machine. I didn't see a new to update to the Real Sun Java VM. Not sure if that'll help my situation, but I guess I could try. There are no resident memory ad-blockers, virus software, or firewall.
If I could run a bandwitdh test I would at the point. However, the page does not load. Also, it's a Win98 machine, what ports aren't open would be the better question! :) And for further clarification, I had it running in an office network for 5 hours without any issues or disruptions in internet connection.
The Java system is the old Microsoft Java Virtual Machine. I didn't see a new to update to the Real Sun Java VM. Not sure if that'll help my situation, but I guess I could try. There are no resident memory ad-blockers, virus software, or firewall.
If I could run a bandwitdh test I would at the point. However, the page does not load. Also, it's a Win98 machine, what ports aren't open would be the better question! :) And for further clarification, I had it running in an office network for 5 hours without any issues or disruptions in internet connection.
The reason I asked whether it was Microsoft Java VM or the Sun Java Runtime Environment was because of what you have just witnessed when that page didn't load. There are more and more sites relying on content that Java VM won't load, and they do hang the pages for a while as they try to do so.
That was also the basis for my query about whether the pages on the sites accessed are playing music in the background, have a lot of Ads to display, and perhaps have a lot of images to load. It was just a possibility, and would be eliminated by disabling the loading of images and media content.
The Open Ports query was to eliminate the possibility of a Trojan or Bot leaving a port open, and then consuming bandwidth while it awaited instruction or gave feedback to the Mother Bot :-)
That was also the basis for my query about whether the pages on the sites accessed are playing music in the background, have a lot of Ads to display, and perhaps have a lot of images to load. It was just a possibility, and would be eliminated by disabling the loading of images and media content.
The Open Ports query was to eliminate the possibility of a Trojan or Bot leaving a port open, and then consuming bandwidth while it awaited instruction or gave feedback to the Mother Bot :-)
ASKER
So if you think maybe if I install Sun's Java VM, it'll help the situation. Bear in mind, it's the same results on sites that don't have java content too. I can't see how that would get in the way for all sites, but at this point everything is a suspect.
I don't recall an option to remove MS's Java VM, so should I manually try to rip it or do you think Sun's install will take care of that.
I don't recall an option to remove MS's Java VM, so should I manually try to rip it or do you think Sun's install will take care of that.
can you test it it with another modem?
ASKER
Well the cable provider is expected to be there Monday to test that theory (who knows if they'll show).
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ASKER
Yeah, I'm beginning to think there is no solution, however what can fix it if a wipe out didn't!
I'm still waiting to see what RR had to say, I'll update when I get word.
I'm still waiting to see what RR had to say, I'll update when I get word.
Here is some more information resulting from some tests with netstat after rebooting (celine, vivianne and paulathome are all machines on the local network):
Result of netstat -a immediately after reboot:
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP celine:1028 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1025 BOX3:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1026 BOX2:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1028 crl.verisign.com:80 ESTABLISHED
TCP celine:137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:138 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:nbsession CELINE:0 LISTENING
UDP celine:nbname *:*
UDP celine:nbdatagram *:*
Result of netstat -a immediately after throwing up IE5 www.google.co.uk home page (straight after reboot):
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP celine:1028 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1046 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1043 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1044 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1025 BOX3:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1026 BOX2:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1028 crl.verisign.com:80 CLOSE_WAIT
TCP celine:1046 66.102.9.99:80 ESTABLISHED
TCP celine:137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:138 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:nbsession CELINE:0 LISTENING
UDP celine:1044 *:*
UDP celine:nbname *:*
UDP celine:nbdatagram *:*
Result of netstat -a 10 mins after reboot when IE will no longer display pages. The ip shown is valid for a web site url typed into IE:
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP celine:1028 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1043 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1044 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1028 crl.verisign.com:80 CLOSE_WAIT
TCP celine:1137 66.102.9.99:80 SYN_SENT
TCP celine:137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:138 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:nbsession CELINE:0 LISTENING
UDP celine:1044 *:*
UDP celine:nbname *:*
UDP celine:nbdatagram *:*
The crucial difference seems to be that when the fault occurs the ip shows SYN_SENT rather than ESTABLISHED.
Also web sites can still be pinged by name after the fault occurs and the ip's are resolved correctly. Looks more adn more tha the problem is in IE. Anyone used a different browser?
Result of netstat -a immediately after reboot:
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP celine:1028 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1025 BOX3:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1026 BOX2:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1028 crl.verisign.com:80 ESTABLISHED
TCP celine:137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:138 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:nbsession CELINE:0 LISTENING
UDP celine:nbname *:*
UDP celine:nbdatagram *:*
Result of netstat -a immediately after throwing up IE5 www.google.co.uk home page (straight after reboot):
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP celine:1028 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1046 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1043 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1044 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1025 BOX3:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1026 BOX2:nbsession TIME_WAIT
TCP celine:1028 crl.verisign.com:80 CLOSE_WAIT
TCP celine:1046 66.102.9.99:80 ESTABLISHED
TCP celine:137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:138 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:nbsession CELINE:0 LISTENING
UDP celine:1044 *:*
UDP celine:nbname *:*
UDP celine:nbdatagram *:*
Result of netstat -a 10 mins after reboot when IE will no longer display pages. The ip shown is valid for a web site url typed into IE:
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State
TCP celine:1028 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1043 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1044 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:1028 crl.verisign.com:80 CLOSE_WAIT
TCP celine:1137 66.102.9.99:80 SYN_SENT
TCP celine:137 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:138 CELINE:0 LISTENING
TCP celine:nbsession CELINE:0 LISTENING
UDP celine:1044 *:*
UDP celine:nbname *:*
UDP celine:nbdatagram *:*
The crucial difference seems to be that when the fault occurs the ip shows SYN_SENT rather than ESTABLISHED.
Also web sites can still be pinged by name after the fault occurs and the ip's are resolved correctly. Looks more adn more tha the problem is in IE. Anyone used a different browser?
JUst another thought - this problem is looking more and more like a sort of firewall error blocking port 80 after 10 minutes or so. My problem machine used to run Zone Alarm which I thought I had uninstalled when I put the Gnatbox in. Did you use Zone Alarm?
Yet another thought. I have been browsing around the Zone Alarm forum and there are a lot of similar problems mentioned there, e.g:
http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=access&message.id=15137#M15137
I am going to do a manual zone alarm uninstall tonight and see how that goes.
http://forum.zonelabs.org/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=access&message.id=15137#M15137
I am going to do a manual zone alarm uninstall tonight and see how that goes.
ASKER
There is no firewall software installed on this machine. I made sure to make sure of that. Proxy settings are disabled also since there is no proxy for this laptop.
RR finally went to her house and replaced the whole coax cable running to the cable modem and ran a final test which they said was successful. So far the problem hasn't come back although I haven't been able to test it myself. She's actually having a new issue with the laptop freezing up on her while in Word 2000. So whether I'm out of the woods yet, I don't know, nor will I know for a while. She actually has a bigger problem with her production computer (she does wedding videos) that is a hell of a lot more important that her laptop will ever be. So for now I am going to close this question and distribute points accordingly to how effective the information provided to me was depending on the information I stated in the original question (not by replies).
Thank you for all of your help, and I may revisit this question in the future.
RR finally went to her house and replaced the whole coax cable running to the cable modem and ran a final test which they said was successful. So far the problem hasn't come back although I haven't been able to test it myself. She's actually having a new issue with the laptop freezing up on her while in Word 2000. So whether I'm out of the woods yet, I don't know, nor will I know for a while. She actually has a bigger problem with her production computer (she does wedding videos) that is a hell of a lot more important that her laptop will ever be. So for now I am going to close this question and distribute points accordingly to how effective the information provided to me was depending on the information I stated in the original question (not by replies).
Thank you for all of your help, and I may revisit this question in the future.
Just wanted to confirm my problem was Zone Alarm not having been uninstalled fully. I followed the manual uninstall instructions on the Zone Labs site and now all is well.
Thank you, Cdeg
ASKER
No problem, you earned it.
Try this patch:
Internet Explorer may appear to stop responding when requesting many objects
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818506
It only mentiions WinME but it has worked on 98.
Check if clearing the cache helps:
Internet Properties > General tab
Click "Delete Cookies" and OK, click "Delete Files", select "Delete all offline content" and OK twice.
If that helps, you may need to increase the amount of disk space to be used by the TIF folder:
Internet Properties > General tab~> Settings button
Hope these may help.
Zee