Strange ADSL/IE7 Lockup Issue 1

[Ploper001]

Hi, a relative's PC has a very strange issue regarding their ADSL Modem and IE7.

Basically, I've set IE7 to automatically connect to Virgin.NET Broadband through the USB ADSL Modem (I wish they could get cable in their area, would solve all of this lol). When you run IE7, and I'm fairly sure this used to happen with IE6 too,it'll connect, and the home page (google.co.uk) normally appears...but then everything dies.

IE7 freezes, as does the taskbar and system tray. You can still select items on the desktop, but any program that is run (including Task Manager, excluding Explorer) just doesn't appear (the sand timer appears for ~3s then just disappears).

After between 2 and 5 minutes usually, all the programs that were opened during the "freeze" period all appear at once, and IE7 works perfectly.

Now, I'm thinking of trying to use Virgin.NET's program to connect rather than IE7 since it may not cause these problems - but this is a major pain as I'd prefer the internet to act as much like a cable (i.e. non-intrusive) connection as possible. Having to dial up manually every time the PC starts is a major annoyance.

I have done some research, and I thought I'd found the issue when I heard that IE7 and Norton's toolbar caused problems together, but after uninstalling Norton completely the problem remains. Thus, I believe it is some sort of software or hardware conflict issue. Also note that the same settings on my laptop (i.e. IE7 connecting automatically through the USB ADSL Modem if there is no connection) work fine, so it's a specific issue to this PC.


Thanks for any help!!

 

[edelwater]

Try disabling all add-ons and run again (via the menu in ie7, the add-on manager, you can disable them all there as a sort of safe modus).

Let me know the outcome. There seems to be a special issue with a .dll i forgot the name about but it had something to do with parsing the urls.

--

http://leau.net

 

[Ploper001]

I have disabled all but the basic addons without any improvement - perhaps I could try running IE7 in its "Safe Mode" (i.e. no Addons at all loaded)? I'll try it later when I have access to the PC.

 

[Ploper001]

Well I tried running "IE7 (No Add-ons)" after bootup and the same thing occured.

I should also mention that this is a very clean install - I reformatted and reinstalled about a month ago to try to get rid of this problem as well as get the PC starting up as an Athlon 3200+ should, and while the PC is much quicker, this problem remains.

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[smah]

What else is running when you connect to the internet - is there any antivirus software that might see the connection & be updating in the background? (Avast seems to bog things down when it autoupdates)

 

[G0AOZ]

I personally don't use an ADSL USB modem, preferring to use a router which is so much easier... However, I have seen many USB installations, and quite often the modem software installation includes a "connection" utility. If you have this "connection" utility, does running it first, and then starting IE7 make any difference? If it solves the problem, then put it into the Startup group, so you're always connected when the computer has booted to the Windows desktop.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Ploper001]

smah, AntiVir is running, but this problem occured with Norton also. AntiVir does not update without at least displaying a dialog box, and it doesn't during this freeze period.

G0AOZ, I agree, I'd much rather use at least an Ethernet connection, but unfortunately, the modem only has USB-Out, tis a cheapo one provided by Virgin (Telewest provided me with a great USB/Ethernet cable modem, to contrast...). The problem with the provided connection utlity is that it does not connect automatically. It requires the user to press OK, if not enter the password every time, which is very annoying. I shall try it though.

 

[smah]

I still suspect some additional software is sensing the active internet connection & doing something. Does this happen in safe mode? Also, have a command prompt open before connecting to the internet, then connect & when it is bogged down, try a netstat -b in the command prompt window.

 

[Ploper001]

Well I tried Virgin's utility and the same thing happens when IE7 is opened. As far as I can tell, disconnecting and connecting does not have any problems - it's only the initial connections when a user logs on, the PC boots up, or when the modem is unplugged and plugged back in.

I shall try that NetStat thing after seeing if there are updated drivers for the modem...

 

[Ploper001]

Right, here are the netstat results:

http://dragonq.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Lockup

Problem.PNG

As you can see, nothing seems to be interfering at all. The weird thing is, if I use the utility to connect, and then restore an IE7 window, the lockup will occur - yet after the lockup period has finished, it's still in Working Offline mode, and I have to click the Connect button to refresh a page.


Any thoughts? This ONLY happens when you first plug it in or switch the PC on remember...

 

[smah]

During the 'lockup period', does taskmanager show high cpu utilization for any particular process? Again, you should set up taskmanager to sort based on the CPU column beforehand if possible to get acurate results.

(BTW, use %20 for spaces in your link..

http://dragonq.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Lockup Problem.PNG)

 

[Ploper001]

Sorry, forgot about the %20-ness

I can try that - I'll have to open Task Manager before opening IE7 though obviously...

*tries it*

Hmm I can't get it to lockup lol - I'll try rebooting and then trying it a bit later.

 

[Ploper001]

Well I did it, and it doesn't look like anything suspicous is taking up any resources that it shouldn't be in Task Manager


Any other ideas please?

 

[Sympology]

Odd thing as I don't use Virgin, but I'm with Orange (don't bother if you want what they advertise !), anyway back on track. What happens if you just fire up the pc and use other apps does it still lock up?
Do they use a email program such a outlook? I thinking along the lines of, if outlook can connect and work ok (or a news reader), then it looks like IE. But if these also look up it may be the Virgin bit.

PS I'm with you on TeleWest after 6 trouble free years I moved house and now have Orange, who, putting it bluntly, are useless.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Ploper001]

The PC works fine on bootup, it just enters this phase when you first connect - i.e. when anything tries to access the internet for the first time.

 

[Sympology]

Have you got Google toolbar installed? I've feeling this used to cause lock up issues a while back, but I've a feeling it should be fixed by the reinstall even if you did have it.
Also have you run a spyware scan?

Stu..

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Sympology]

Also what happens if you open i.e and don't connect, e.g work offline?


Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Ploper001]

Google and Windows Live Toolbar are installed - they weren't when I reinstalled it though, must've been my dad.

I'll try uninstalling it. I could also try using Firefox 2.

This ONLY happens when IE7 CONNECTS. If you just open it and cancel the connection, it doesn't freeze..but obviously you can't view anything lol.

 

[Ploper001]

Woo, thanks for the suggestion, I wouldn't have even thought they'd be installed if you hadn't mentioned it. It SEEMS that it's working fine now that Google and WLM's toolbars are gone (why does one even need them with IE7 and FF's search boxes?! Bah!).

However, keep watching this post if it's bumped, all may not be calm just yet - it may merely be feeling nice at the moment lol. *stars you*

 

[Ploper001]

Darn, it seems the problem still exists.


Any other ideas?