Connections Tray and Connectivity Issue

Hello there,

I have a problem with the Connections Tray even after reinstalling my system and have searched other places to no avail until I came across this forum.
Indeed, someone else seemed to have the same or similar problem here on this forum:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=765316

However, that is now 1-2 years old and I cannot post my question there as it is locked.

I am using a Dell Inspiron 9400, freshly reinstalled 3 weeks back (I had the problem previously and worse) and the problem occured about a day or two after that.

It usually occurs after browsing for a long time and having mutiple browser windows (IE 6.0) open, or having used a memory intensive application earlier (such as some games or graphical design software) and then attempting to browse online. Overall, relatively randomly, but hardly a day passes when it does not occur.

The moment I notice it is basically when the page will refuse to load (timeout) and I cannot use ipconfig (window will open and then get stuck doing nothing - after closing the window, it will continue to be displayed in the taskmanager. It will display as often there as you ran/closed ipconfig). A few seconds thereafter, my wireless light goes off (although it can be off before I notice the problem too of course). I also then am not able to open the wireless icon in my systray.

On shutdown/reboot, I will get a popup telling me Connections Tray is not responding and there is a ~5% chance that after ending it, the notebook hangs completely and I need to manually shut it down. The other ~95% of the time, it will shut down/reboot after a minute or two of being idle.

I am using (Intel driver) wireless but have windows manage it rather than Intel (Intel has too many popups and sounds I can't seem to turn off).

Another, possibly related issue that I am having ever since the reinstall is that oftentimes I am not able to open pages on first try. That is, I try to open a page and it immediately (or 1-5 seconds later) tells me page cannot be opened. However, refreshing up to 5-6 times usually results in the page finally opening. It happens with fora especially often for some reason.

In conclusion, I would try the tools linked to in the thread I discovered earlier, but I am not sure whether it is a Winsock issue and whether there is another solution to it since then. Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

Welcome to MG.

I would certainly try the Winsock fix that was mentioned in the thread you mention. The link that Compuable gave is still extant. The other links mentioned are also worth a shot if the Winsock fix fails to cure the problem.

Once you have tried these post back and let us know whether it helped or not.

 

Thank you Yargwel for the help and welcome.

Before I run the tool that I downloaded, can I just make sure that it will not cause problems to my operating system, as it is not in English but in German? I remember several microsoft tools that would refuse to run (or run but warn of problems) on systems that are not English.

Cheers

 

I think that this should run OK as it is effectivly putting things into a default state. But I'm afraid I can't guarantee it.

 

Alright. Just wanted to backup my reg with the program before starting as a safety measure, but it says that it's unable to write at each key it gets across.

Can/Should I continue without the backup?

 

Follow COMPUABLE's advice from the previous thread -

Important Note: As a precaution make sure to Create a System Restore Point before you download and then install anything onto your computer. This will allow you to return your computer settings to the state your PC was in - prior to downloading.

 

May be these two pages can Help.

http://www.ezlan.net/clean.html#refreshnet

http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.html

.

 

Thanks for the help so far you all

Before running the winsockfix, I've tested winsock using netdiag as suggested by microsoft at this article. The results are below:

Code:

Gathering IPX configuration information.
    Querying status of the Netcard drivers... Passed
    Testing Domain membership... Passed
    Gathering NetBT configuration information.
    Gathering Winsock information.

    Tests complete.


    Computer Name: XXXXX
    DNS Host Name: xxxxx
    DNS Domain Name: (null)
    System info : Windows 2000 Professional (Build 2600)
    Processor : x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6, GenuineIntel
    Hotfixes :
        Installed?      Name
           Yes          KB835221WXP
           Yes          KB839210
           Yes          KB873339
           Yes          KB885835
           Yes          KB885836
           Yes          KB885855
           Yes          KB886185
           Yes          KB887472
           Yes          KB888302
           Yes          KB888795
           Yes          KB890046
           Yes          KB890859
           Yes          KB891593
           Yes          KB891781
           Yes          KB893756
           Yes          KB893803v2
           Yes          KB894391
           Yes          KB895961
           Yes          KB896256
           Yes          KB896358
           Yes          KB896423
           Yes          KB896428
           Yes          KB898461
           Yes          KB899337
           Yes          KB899510
           Yes          KB899587
           Yes          KB899591
           Yes          KB900485
           Yes          KB900725
           Yes          KB901017
           Yes          KB901214
           Yes          KB902400
           Yes          KB902841
           Yes          KB903157
           Yes          KB904706
           Yes          KB905414
           Yes          KB905749
           Yes          KB908519
           Yes          KB908531
           Yes          KB908673
           Yes          KB910437
           Yes          KB911280
           Yes          KB911562
           Yes          KB911927
           Yes          KB912812
           Yes          KB913580
           Yes          KB913800
           Yes          KB914388
           Yes          KB914389
           Yes          KB914642
           Yes          KB916595
           Yes          KB917344
           Yes          KB917953
           Yes          KB918118
           Yes          KB918439
           Yes          KB919007
           Yes          KB920213
           Yes          KB920342
           Yes          KB920670
           Yes          KB920683
           Yes          KB920685
           Yes          KB920872
           Yes          KB921503
           Yes          KB922582
           Yes          KB922819
           Yes          KB923191
           Yes          KB923414
           Yes          KB923689
           Yes          KB923980
           Yes          KB924270
           Yes          KB924496
           Yes          KB924667
           Yes          KB925398_WMP64
           Yes          KB925902
           Yes          KB926239
           Yes          KB926251
           Yes          KB926255
           Yes          KB926436
           Yes          KB927779
           Yes          KB927802
           Yes          KB927891
           Yes          KB928255
           Yes          KB928843
           Yes          KB929123
           Yes          KB929399
           Yes          KB930178
           Yes          KB930494
           Yes          KB930916
           Yes          KB931261
           Yes          KB931784
           Yes          KB932168
           Yes          KB933360
           Yes          KB933729
           Yes          KB935839
           Yes          KB935840
           Yes          KB936021
           Yes          KB936357
           Yes          KB936782_WMP10
           Yes          KB936782_WMP11
           Yes          KB937894
           Yes          KB938127
           Yes          KB938828
           Yes          KB938829
           Yes          KB939653
           Yes          KB939683
           Yes          KB941202
           Yes          KB941568
           Yes          KB941569
           Yes          KB942615
           Yes          KB942763
           Yes          KB942840
           Yes          KB943460
           Yes          KB944653
           Yes          Q147222


Netcard queries test . . . . . . . : Passed

    Information of Netcard drivers: 

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: Parallelanschluss (direkt)
    Device: \DEVICE\{02FEC307-8FEF-46D8-A76E-3D9FE36B2658}
    GetStats failed for 'Parallelanschluss (direkt)'. [ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED]
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection - Paketplaner-Miniport
    Device: \DEVICE\{8EF68E56-3CCD-46C9-9425-446331BD2D62}

    Media State:                     Connected

    Device State:                    Connected
    Connect Time:                    01:15:43
    Media Speed:                     54 Mbps

    Packets Sent:                    11985
    Bytes Sent (Optional):           0

    Packets Received:                16647
    Directed Pkts Recd (Optional):   14640
    Bytes Received (Optional):       0
    Directed Bytes Recd (Optional):  0

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: WAN-Miniport (IP) - Paketplaner-Miniport
    Device: \DEVICE\{F9016BFD-C95D-40E8-9B62-94145B3B1D01}

    Media State:                     Connected

    Device State:                    Connected
    Connect Time:                    01:15:44
    Media Speed:                     28 Kbps

    Packets Sent:                    0
    Bytes Sent (Optional):           0

    Packets Received:                0
    Directed Pkts Recd (Optional):   0
    Bytes Received (Optional):       0
    Directed Bytes Recd (Optional):  0

    [WARNING] The net card 'WAN-Miniport (IP) - Paketplaner-Miniport' may not be working because it has not received any packets.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: WAN-Miniport (PPTP)
    Device: \DEVICE\{CCB7908A-7457-47D4-8DCF-9D986E35C63D}
    GetStats failed for 'WAN-Miniport (PPTP)'. [ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED]
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: WAN-Miniport (PPPOE)
    Device: \DEVICE\{E86D94C4-8F2D-431B-9850-09FF428FF348}
    GetStats failed for 'WAN-Miniport (PPPOE)'. [ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED]
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: WAN-Miniport (IP)
    Device: \DEVICE\NDISWANIP

    Media State:                     Connected

    Device State:                    Connected
    Connect Time:                    01:15:44
    Media Speed:                     28 Kbps

    Packets Sent:                    0
    Bytes Sent (Optional):           0

    Packets Received:                0
    Directed Pkts Recd (Optional):   0
    Bytes Received (Optional):       0
    Directed Bytes Recd (Optional):  0

    [WARNING] The net card 'WAN-Miniport (IP)' may not be working because it has not received any packets.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: WAN-Miniport (L2TP)
    Device: \DEVICE\{BDC9F14E-6CDF-44A9-8DA4-4DA939F0B15B}
    GetStats failed for 'WAN-Miniport (L2TP)'. [ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED]
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: 1394-Netzwerkadapter
    Device: \DEVICE\{EAF047DD-40E9-40CF-8878-50FDD6C0BFEC}

    Media State:                     Connected

    Device State:                    Connected
    Connect Time:                    01:15:44
    Media Speed:                     400 Mbps

    Packets Sent:                    0
    Bytes Sent (Optional):           0

    Packets Received:                0
    Directed Pkts Recd (Optional):   0
    Bytes Received (Optional):       0
    Directed Bytes Recd (Optional):  0

    [WARNING] The net card '1394-Netzwerkadapter' may not be working because it has not received any packets.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Description: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
    Device: \DEVICE\{AF4CE7BF-9E24-4BDC-BE60-62EF553C72A9}

    Media State:                     Connected

    Device State:                    Connected
    Connect Time:                    01:15:43
    Media Speed:                     54 Mbps

    Packets Sent:                    11985
    Bytes Sent (Optional):           0

    Packets Received:                16647
    Directed Pkts Recd (Optional):   14640
    Bytes Received (Optional):       0
    Directed Bytes Recd (Optional):  0

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    [PASS] - At least one netcard is in the 'Connected' state.



Per interface results:

    Adapter : Drahtlose Netzwerkverbindung
        Adapter ID . . . . . . . . : {AF4CE7BF-9E24-4BDC-BE60-62EF553C72A9}

        Netcard queries test . . . : Passed


Global results:


Domain membership test . . . . . . : Passed
    Machine is a . . . . . . . . . : Standalone Workstation
    Netbios Workgroup name . . . . : ARBEITSGRUPPE
    Dns domain name is not specified.
    Dns forest name is not specified.
    Domain Guid. . . . . . . . . . : {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
    Logon User . . . . . . . . . . : Igor
    Logon Domain . . . . . . . . . : GHOST


NetBT transports test. . . . . . . : Passed
    List of NetBt transports currently configured:
        NetBT_Tcpip_{AF4CE7BF-9E24-4BDC-BE60-62EF553C72A9}
    1 NetBt transport currently configured.


Winsock test . . . . . . . . . . . : Passed
    The number of protocols which have been reported : 14
        Description: MSAFD Tcpip [TCP/IP]
            Provider Version   :2
            Max message size  : Stream Oriented
        Description: MSAFD Tcpip [UDP/IP]
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: RSVP UDP Service Provider
            Provider Version   :6
        Description: RSVP TCP Service Provider
            Provider Version   :6
            Max message size  : Stream Oriented
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8D654849-037A-4410-B653-4F2130DD9A37}] SEQPACKET 4
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8D654849-037A-4410-B653-4F2130DD9A37}] DATAGRAM 4
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AF4CE7BF-9E24-4BDC-BE60-62EF553C72A9}] SEQPACKET 3
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{AF4CE7BF-9E24-4BDC-BE60-62EF553C72A9}] DATAGRAM 3
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{EAF047DD-40E9-40CF-8878-50FDD6C0BFEC}] SEQPACKET 0
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{EAF047DD-40E9-40CF-8878-50FDD6C0BFEC}] DATAGRAM 0
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{39AE380B-760B-4963-914D-4518D1A62F2A}] SEQPACKET 1
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{39AE380B-760B-4963-914D-4518D1A62F2A}] DATAGRAM 1
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{115C8CDA-B9F1-4AFE-AE25-D45D538EE601}] SEQPACKET 2
            Provider Version   :2
        Description: MSAFD NetBIOS [\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{115C8CDA-B9F1-4AFE-AE25-D45D538EE601}] DATAGRAM 2
            Provider Version   :2

    Max UDP size : 65507 bytes


The command completed successfully

The article suggests that using

Code:

netdiag /test:winsock /v

will show whether there are any problems with winsock and with my very limited knowledge of network connections, it seems there are a few listed, but none are critical as I have manually disabled the network card (Broadcom 440x) as I am not using it. The only active cards are the default 1394 connection (which I got no clue about) and the Intel wireless card.

I'm not sure whether this test is valid though, as my connection at the moment has not failed. But then I'd expect everything to come up as warning if it has failed...
Do you think in the light of these results the winsockfix should be used?

 

I don't think you've got a lot to lose by trying it. I know you have a German language edition but the code will still be written in American English as will the fix code.

If it were me I'd try it

 

Sorry for the long delay in response. I had sent off my laptop for repairs where the Hard drive was exchanged for an unrelated issue (hardware whine noise. Still not fixed though) and I still have the problem.

Yesterday I ran both the XP TCP/IP Repair (excluding the LSP part) and the winsockxpfix. Still have the problem however....

Any further help greatly appreciated