Poor Internet Connection

I need some help. I can connect to the internet just fine but my browsers don't work for very long. There are a few websites that work consistently, but other than that, my internet connection seems inconsistent. I can browse sites for a little while but then I start getting the "The page cannot be displayed" page. It doesn't matter which browser I use, both IE and Firefox have the same problem. However, I don't think it's my actual internet connection because there are still those few particular sites that work consistently and I can use IMs with no problem while the problems are occuring.

Can someone please help?

 

Are you going through a router?

If not, this sounds like a DNS issue on your provider's side, or the connection coming form your provider is in and out. You may have to make the dreaded call to support...

But first, scan your PCs for viruses by going to http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ . Trend Micro often picks up things that Norton and McAfee do not. Also, download the free edition of Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) if you don't already have it, and scan for spyware. If niether of these yield and results or fix any problems, then pursue the possibility that it is your ISP. If it is not, then it is your equipment. Can you try a different computer?

Please post with your results.

 

It may be a hardware issue. How old are the cables and networking units(ie network cards, routers etc.)?

 

Do you have dial-up or high speed connection?

 

I have DSL. My problem isn't hardware. It started when I got a virus. I fixed the virus and I think I may have changed some settings when I got rid of it. I've run virtually every virus/spyware protector that's listed on the anti virus/spyware section of this site and the spyware is gone. But I changed something I shouldn't have and I haven't figured out what. I ran housecall and it didn't find anything.

I have no problem accessing the internet with another computer on my network so the problem isn't with my provider and it's not the router or modem. I think the problem is with some internal setting somewhere but I don't know how to access it and I don't know what normal is supposed to look like.

 

Are you still accessing some sites but not others?

And you've run full malware scans?

Then maybe try this.

Start > Run > and type:

for win98/ME:

command

hit enter

For XP/2000 type

cmd

hit enter.

Now, type exactly this:

ipconfig /flushdns

hit enter.

Note the space after ipconfig but no other spaces.

That will erase your resolver cache (hosts file) and if you have some hijacked dns errors in there, you start with no dns records and have to get them fresh.

 

Thank you, that was a good idea, but I tried it and I'm still having the same problem.

 

I think you still have malware on your machine. Something is still apparently hijacking your browser since you flushed your dns cache (host file) and you're still having that issue.

This site has a forum just for viruses, and some pretty good posts locked at the top for links, etc. to read first. I think it's here:

http://forum.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

 

I don't think there's any malware left on my computer. The malware I had never did this to my computer, it created popups and junk, but it never kept my computer from accessing any sites. I started having this problem after I changed several settings in Safe Mode while trying to get rid of the malware, and it seems I changed something I shouldn't have. I don't know what I changed and I don't know how to undo it.

The guys in the malware section told me that there's no way there's anymore malware on my computer and they told me to refer this problem to this forum.

 

Well, I can see your delimma.

What operating system are you using, please? We never got that, or I don't see it.

 

Win2k

 

OK, lets try some stuff. Put your 2000 install cd in the cd drive you installed from.

Double click My Computer. Right-click the C: drive and choose properties. Click the tools tab. Click the button that says something about repairing drive errors. Say yes you'd like to do that on the next reboot. Choose "automatically fix errors" but not the other box. Reboot and let it run. (that's chkdsk or checkdisk.)

Reboot again and run defrag. Start > programs > accessories > system tools > defrag > click the C: drive to highlight, and click defragment button. Let it finish.

Do a cold boot. (turn computer clear off and restart rather than just restarting.)

Click Start, then Run. Type:

sfc /scannow

Note the space after sfc and no other spaces

hit enter.

It can take a long time to run. It will (system file checker) check all of your critical operating/system files including IE for missing or corrupted, and replace any that are such from the CD. It will show a progress bar, but won't tell you when it's finished. It just goes away.

Reboot and try it now.

 

It has been working for quite a while now. I was skeptical at first, but it kept working. So I guess it's fixed.

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.