Possible modem problems

I am using Verizon internet. The modem is a Westell Wirespeed. Don't know the model # but I have had it about 5 or 6 years.
Lately when I am doing anything it hangs up for a second or so quite often. I just need to know if it could be the old modem about to go out.

 

From a command prompt, type
ping -t www.yahoo.com

Let run for 10 minutes, stop with Ctrl C.

Any lost packets? Minimum/maximum round trip times?

It's possible your hangs are related to software. Why do you not have the SP2 in your vista?:wave:wave

 

I am a bit of a dunce when it comes to this stuff. How do I find the command prompt? I used to know on my really old computer. And I do have service pack 2. Just forgot to change it

 

Found Command prompt
No packets lost.
Minimum = 59ms, Maximum = 94ms, Average = 70 ms
Thanks for any help.

 

And you let it run for 10 minutes and no lost packs? Sounds like your connection and modem are okay, although hardware problems can be intermittent they generally get progressively worse. And something should have shown up.

As to the freezing, is it possible some program may be doing an update or a scan. What OS, what browser, what security do you have installed? Was Norton antivirus ever on this machine? Can you describe more fully the freezing? All websites? When you are opening a new website? :wave:wave

 

Vista Home, Firefox and IE and Opera, Avast, and Zone Alarm free version.
No matter what I am doing on the computer doing anything, it will hang up for a second or so and then let loose and go on with what ever I am doing, Then it repeats the same problem. Very often. While writing this it has hung up on me twice.

 

Try running in safe mode with networking. If this fixes it, you are most likely looking for a software issue. About how long has this been going on? (Sounds like an old song title).

Also, unless you are 100% certain you've never had Norton on the machine, run this;
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html

Run it either way, can't hurt anything, but can really help.

Is your Java up to date? A faulty install can mess up the updater. You can uninstall all Java programs and reinstall from here:
http://majorgeeks.com/Sun_Java_Runtime_Environment_d4648.html

What version of IE? Does the freezing occur with all browsers? Does it only occur when browsing?

From that command prompt, type
eventvwr.msc

Any errors reported, esp. under Windows Logs/System? Any other errors under the other tabs?

I know it's a lot of questions but the more details/descriptions you provide the more likely to find the answer. :wave:wave

 

I am not sure what 'running in safe mode with networking' means.
IE v8
Yes it does it with all browsers.
I know I never ran Norton on here but I don't recall if it was prelaoded when I bought the machine. I will try what you recommend . It will probably take a while for me to understand some of it lol. Thanks

 

Yes do that. To access safe mode restart the computer and start tapping the F8 key. This will bring you to a menu for choice of startup type.

Choose Safe mode with networking.

 

None of it is working for me. I have a Vista that hasn't been opened yet. I guess I can go ahead and do a clean install with that maybe? I am still using the one that came with the computer.

 

Sounds like you have an install disk. You will first need to change BIOS setting to boot from the CD/DVD.
Tap F2 while starting the machine and you will get to a menu, one will say something like "Boot sequence". Select that and have Boot from CD/DVD first in order. Then put that disk in and reboot again. At some point you will be given a message " Press any key to boot from CD. Do so and select install, then do a full format, then install the OS.
The whole thing will take around an hour.

Then go to Microsoft and get your updates. Then come back here to get your anti-virus and other tools. :wave:wave

 

If you mean install disk being a full windows vista home, yes I believe it is Thank you for the info.
I am thinking about doing it in a couple days so I can get all my back up done.