comp keeps timing out.

square/circle wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Have encountered a problem that has been happening for the last month. \
> (Win98SE, Dun,)
> Problem is my connection seems to time-out after about 10 minutes of
> non-use. It is okay if it is being used.
>
> Spent the last week trouble-shooting, including an absolute confirmation
> from my Isp that the problem is not at their end.
>
> In 'modem' via control-panel, there was/is a box that allows for a
> nominated time before a computer disconnects if not being used, and as
> long as I can remember it has always been greyed-out.
> My Isp and I decided it might be a good idea to activate the box and
> enter 300 minutes. (of which is the 5 hour block I get from my Isp)
>
> Is there any other setting I may have missed? Is there any reason at all
> why this has suddenly started doing this?
>
> Thank you for replies.
>
> S/C.

It would help if you provide more information if you wish group help.

1. What ISP/service are you using?

2. What other settings have you modified?

3. What is the update status, and is this a "officially" updated system?

4. What is the type of modem or connection being used?

I'll not address registry settings/modifications in this, I will
apprise of what was used to circumvent these activities. These are
mostly for phone-line examples, though also potentials for other styles.
The links at the bottom will provide some specific information to
better help you with the potential issues and forming questions you may
still have.

An explanation:
Every ISP which has time limits [which I have ever personally used] or
phone-line connections includes this in its installation and/or updates.
The reason is/was to purportedly help their users avoid using all of
their allotted time after, for instance, falling asleep at the keyboard,
or failing to disconnect for some other reason, or [on the ISP end] to
keep a sufficient available connection pool.
AOL [as example; NETZERO was similar] was one of the most active in
this area. Unless one moved the mouse, or changed a web page, or some
other like activity to reset the timer [depending upon how the service
had implemented this activity], you were disconnected.

Work-arounds were created that would either ping various websites, or
work directly on the timer itself. The one I used most regularly was
called [IIRC] Stay Alive by PCMAG, which pinged a list of web addresses
at intervals. Try "keep alive download" or "stay alive download" for
starting searches.

** Another potential issue which is involved is your *firewall*. It
*must* pass the proper activity between you and your ISP [generally ICMP
traffic] and/or provider. Blocking those activities will/or may cause
the time-out even when properly using the service [meaning you are
moving around the Internet] due to the failure of the ISP to reset its
own software [if this has been installed] clock/timer or other like
activities within your system.

When using AOL, I had/have to allow their specific activity [the IP
address range(s) involved] to pass through the firewall, while blocking
other addresses for proper protection [this activity can be used by
others to keep connections alive (such as websites you may have visited
and disconnected from) as well as to create connections (pinging for the
service, establishing returns, checking other services and expanding)].
NOTE: if you are networked and have a server you must (generally) also
allow these style of activities locally [local network IP range(s) such
as in SAMBA and other local network connections].

Additionally: IF, on the other hand, you have a broad-band modem and/or
modem/router, and/or secondary router, or wireless direct connect
[wireless netcard (like 3G)], you may have settings, within the device
and/or driver, which need tweaked to properly pass or provide keep-alive
connections.

http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/gen/security/NETWORKING.htm
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/gen/security/dun_vpn_diag.htm
http://peoplescounsel.org/reg/gen/security/DSL-cable_modem.htm

--
MEB
Windows Networking, Diagnostics, and other materials
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and government
http://peoplescounsel.org
-------

MEB wrote:

> http://peoplescounsel.org/reg/gen/security/DSL-cable_modem.htm
>

Oh darn, the link above *should be*:
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/gen/security/DSL-cable_modem.htm
sorry about that...

--
MEB
Windows Networking, Diagnostics, and other materials
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and government
http://peoplescounsel.org
-------

MEB wrote:
> square/circle wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Have encountered a problem that has been happening for the last month. \
>> (Win98SE, Dun,)
>> Problem is my connection seems to time-out after about 10 minutes of
>> non-use. It is okay if it is being used.
>>
>> Spent the last week trouble-shooting, including an absolute confirmation
>> from my Isp that the problem is not at their end.
>>
>> In 'modem' via control-panel, there was/is a box that allows for a
>> nominated time before a computer disconnects if not being used, and as
>> long as I can remember it has always been greyed-out.
>> My Isp and I decided it might be a good idea to activate the box and
>> enter 300 minutes. (of which is the 5 hour block I get from my Isp)
>>
>> Is there any other setting I may have missed? Is there any reason at all
>> why this has suddenly started doing this?
>>
>> Thank you for replies.
>>
>> S/C.
>
> It would help if you provide more information if you wish group help.
>
> 1. What ISP/service are you using?
>
> 2. What other settings have you modified?
>
> 3. What is the update status, and is this a "officially" updated system?
>
> 4. What is the type of modem or connection being used?
>

Hello,,
I will try to answer some questions, and also tell of another factor
that I forgot.
First, the one I forgot:: The connection itself seems to not actually
be disconnecting as the icon remains near the clock(task bar). If I go
to use my house phone during these periods, I still don't get a dial
tone, of which is par for the course when I am connected to the net.
Also, I have been using the same Isp with the same settings (untouched)
for over 5 years, and said, this problem only popped up a month ago,
hence me asking Isp if anything had changed on their end.
-------

1)Am using a simple dial-up service.
2)I havent modified any settings at all, never had a need to.
3)If you mean are all windows updates for 98SE up to date, no they are
not, there are probably a few missing.(but again, no problems in 5yrs.)
4)The modem is an 'external box'. 56k v90. I get data transfer at 44,000
bps.
5)Have never had a firewall, and still dont. I do have Kerio stashed in
a folder, but from what I have read(lurking and otherwise) a software
firewall useless, and only a router can give adequate protection.(no, I
dont have one of those either... never had a need.)

Hope this is enough.

S/C

In message <#$4tPJwIKHA.2516@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, square/circle
<not RemoveThis @line.org> writes:
[]
>It seems I have a bit of work to do then. I was considering getting a
>router as soon as I can get some money together, but perhaps for now I
>will instal Kerio.

Yes, KPF is a fairly simple, low-demand one - and it _is_ interesting to
find what of the software you have is "calling home", even if you don't
mind.

>I constantly use, update, and run "Spybot, Spyware Blaster, and Avast".

Must be quite demanding via dialup these days - AV data files are
getting quite big. (I suspect McAfee wouldn't be viable via dialup!)

>Am not sure I understand Hosts-File, will google for it.

It's a local form of DNS - the "directory enquiries" function which
translates www.xyz.com into 12.34.56.78 so your computer knows where to
look for any web page (and other things) you specify by name. Normally
you use a DNS server (usually two) at your ISP, but the hosts file keeps
a list on your machine, and it is a not uncommon practice to include
some "bad" sites in it with the wrong address (such as redirected back
to your own machine), so that should you ever be directed to one of them
- by a picture link in a web page, for example - your computer doesn't
actually go there.
[]
>But, and just for the hell of it, I went into the registry just now and
>did a search for Fraudloader, and it found an entry. (I took a screen
>shot of the registry in jpg format if you would like to look at it,
>except I know jpg's arent allowed in this group.)

URLs are, though - I'm assuming you have webspace, many dialup accounts
do. Though for a registry extract, you can usually export the bit you're
looking at, which makes a .reg file; don't double-click on a .reg file,
but it only contains text (so rename it to .txt). I can't remember
exactly how - I think it's something obvious like File | Export. (Make
sure you're highlighting only the bit you're interested in though, or it
makes a big file!)

>The entry in the registry goes like this:
>"
>hkey_current_user/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/explorer/doc
>find spec MRU"
>I have no clue whatsoever of how to remove it as the registry is out of
>bounds to me due to not understanding it.
>Can you help me with this too?
>
>S/C
>
>
I'm pretty sure MRU is most recently used: I think all that the registry
is recording, in this case, is that you recently did a "find" for it.
MRU lists in the registry (and possibly elsewhere) are just how the
system keeps a list of what you recently used, in this case in the
"find" function, in order to present them as a drop-down list to save
you typing should you want to use the same strings again subsequently.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

Real programmers don't document. If it was hard to write, it should be hard to
understand.

>> thank you.
>>
>> S/C
>
> We'll be here when you get back, or as long as possible anyway
>
> Try to use this same discussion, or you may end up running through some
> things again...
>

Hello Meb.

Okay, I just read all your last post. (got called away for an hour.) I
have done search for a decent forum, and even though there are lots, am
not sure which is appropiate,, some even say "Hijack This Log
(inactive)". Do you know of the correct one to use?

I didnt like the bit in Pa's post that you pasted where he says to
re-format, nothing can save you etc,, I dont mind last-resorts but feel
it is way too early for that yet.

S/C

>> thank you.
>>
>> S/C
>
> We'll be here when you get back, or as long as possible anyway
>
> Try to use this same discussion, or you may end up running through some
> things again...

Ahhhh, now I think I understand what a Hosts File is.(after reading lots
at Mdx's site.)

Hello Meb,

If I am correct, then you can disregard the last post; this is how I see
it;; the files that SpyBot put there are actually full of information
that screen out the bad stuff... yes? Sure hope I am right, because I
did hit the Panic button there for a while.

Just as an adjunct, my computer 'seems' to be travelling nicely right
now, and I have not encountered any ill effects since SpyBot found and
'fixed' the problem, naturally, I hope this is so. In fact, I havent as
yet found anything that isnt running well. The original problem
regarding my connection shutting me out has even seemed to rectify
itself, not that I will stop doing all things mentioned in this thread,
I would rather be sure than sorry.
Also, I can use the 'scanreg /restore' if necessary. what do you think?
(I once did it going back as far as a year,, this being possible because
I do scanregw manually from time to time.)

S/C