Internet connection dropping when downloading via torrent

Hi, I have a real tricky one I just can't seem to solve.

I have a D-Link Dir655 connected to a DSL-526B ADSL2 modem. The pair are bridged. This configuration has been running fine for a year.

4 days ago I reinstalled windows 7 x64. Now, when I download torrents the connection drops after 15 - 30 minutes, and comes back up 1 - 3 minutes later. When the connection drops it takes the modem connection down; every device connected to the internet drops.

When I had reinstalled I upgraded all my programs to the latest versions, but I have since rolled them back to the versions being used prior to reinstalling.

The download program is call FreeDownload Manager. It includes a bit torrent client. This have never exhibited any problems before.

I also use Malwarebytes with realtime protection, and this blocks various sites. This is typical behaviour, and again has never been a problem.

This time when I resinstalled, I uninstalled WIndows Tablet components, Windows Search and disabled the Program Compatability Service, after reading sites like BlackViper. I have since reinstalled and re-enabled all these features.

I also turn of Remote DIfferential Compression, but again, that's been off for many months.

I've tried tweaking various settings in the download manager, all to no avail.

Can any one offer some ideas on where I might look for a solution?

thanks
Tanya

Do I understand your problem correctly. You download using a torrent and you have problems.

Layback Bear said:

Do I understand your problem correctly. You download using a torrent and you have problems.

Yes, I know where you are going with that comment. Lets nip that one in the bud

But I've not had problems for years downloading via torrents.

Qdos said:

All that can really have changed when you reinstalled Windows are that you will have reverted to the default settings of your ethernet adapter. You can find it in device manager. Right click it, go to properties, disable the power management and under the advanced tab optimise the settings it's capable of performing at so as to take full advantage of it.

You could also open an elevated command prompt and type ipconfig /renew

See if these steps fix matters :)

thanks for the suggestions.

I've tried /release and /renew, and /flushdns, and my adapter configs are the same as they have always been - defaults.

I have also disabled IPv6, (via adapter properties and the disabledcomponents registry value), but that has been disabled for almost a year.

I also done the basics; reset the adapter (disable, enable), uninstall the adapter and then reinstall the LAN drivers for the mobo.

Qdos said:

To be honest, my money would be on the modem dropping out given all you describe.

Are you also using other ports on the router at the same time as downloading or seeding torrents?

THe download manager uses port 1500 for torrents. Of course, other ports like 80, 443, and ports used by steam, counter strike, and whatever other games he is playing at the time would also be open. But thats common place, a shouldn't cause a problem.

I've tried to restrict the kids from seeding as much as I can. I really don't want people connecting to my network. There is just as much legit stuff being offered via torrents as there is questionable stuff these days, and playing cat and mouse with him is just a waste of time.

But, I digress. I'm inclined to think this is a modem problem, but I did the rounds earlier today and no one had one in stock. They are only $48 AUD these days.

My other option is to dump the 655 and go for an all in one solution, which is going to be over $250 to match the functionaility I have now.

My ISP suggests this is not a modem problem. They are saying the signal levels are constant, they are seeing sessions die but no actual disconnects. I'm skeptical about level 1 service staff's knowledge though.

I've also posted at D-LINK to see if I can get any feedback there, but as yet no responses.

Hopefully, someone will come up with something definitive, either here, dlink or when I talk with more technical people tomorrow.

Qdos said:

Given your location I would recommend you take a look at the Billion 7800 units...

Not only are they excellent, they're already IPv6 complaint, and they perform superbly... and it'd be rather patriotic if you were to have one lol...

Billion Wireless ADSL2+ VPN Firewall Router Series

Thanks for that suggestion. I had a read of the manual, and spoke with a reseller, but billion dont seem to have customer contact phone numbers, so I was unable to determine what features, and limits to those features applied.

For example, I use DHCP reserverations, mac address filtering, QoS, port forwarding, SPI, OpenDNS server, web URL filtering. I have 13 time schedules, 15 ACLs, 17 devices (so 17 MAC address entries), wifi, WPS, and more.

Couldn't tell if the billion will support my needs. It looks like it has most of the features, the question is then whether it has enough space for the multitude of configurations I have.

In the mean time, I've found a DSL-526B. It's 60km away, and it's $52. I am going to get it shortly. The problem may not be the modem, so I may end up with a spare modem.

But no-one has been able to suggest anything else, so I am just crossing my fingers.

Will let you know when I've swapped over.

Tanya