annoying usb net drop no complete shutdown error

Jonesie85 · 04 Apr 2011

hello, my name is chris.

i have recently upgraded my machine.

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 (inc Service pack 1)
Asus Crosshair IV Formula
AMD Phenom II 1100T x6
Corsair Vengeance 4x 4gb 1600mhz
XFX Radeon HD6870
2x WD 20EARS 2TB Sata drives
1x sata HP 107d
Netgear RangeMax WPN111 Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter (PROBLEMATIC)
Netgear router

right, the problem...

after a 2-3 hours of constant downloading the network stops. even the software cant find any networks (not even the neighbours signals). when i unplug the usb adapter windows does not recognise that it has been removed. when i put it back in, windows does not recognise that the adapter has been inserted.

i then try turning the machine of via the start menu (i have tried shutdown, restart and logoff then shutdown). Either way, windows feezes at the 'windows is shutting down' screen. i have waited 10 minutes but nothing happens. when i reset the machine (i am ashamed of that by the way) the machine starts up correctly and then i remove then insert the adapter back in the machine. only then dows windows see all the networks in the area and i am then able to access the internet.

do you know what is wrong and how i can fix it.

ps, the motherboard had something called ROG GameFirst v4.53.1548 which somehow manages to increase my download rate by quite alot. about 100kb/s normally its about 46-48.

thank you for your help.

EDIT:

also, i have noticed that internet explorer 9 x64 'forgets' all my 'remembered' pass words. i have BitDefended Anti-virus PRO 2011 running. with Windows Defender and firewall running.

Mike Connor · 04 Apr 2011

If you use third party "accelerators" and similar they can cause problems. Try uninstalling the third party application.

EDIT: I can not find any information at all about that software. I would also be extremely surprised if it could increase your download speeds by that margin. Have you any other information on it?

Regards....Mike Connor

Jonesie85 · 04 Apr 2011

something ASUS calls ROG (Republic of Gamers) Gamefirst.

'Traffic Shapping' technology

ASUS GameFirst! - cFos Software GmbH

sorry about the lack of info and thank you for the quick response.

Mike Connor · 04 Apr 2011

Jonesie85 said:

something ASUS calls ROG (Republic of Gamers) Gamefirst.

'Traffic Shapping' technology

ASUS GameFirst! - cFos Software GmbH

sorry about the lack of info and thank you for the quick response.

OK. Thanks. That application is almost certainly the cause of your problems. The only way to increase download speeds like that is by extensive manipulation of the protocols, ( which a lot of sites and providers don't like by the way, and many will drop your connection if you use it, because you are effectively "stealing" bandwidth from other users, and placing far higher demand than normal on the servers). As the application obviously takes over the connection, Windows can't do anything about it. This is also why the PC wont shut down, because Windows can't stop that application, and also why a restart cures the problem, because it returns control to Windows until you start the application again.

EDIT: Some info on traffic shaping;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_shaping

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-traffic-shaping.htm

If you apply various tweaks to protocols which affect the traffic shaping being used by servers then many will drop the connection. Some providers will also warn you, or even cancel your account, if you manage to manipulate their traffic to your own advantage and, invariably, also to the detriment of others.

Regards....Mike Connor

Jonesie85 · 05 Apr 2011

thank you for the advise.

Uninstalling the GameFirst software also stopped the network from working. which furthor proves you advice in my opinion. i managed to get it working again by reinstalling the wpn111 dongle. the netgear software does not function any more so i took the hardware drivers seperatly and installed the device drivers manually. works now.

however, the network drops every 2-3 hours still. But, unplugging and plugging the dongle back in re-starts the connections. no need to restart the machine. i did try shuting down after the network drop and it does shut down properly now.

one last thing, my download rate is about 175 kb/s. im kind of hoping that its just windows 7 doing things better than windows xp.

do you have any more charity to give? you are my hero ;-)

Mike Connor · 05 Apr 2011

My pleasure. Glad to hear you got things fixed up, at least to some extent.

For most people the "standard" settings on various networks are adequate. Various "acceleration" software only causes problems, although some of it does work to a degree, a lot of it is merely "snake-oil" ( Useless!), and a lot of it can also cause other problems, as you have seen. The actual speed of downloads is dependent on lots of things, and many of these are outside a user's immediate control.

What sort of connection are you using?

Run this and see what it tells you;

https://www.speedtest.net/

Regards....Mike Connor

Mike Connor · 05 Apr 2011

Just by the way, and I forgot to mention it before, but you should look at your contract terms with the provider you use. Many providers have an automatic cut-out which drops the connection and then resets it, at least once a day, and sometimes more often. This is specifically to prevent continuous downloading, or operating various other equipment continuously.

Regards....Mike Connor