Interesting connectivity issue, just a browser issue

[HRM]

Opps, maybe not so unique since I just noticed an ENTIRE forum for browsers...perhaps moving this is appropriate...if so, please do. I will be reading up in there.


Its interesting because I can't find any mention of it anywhere on this site. Specifically browser connectivity is lost after a little while (guessing 7 minutes, though it may be a number of browser pages displayed trigger i went 3 hrs today) after I start browsing. If I don't start a browser, the death clock doesn't begin until I start browsing. Now, at the same time, all shares, the other machines on the network, work fine. Also if I am playing an online game, I will not have any issues. Just IE and firefox can't display pages and other programs (like updates of AVG) are soon to follow.

***Important to note this is new, the network was fine for over a week before this started a couple days ago.

I notice, when it works, net info states Homegroup - ready to connect (I am using a workgroup to connect to other machines) but last night, during a browser outage it said it was connected. I notice now it calls my workgroup a homegroup (I think is used to say workgroup)

(This problem may have started around when I tried to synchronise a folder to "always available offline", but there are other things that were done in that period of time unfortuately, all have since been undone.


System...Win7 7100 all updated.

Browsers IE8 and Firefox are effected (updated)

Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)

Router Linksys Wireless 54GS running v2.04.4 - HyperWRT v1.3, Aug. 11, 2004 which works fine on all other machines even while this Win7 machine can't connect. I can connect to Mapped drives, computers and devices on the network but no browser activity and Win see no problems.

What I have done.

Tried disconnecting and connectig to local network in applet
Disable IPv6

Remove AVG antivirus

Remove Hardwaremonitor Pro (I was connecting to another machine to watch temps etc remotely and had to open a port which is still opened now that I remember it)

While it is fubared I have tried disable/enable the adapter (won't work)

Downloaded MSnetmonitor 3.3 but that is all Greek to me, maybe someone can guide me what to look for (I do see some "unknown" connections, but they seem normal, like netbios, and masterbrowser traffic, but that is just my guess so far)

Removed OPENdns as DNS server info I notice the router has since found the new ones again though the machine seems to have other ones in its settings. The other machines (XP home and Pro) are still set to openDNS and work fine BTW.

power management is not enabled for adapter.

I will edit more as I can remember what I did already.

A few things...something called "flow control" in the adapter applet is disabled. Any bearing on the symptoms?

Anything I can post from netmonitor to help you wizards?


Just saw this post, which is very similar http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/23179-firefox-troubles.html


I am trying IE64 bit to see if it is immune to this. EDIT: I just noticed I can change "Home Network" to "Work". I will see if this helps, and it might since this is the way it was for weeks.

 

[lordofbahamut]

I would doubt if it is really a browser problem since I tried safari, firefox and IE and still giving me this dropage... But continue your search I will follow ur footstep

 

[HRM]

IE64 is not immune. I believe I have already tried disabling Win Firewall and will try again when I get home. I will also expand the list of browsers I try. I am also looking at resourse monitor to try and take before/after shots to see if I can find any clues.

I changed DNS settings on machine to match those in the router. *the two picked up different IPs automatically after OpenDNS was removed while troubleshooting.

I have tried enabling/disabling network.

The Network stayed listed as "Work" network when I last lost the browsing.

 

[Barman58]

Hi HRM,

One thing I have noticed with your settings, you mention that you use homegroup for connectivity and that you have disabled IPv6. As Homegroup relies on IPv6 this setup is likely to cause issues, maybe not the issue under discussion but issues none the less.

Changing the network type to Work may also cause issues unless you have access to a windows server

I would check for any timeout settings in your router, and also ensure that you have disabled Window's ability to switch off the network card. I would also check to see if there are any firmware updates available for your router, as this can often cure connectivity issues with a new OS such as windows 7 which uses updated Network protocols

 

[HRM]

I do not have windows server, but I do have a static master browser which helped over the years with boot times and shares always being there.

I didn't set up a homegroup, but I think when I started synchronizing offline folders it switched itself.

Updating the router sounds like a good idea, though it having worked flawlessly for 10 days or so before this began doesn't make me too confident it will solve things. Also the router can be addressed, updated while I have the issue. Also all the shares and machines are available during browser outages in case I didn't mention that. Even outside things can connect to the internet, just browsers at this point have issues, then after time programs trying to update will not connect. Undoubtedly you know more than I do but the other machines working properly seems to me that (since the protocol is the same *I think) it would be this machine that got wonky (not to get techinical).

I was thinking this may be a DNS issue since when it works I don't see the many DNS queries that I see when it does not work. Trying to connect to the IP directly didn't help so I can't say it is the cause. Any idea how to purge or repair the things involved with DNS resolution?

Thanks for you response and I look forward to any other thoughts you may have.

EDIT: I just uninstalled. then reinstalled IE. I intend to bypass the router if need be to help troubleshoot this and thanks again.

 

[Barman58]

When I said server I should of course have said domain controller - as I understand it the Work network is for attaching to a domain rather than a workgroup, sorry for any confusion

To flush the local DNS try ipconfig /flushdns in a command prompt

I agree that if the router has worked correctly then it is unlikely that a router firmware update will cure the issue - although they are normally a good idea if available as they can improve things generally

 

[HRM]

The firmware is old and non stock but allows me to increase wattage output to give the the wireless *not on this machine* coverage I need. Sadly, I am, generally speaking, at least as lazy as most and really would prefer to not to open that can of worms, though I will as my other courses of action are used up.

I'm waiting now for an "event" then will try the DNS flush. Trying to watch resourse monitor to see anything that coincides with my problem.

 

[HRM]

Fixed I believe

What fooled me was the fact that only browsers were effected. I usually use static IPs for various reasons and initially set up a static IP for a workgroup. As I mentioned this worked perfectly for 10 days or so, then something happened.

While wandering and trying things I noticed that the DHCP Client list didn't contain the Win7 machines IP.

I decided to switch to DHCP server and have this machine be assigned an IP by the router and (knock wood) it has not hiccuped since.

The fact that all shares and net printers were not effected is a bit odd to me, but I will file that away as a windows feature.

Thank you all for reading and trying to help and I wish you the best of luck as you "plug and Pray"

 

[Barman58]

Just to clarify the "working" of file sharing, but not internet connectivity, Windows 7 still loads the legacy windows networking and file and printer sharing protocols into the network interface - these will handle the workgroup sharing functions

 

[xaydn]

same same. i used safari chrome IE and firefox. right now ff is the best so far. it has the least amount of dropage. but still dropage. >.< but anyone know if this is a problem that came with 7? maybe they overlooked it in the programming?

anyone know how fix?