Internet connection mystery-help please

[Davbaron]

I hope I am in the right forum - Forgive me if I am not

I have two computers; the first is a general one for files etc and connecting to the internet on a dial up.; the second is a gaming machine ( flight simulators) originally intended for occasional connection to the internet for online gaming and sim downloads. The second(gaming ) machine is self built. It runs fine is every respect but Internet connection.
When I first connected it to the internet, I tried to ?re- activate? my anti virus arrangements ( Norton ), but the updates wouldn?t ?conclude?.
So I unloaded that and went for the Avg free antivirus program. I also found that I couldn?t download the definitions etc properly.
Both programmes updates ground to a halt!
It seemed that after initial normal connection on the internet, the whole business would slow down ( apparent from the shown downloading speeds when getting the AVG definitions.) to the point of stopping. It seems the whole machine slows down.!!

When not connected to my external modem, the machine runs the sims fine!

I have Windows 98SE on each computer. I have a USB External modem which I connect to each computer in turn as I use it to connect to the web. I.E I take the modem USB lead from one USB hub feeding one computer, and connect the USB modem lead to the other hub feeding the second computer.

I have tried putting the USB modem lead direct to the back of the ?offending ? computer but I still get this slow down, then stop.

I have checked the dial up connections etc and even re checked them by referral to a troubleshooting magazine. The same with the modem properties.

What happens is- I am online, dial up modem, on and off for several weeks with computer 1. There is no problem.
I decide to try the gaming computer online. I take out the modem plug and put it in the gaming computer hub. I switch on. I dial up same details to same ISP. I get online no problem.
I begin to surf- several pages load at normal speed. Then after two/three minutes the loading gets slower and within a minute or two stops.!!

I have to disconnect. Last time I did this I found my computer was very slow to shut down.

I have zonealarm firewall fitted on both machines.

I have wondered about a virus, but I cannot check as I cannot load an updated virus programme! Unless I go out and buy a recent one, which may have to be done.

Has anyone got any knowledge of what is happening and why and how to cure it??
TIA

 

[dmcowen674]

Most likely nothing to do with your connections or modem etc. It is most likely that the Internet Explorer hidden directories have gotten corrupted. Go to the Internet Options tab, settings, delete files, then Move Folder and pick a different location. That should get you surfing faster again.

 

[Davbaron]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
. Go to the Internet Options tab, settings, delete files, then Move Folder and pick a different location.

This is somewhat new to me . Can you expand on your suggestion, please I especially don't understand the Move folder etc. - what am I moving and to where.
Edit- Further to the above
I've had a look under options and you are referring to temporary internet Files, are you not? If so, I have 1192 MB set as the "Amount of disk space to Use". ( my computer that works Ok , ie this one , has 611 MB !).
If I delete files(done ) should that alone not cure the problem?
To understand you , are you saying -If I use Move folder and send the file to a new folder say, on the desktop, will I get a brand new Temporary Internet files folder which has been purged of the "corruption"? and thus the problem is cured??

I'd appreciate if you could stay with me on this one please- Thanks for input so far.

 

[dmcowen674]

Yes, on all of the above. You even noticed that the larger you have the temporary cache size the bigger of a chance of corruption. Try just deleting/emptying the cache first and reducing the size. I run my cache at 6 meg because I am on DSL, if you are on a modem you may want more cached but I don't see a need for for more than 20 meg of Internet cache at any time.

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
I don't see a need for for more than 20 meg of Internet cache at any time.

I've seen Internet Explorer default to some absolutely insane cache sizes. 256 MB, 480 MB, etc.

A smaller cache is better when on a faster connection.
A larger cache is better when using a slow connection.
And Dave's absolutely right...any IE cache over 20 MB is simply wasting HD space.

 

[Davbaron]

Thanks for your input , guys . Here is an update and your views would be appreciated.
I tried what you said and I got surfing well as usual, but after a couple of minutes it stopped again. Twice I did this, and after the second time I looked t the Zonealarm Alert Log which said
?The firewall has blocked internet access to your computer (Netbios name) from ###.###.##.### (UDP Port ####) ?The nine figures are, of course, an IP address.
Time 021002 09:49:46 ?

I am wondering if my ISP ( UK ) is blocking my access when it realises, after scanning my machine, that I am surfing from my second ( gaming ) computer.
Could it be that they believe it is a networked PC and they may have a policy of not allowing access from such a computer, which they can tell is not the ?original? one.?
I am thinking this because some time ago when I first had two computers I used a mechanical switch box to which my present number one PC and a previous (mainly gaming) PC were linked to my external modem.
I emphasize that these machines were not and never have been networked.
It worked fine until I reconfigured the PCs and then the second PC was rejected soon after dialup ? there was a sort of error message about denying access to a networked PC! So I stopped using the switchbox and then when I built my present gaming PC, the present problem started- I didn?t worry too much because I didn?t intend to do online gaming hardly at all until I get broadband ( whenever that becomes available ?!! ), but then I found I needed downloads of sims? patches ( and the first machine has no CDWriter so I can?t do it that way !)
I know the ISP can and does cut you off, as they have a policy of limited surfing time, so their scanning possibly includes the ability to do the above.
Before I approach them I would like an opinion or two from experts who may recognize that this is what may be happening here. Or who may know exactly what the problem is, if it isn?t that.

 

[dmcowen674]

I doubt it would be the ISP. Did you try running the second PC with Zone Alarm off? ZA has an external and internal IP blocking ability. New versions call it Access and Server.

Thanks for the Kudos TallGeese, told you I would stop by here