Computer Hope

Software => Internet browsers => Topic started by: paieye on October 23, 2005, 11:32:58 AM

Title: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 23, 2005, 11:32:58 AM

I am trying to help a neighbour who, for reasons that are about to become obvious, cannot post the question himself.

He is using Windows XP(Home) and IE6, with an internal dial-up modem. His virus-checker is AVG and he is using the XP Firewall.

He is unable to use OE, because, an instant after he clicks Read Mail, the telephone-line is disconnected. He is unable to use IE for a period of more than a very few minutes, because yet again, without prompting from him, the line will be disconnected.

In IE Options, Connections, Settings, Advanced, he has un-ticked the Disconnect boxes: this has made no difference. He has also deleted Cookies, and Temporary Files, and has set maximum space allotted to such files to 50 mb. None of that has made any difference, either.

Another computer in the same house can carry out all these tasks without difficulty.

Any suggestions about what might be wrong, and how he could put it right ?
__________________
paieye

IBM X40 ThinkPad. Centrino, 320RAM, WXPPro, AVG, ZoneAlarm, SpyBot, SI2

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: pcwizard on October 23, 2005, 11:40:04 AM

The other system isn't connecting through dial up at the same time by any chance?

Has this problem been present since the system was first setup or only a recent development?
I would advise them to disable XP Firewall and use Zonealarm instead anyway.

Have they tried a virus/spyware scan?

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: GX1_Man on October 23, 2005, 01:04:39 PM

I agree 100% !  :o :o :o :o :o

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 23, 2005, 02:21:55 PM

Quote

The other system isn't connecting through dial up at the same time by any chance?

No.

Quote

Has this problem been present since the system was first setup or only a recent development?

The latter

Quote

I would advise them to disable XP Firewall and use Zonealarm instead anyway.

I myself use ZA, and shall pass your message to him.

Quote

Have they tried a virus/spyware scan?

AVG reports his system as being all clear.  He has not so far been able to stay on-line for long enough to down-load SpyBot, but I have urged him to perservere.

Thank you for your help with this one.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: GX1_Man on October 23, 2005, 02:23:38 PM

Don't even have a firewall loaded until you get this resolved.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 23, 2005, 02:30:44 PM

I shall tell him that now -- many thanks.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Fed on October 23, 2005, 11:54:43 PM

OE>Tools>Options>Connections Tab... you will see it.  :)

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 12:38:22 AM

Quote

OE>Tools>Options>Connections Tab... you will see it.  :)

I think that I have missed something  -- what is it that I am going to see ?

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Fed on October 24, 2005, 12:41:48 AM

Gimme a minute...
(http://www.comcen.com.au/~fed/oe.gif)

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Fed on October 24, 2005, 12:50:21 AM

HMMM? That didn't come out very clearly.

Anyway, the bottom checkbox says 'Hangup after sending & receiving.

Add to that the setting of 'check email every x minutes' and that could explain IE dropping out too.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 01:11:02 AM

No, that is perfect, and as usual I was in too much of a hurry.  I shall report to him shortly, and let you know.

Thank you for taking all this trouble, in the early hours of the morning, too.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Fed on October 24, 2005, 01:16:46 AM

Quote

in the early hours of the morning

Not for me.  :)

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 05:31:20 AM

Quote

OE>Tools>Options>Connections Tab... you will see it.  :)

Yes, he has made sure that 'Hang up after sending/receiving' is unticked, but it has made no difference, I am afraid.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: 2k_dummy on October 24, 2005, 05:54:07 AM

In dial up networking, right click the connection and select properties. Click configure. Click connection. Uncheck "disconnect if idle for more than" x min.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 07:14:17 AM

When I follow those steps as far as 'Configure', I do not get a window containing the choice 'Connections'.  Could you just confirm the route, please.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: 2k_dummy on October 24, 2005, 07:28:37 AM

When you click the configure button it should bring up a dialog box with tabs at the top. One should be connection.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 08:23:55 AM

When I click the 'Configure'-button, what I see is
simply a 'Modem Configuration'-window, which does not offer the choice of the instruction that you mention.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: 2k_dummy on October 24, 2005, 09:28:51 AM

(http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/41/41577/folders/149379/1716214con1.gif)

(http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/41/41577/folders/149379/1716215con2.gif)

(http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/41/41577/folders/149379/1716216con3.gif)

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 11:26:32 AM

Although my route via Properties is slightly different, I can confirm that the setting for 'Hang up if idle for .... minutes' is 'Never'.

Thank you for taking so much trouble with your screen-captures.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: pcwizard on October 24, 2005, 12:30:15 PM

I think we need to go back to the starting message.

Quote

an instant after he clicks Read Mail, the telephone-line is disconnected

If he is unable to even stay connected then configuring options such as hang up after receiving emails or hang if idle... are irrelevant. The guy isn't even getting that far!

Has he tried system restore to an earlier time prior to the problem happening?

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 24, 2005, 04:11:42 PM

No, but that may well be the next step.

If for any reason that is not a practical proposition, might the answer be to reinstall IE ?

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: merlin_2 on October 24, 2005, 04:14:40 PM

How many pc are on this system?

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 25, 2005, 12:39:19 AM

Quote

How many pc are on this system?

Only 1.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Fed on October 25, 2005, 01:02:35 AM

Tell him to try IE with OE shutdown.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 29, 2005, 12:25:33 AM

I understand that, in the interval that has passed, a local computer-repairer has found that the ISP-settings were wrong.  How they came to go wrong, having originally been correct, I have not yet been told.

However, I am grateful to all that have helped with this topic.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Raptor on October 29, 2005, 06:50:20 AM

Turn off auto-disconnect after receiving E-mail.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: paieye on October 30, 2005, 11:24:48 PM

Thank you, but that was never the difficulty.

Title: Re: IE Disconnecting
Post by: Raptor on October 31, 2005, 12:15:38 AM

And did you turn it off or just assumed you didn't have to?