Client level packet problem

[wvusoldier]

I'm pretty sure I've got a doozie for you guys.

I believe I have packet problems at the client level, but you guys might have better experience than I do at such things. Here are my symptoms.

ALL errors are intermittent

websites timeout or don't load.
Websites come in as "garbled" random characters that don't appear to have any rhyme or rhythm.
Videos sometimes stop mid-stream, even though the rest of the video appears to be loading.
Sometimes half a picture will load, the rest looks like colored static.

I ORGINALLY chalked all of this up to a poor internet connection between me and my ISP. (I'm in a 3rd world country and I'm pretty sure I'm running a satelite link, but I don't have visibility on the connection anywhere past the router).


It got REALLY interesting when I noticed the garbled picture and intermittent webpage loading error happened on the title bar of my D-link router's settings page. So the packets were going from the router to my machine, and (hopefully) had nothing to do with my ISP!

That should put the error at the client level, but I'm not sure how that could be. This is an out-of-the-box Toshiba Satelite laptop!


I'm a fairly adepet computer users, studying for my Security+ exam as soon as I get back state-side, so feel free to ask away guys, I'm rather excited to troubleshoot this beast myself!

[midsail]

Remember packets r encapsulated frames. If u use the OSI model as a guide it will help to trouble shoot. My guess it is happening at the Network (layer 3) or Transport (layer 4) layers.

BTW u can try to ping the address of the site u r trying to download from and see the check the time of response. And just one very long sho,t to grasp at straw  check your memory with a memory test SW.

[wvusoldier]

It turns out, it's not a network problem at all, it just looks like one.

I tried the computer on a different network (using different satelites) with a different network card (went for the LAN instead of the WLAN) and it still happened. The best guess I've got right now is that all of this extra crap on the new computer is conflicting. I'm turning off all virus scanners and the firewall for a while to see if that's the issue.


I'm also trying to get my hands on a seperate laptop to see if it's a symptom of 3rd world internet as a whole...just in case.


Any OTHER thoughts, now that we know it's a client level issue.

(Feel free to move this thread to another forum, I didn't INTEND to misplace it )

-Jon

[Geek-9pm]

Start your PC with a Linux CD. See how it performs.

[wvusoldier]

hah! That was one of the first things I bought the machine .

Unfortunatley there's some hardware compatability issues that are completely unrelated. Ubuntu and Toshiba Satelites don't appear to play well together....

[wvusoldier]

*bump*
nobody?

Linux is not an option at the moment, as the hardware in the Toshiba A505D doesn't work with it I can't get past boot. But that's a different issue....

Any other suggestions?

[Geek-9pm]

You said you live in  a 3rd world country.
I know what that means.
You may wish to use an isolation transformer and an EMF device for all computer equipment. The noises level on the AC mains is very bad in the 3rd world. And some Laptop power supplies have issues when there is a poor electrical ground.  The laptop supply itself can induce noise into telephone and Ethernet wires.

This is not an endorsement. It is for information only.
http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=228&gclid=CN_j7-23uqICFQlZiAod9Txl4w

[wvusoldier]

lol good guess (I've got a mess of Apple machines that got fried due to generator malfuncion and poor grounding the other day)

This issue happens regardless of the power supply grid I'm on, or if I'm soely on battery, or using a WLAN or LAN at a completely different location.

I WISH it were as easy as grounding...


heh, lost an x-box that way too....

[rthompson80819]

When generators start up they put out tons of electrical garbage.  That's why almost all standby generators that use an automatic transfer switch won't actually make the transfer for a minute or two.  They allow a little time to let the generator settle down.

[wvusoldier]

These are things I wish my Iraqi electricians new before they installed them .

Still, none of that fixes intermittent problems on my toshiba laptop.

I'm working under the strong belief that whatever the problem is, it's in the laptop, effects both WLAN and LAN, isn't browser dependant, and *NEW* happens regardless of the user...


Also, the error happens when I retrieve files from inside a LAN.
I've ran a RAM memory checker, the RAM is fine.

Something about this machine just REALLY hates talking to the outside world....


Would it matter that it's a 64 bit system?

I've tried a memory check, that didn't do it.
I'm working on 1) using a basic registry cleaner....just in case?
2) Booting the system in safe-mode with networking...see if tha tclears it up. It's *censored* hard to tell when the problem is intermittent......

[Geek-9pm]

I've tried a memory check, that didn't do it.
I'm working on 1) using a basic registry cleaner....just in case?
2) Booting the system in safe-mode with networking...see if tha tclears it up. It's *censored* hard to tell when the problem is intermittent......

Go for # 2. Some Mal Ware can not run in safe mode.

[rthompson80819]

If you are in Iraq, from what I've read about the power grid there, I don't thing you could ever have too much power protection for computers.  From what I've read about the power system there it could destroy toasters.  You need line conditioners, UPS units, and anything else you can get your hands on to stabilize power.

I know that may not help with some of your current laptop problems, but it may save it from future problems.