Internet connectivity issues

clsCorwin · August 2009

The gist is I can visit some sites, and some I can't (newegg most notably).

Running Vista Home Premium SP1, McAfee Security Center, scanned with Trend Micro came clean, Spybot yielded a trojan that has since been cleaned and no effect to internet.

Some sites load, some load slowly, some don't load at all.

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=99021

My H/A thread going through everything I've tried.

Been through my ISPs tech support and they concluded that it wasn't anything on their end.

twmjr · August 2009

1) have you tried accessing these sites from multiple browsers? do you notice any difference in behavior?

2) I see from the H&A thread that someone had you do a traceroute -- can you post the entire output to a site that isn't working?

3) what ISP are you using?

4) From a command prompt, try doing: telnet www.newegg.com 80 -- do you get a successful connection?

clsCorwin · August 2009

1) I'm using Firefox 3.5 and I've tried it in IE8 with the same results.

2)

Tracing route to www.newegg.com [204.14.213.185]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 7 ms 6 ms 7 ms 10.97.240.1
2 5 ms 6 ms 4 ms static.unknown.charter.com [96.34.120.86]
3 206 ms 214 ms 215 ms static.unknown.charter.com [96.34.120.34]
4 28 ms 32 ms 27 ms static.unknown.charter.com [96.34.120.20]
5 309 ms 307 ms 307 ms 96.34.2.0
6 50 ms 38 ms 48 ms svl-edge-20.inet.qwest.net [65.123.13.141]
7 40 ms 42 ms 53 ms sjp-brdr-03.inet.qwest.net [67.14.34.10]
8 40 ms 42 ms 40 ms 63.146.26.42
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * * Request timed out.
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * * Request timed out.
21 * * * Request timed out.
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * * * Request timed out.
24 * * * Request timed out.
25 * * * Request timed out.
26 * * * Request timed out.
27 * * * Request timed out.
28 * * * Request timed out.
29 * * * Request timed out.
30 * * * Request timed out.

3) I'm using Charter 5mb cable

4) after about 10 seconds of trying to connect, I get a black screen. Thats it.

ronya · August 2009

Some thoughts:

If you have a USB thumbdrive or a CDR/RW/DVDR/DVDRW lying about, throw any Linux livecd on it and boot up. See if you can access the Internet from it, and see whether the problem recurs. If it does not, then the problem is limited to your Windows install. Tell us and we can work from there.

If it recurs, then the problem is possibly your hardware, your router, or your connection. Troubleshooting any of these is best done if you have spare hardware or routers; could you borrow anything from a friend or colleague for an evening?

clsCorwin · August 2009

I currently have no Linux livecd to boot from, and really no spare hardware. Its a brand new computer (Acer), my Linksys cable modem is a couple years old, and I went through hell and back with my ISP and found no issues in the connection itself.

Also, I really have nobody around that I could borrow hardware from. Sucky.

ronya · August 2009

Well. Try Wubi, perhaps? If your connection prohibits such a large download, get a lightweight repair-oriented distro and install that directly from disc.

e: it looks like UNetbootin automates the process of installing to disc.

clsCorwin · August 2009

This is my wife's computer, so I don't want to install a bunch of stuff on it. Looks like I'll be downloading Knoppix for a bit.

ronya · August 2009

You could just go with Puppy Linux or something O_o small, since all you need is to test connectivity under another OS.

clsCorwin · August 2009

Well, were assuming that I can even connect to the site right now, which is kinda the whole point of this

Knoppix I could get to, and started dling, puppy is looking like its in the unreachable category.

twmjr · August 2009

clsCorwin wrote: »

1) I'm using Firefox 3.5 and I've tried it in IE8 with the same results.

2)
Tracing route to www.newegg.com [204.14.213.185]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 7 ms 6 ms 7 ms 10.97.240.1
2 5 ms 6 ms 4 ms static.unknown.charter.com [96.34.120.86]
3 206 ms 214 ms 215 ms static.unknown.charter.com [96.34.120.34]
4 28 ms 32 ms 27 ms static.unknown.charter.com [96.34.120.20]
5 309 ms 307 ms 307 ms 96.34.2.0
6 50 ms 38 ms 48 ms svl-edge-20.inet.qwest.net [65.123.13.141]
7 40 ms 42 ms 53 ms sjp-brdr-03.inet.qwest.net [67.14.34.10]
8 40 ms 42 ms 40 ms 63.146.26.42
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
12 * * * Request timed out.
13 * * * Request timed out.
14 * * * Request timed out.
15 * * * Request timed out.
16 * * * Request timed out.
17 * * * Request timed out.
18 * * * Request timed out.
19 * * * Request timed out.
20 * * * Request timed out.
21 * * * Request timed out.
22 * * * Request timed out.
23 * * * Request timed out.
24 * * * Request timed out.
25 * * * Request timed out.
26 * * * Request timed out.
27 * * * Request timed out.
28 * * * Request timed out.
29 * * * Request timed out.
30 * * * Request timed out.

3) I'm using Charter 5mb cable

4) after about 10 seconds of trying to connect, I get a black screen. Thats it.

In response to 2 -- just for the hell of it try going to http://204.14.213.185 and http://216.52.208.185 and see if either takes you to newegg.

For number 4 -- you mean the text goes away and the DOS prompt becomes a completely black screen? If so, that means you have network connectivity to newegg on the HTTP port (i.e. it's not an ISP issue). I'd say at that point that the blame is with some application you've got -- either some kind of malware or some kind of firewall business that's mucking things up. The bootable Linux suggestion should prove that out one way or another.

clsCorwin · August 2009

It was a completely blank black screen, no cursor.

I'm thinking of just saying fuck it and restoring this thing back to day 4 out of the box.

And no, no newegg via the ips.

ronya · August 2009

Just try Knoppix first, or you may be restoring it for nothing.

twmjr · August 2009

yeah, definitely try the bootable CD first, but I'm 99% positive that's going to work. been wrong before, though.

clsCorwin · August 2009

Booted into Knoppix and right after it plays the start up sequence initiated sound, my monitor goes blank with an out of range message.

Managed to finally get to puppy, so I'm downloading that too.

clsCorwin · August 2009

And puppy boots just fine, I just can't get on the internet period, in guessing, due to lack of network controller drivers.

Improvolone · August 2009

Crunchbang can be run off of a usb drive/cd and includes many network drivers.

This must be horrible.

clsCorwin · August 2009

It really really is.

The worst part is, once I get my financial aid money, I can't order my parts until I get this fixed cuz I can't get to newegg!

clsCorwin · August 2009

Alright, so I'm rocking Crunchbang right now. Still having issues.

What. The. Fuck.

Also, I did a system restore last night for the hell of it, and yea, still.

STILL!

Improvolone · August 2009

It's gotta be hardware at this point, cause this shit is fucking ridiculous.

ronya · August 2009

Hmm.

Boot into Crunchbang or whatever that gives you internet access. If it runs Firefox or Midori or another easy-to-configure browser, a plus. Then start trying proxies based on lists like these or these or these.

Try see whether you can find a proxy server that gives you access to a site you know you can access (like, say, penny-arcade.com). Then try a site you can't access (like newegg.com). Does it work?

clsCorwin · August 2009

Well if its hardware then thats some fucked up shit. Less than a month out of the box.

grrarg · August 2009

What is your hardware, a custom built or store-bought PC? Have you checked for BIOS updates or new drivers?

A while back my sister bought a cheap Acer from Best Buy for her kid. It had a similar problem where it would randomly lose connectivity. It turned out to be a BIOS problem with the ethernet port. Downloaded and flashed an update and it started working properly.

edit: I see that it is an Acer after reading more of your H/A thread. Post the model number so we can check their troubleshooting and BIOS page.

clsCorwin · August 2009

Its a store bought Acer X1300 desktop, less than a month old. No, I have not checked for updated BIOS. Yes I have checked for new drivers, but Acer's site does not have drivers for the network controller.

Although, that seems to be a moot point since both Vista and Crunchbang have the same damn problem, and a broken windows drivers wouldn't effect Crunchbang.

Also, this isn't an issue of no connectivity, its selective connectivity. Connections to PA, Google, similar sites A-Ok. Connection to newegg.com, and other random sites, not so good!

Also, using 210.60.90.25:80 as a proxy I CAN reach newegg.

Success! But now, what the fuck is the problem?

ronya · August 2009

My money's on "blame Charter", but your modem may be at fault too. Or your network card.

If there's a reset to factory button on your modem, hit it. Then insert all your Charter settings again.

clsCorwin · August 2009

Badgering charter and THEY can't connect to newegg either, just times out. Definitely on their end methinks.

ronya · August 2009

Well, at least you know what the issue is now. :rotate:

clsCorwin · August 2009

Yea now to just try to get them to realize they have a problem and get a comp on my bill.

clsCorwin · August 2009

lol, the tech (with consultation of her supervisor) have concluded that newegg has blocked my ip.

Improvolone · August 2009

Obviously!

Good thing you have access to PA

lilB · August 2009

A few ideas...

DNS failure maybe? Try an alternate DNS

Also, try pinging some servers and see if any packets are lost.

Watch the blinking lights on your modem to see if its rebooting itself often.

twmjr · August 2009

clsCorwin wrote: »

lol, the tech (with consultation of her supervisor) have concluded that newegg has blocked my ip.

this makes 0 sense given that you were able to telnet to it successfully.

you could try posting here: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/charter -- that main portion would be fellow end-users, but there's also a "Charter Direct" forum where Charter employees look at the posts. the guys that end up on dslreports seem to be (generally) more helpful than the random help desk monkey you get on the phone -- so it's worth a shot.

clsCorwin · August 2009

Talked to a tech last night (since the night techs seem to actually know what their doing) and he said that part of the internet backbone in chicago went down last week and has been having issues, and he thinks thats the cause.

clsCorwin · September 2009

And now the problem has escalated! I have no connectivity now, and while I can get basic info, such as a sites IP when I ping them, everything times out and I can get nowhere, not even to proxy land. tracerts are dying after 3 or 4 hops. I tried getting a modem from charter, in hopes that maybes my linksys was going bad. No, not the problem at all.

Argh.

ronya · September 2009

But your modem reports a connection, right? Is yours a model with ping and so on? Many newer routers have ping and tracert that you can try. See if it has the same problem.

clsCorwin · September 2009

From charters end, they are reporting my modem online and pulling an IP. from their end, trying to ping me times out.

No idea is mine is a model with ping. Mine is a Linksys circa 2006, the one I have from charter right now is a Scientific Atlanta (which I was suprised to see is a Cisco company also. When did that happen?)

ronya · September 2009

clsCorwin wrote: »

from their end, trying to ping me times out.

Yeah, okay, it's their problem now.

Which then translates to your problem nonetheless, but then the solution is "find another ISP". :P

clsCorwin · September 2009

Yea, I've pretty much known it was their problem from the get go. They're sending a tech tomorrow, so we'll see what this guy says.

I've been looking, but the only cable in my area besides Charter is Comcast... blah.

clsCorwin · September 2009

So tech came out, and apparently the TX (transmission strength was too low) and the RX (whatever that is) was too high, so he put an adapter on the line, and it worked for his laptop... but not my comp. So he changes out modems and then it works just fine.

I'm still unsure weather or not my cable modem is a dud or not, or if the entire issue with my modem was the TX/RX deal.

twmjr · September 2009

RX would be receive...it was probably a combination of both -- bad signal levels & the modem..but mostly the modem.

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