Firewalled when not.

SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Computer/Internet problem(s). I really need some help!</div>Hey guys, I have come across a very, very frustrating problem:

Background: I spent two days doing a huge maintenance run on my computer. I cleared up 50GB of junk, had all sorts of virus scans, malware/adware scans... I defragged, fixed any errors with multiple programs... chkdsk... the whole nine yards. I even blew out the dust from my fans and heatsink and whatnot and updates all my drivers.

So my computer was purring like a kitten... but for some reason, my Internet was not:

Here are some symptoms:

'LimeWire' will not connect... I receive a firewall icon in the program even when there is none problem. And on the rare, random occasion that it *does* connect, my downloads will slowly gain speed, reach a point and then slowly drop down to zero bytes/s, then I get disconnected. And the only way to exit this program is to end it's process in the task manager.

Azureus, a torrent downloader that I use, shares similar symptoms: it tells me that I am firewalled when I clearly have none running... and when it does randomly work and let's me know that I'm green-across-the-board, the downloads hit 1.2kb/s.

And, last but not least, Firefox seems to be acting up, too. When I go to websites that receive a lot of hits (namely DeviantArt), and I click a link and wait for my browser to load... nothing happens. Firefox says "Stopped" in the bottom left corner and then continues to work.

However, my downloads from the web achieve fast speeds, and when my browser does work, it loads up web pages in a snap.


What I've done:

-Port Forwarding (to no avail)
-Enabling/disable uPnP
-Connecting my computer to the internet without the router
-updating router's firmware
-uninstalling/reinstalling/updating/downgrading to a previous version of the three programs mentioned above.
-Updating drivers/software (ie. Java)
-Diagnostics on my computer (Scanning, error scanning, etc.)
-Using different ports for different things.

My ISP does not throttle any download speeds or block any ports.


Now, I know my internet problem is pretty large and unsolvable, but I really don't know who/where to go to... so what better place than the Off-topic forums for NS? You guys know everything, I swear. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

Other symptoms: LimeWire will randomly connect sometimes when I have my firewall *up*. And when this happens, the firewall icon disappears. Which... doesn't make any sense at all.

Azureus told me that I had green-across-the-board just yesterday, yet today I have not changed a thing, and it's telling me my Firewall is up.

I use Kiero Personal Firewall, with exceptions to every program I use. And even then, I never have it on when my PC is running. >.>

I use Norton Anti-Virus (boo) and I have everything configured so it messes with my pc as least as possible.

My specs are:
AMD 64 3700+ w/ HyperTransport
2GB of RAM
250GB HDD with 80GB free
Windows XP Professional
Ati X800 256mb + with updated drivers.

Limewire: 4.12 (Downgraded from beta 4.13)

Azureus: latest version

Linksys router: model # BEFSR41 v3 + latest firmware

High speed DSL

ISP: Telus

Not that it matters, but I'm using port Forwarding on high-end ports. (I know some of the 6000 ranges are blacklisted).

Even with my programs port forwarded and with no firewall, they still say that I am walled and will not work... so that rules my router out of the equation, methinks. And my firewall has never caused any problems before...

I really need some help guys,
Thanks for your time,
Sid
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Comments

  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    Alright, so, uh... Azereus has decided to start working. I changed it's port to the dreaded 6669... But that's it, though.
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    Also, my internet seems to cut out on random intervals; disconnecting me from irc, killing Azereus and killing any downloads I've had off the net.

    Oddly enough, all the other computers plugged into my router work FLAWLESSLY. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    sorry to hear about it, I hope someone has some advice for you.

    whenever I have internet problems, it's usually just Comcast <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
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  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    Have you considered something more mundane? Maybe a loose connection somewhere?
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    I've checked all connections, Mantrid, and even replaced my ehternet cable.
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    Sid, you say that every single other computer that's hooked onto the router has no problems, have you tried loading the programs onto another system? If they all work as flawlessly, then I'd suggest that something you did during the maintenance has destabilised Windows in some way. Alarmingly common after a zealous maintenance routine, unfortunately...

    If they do work fine, then you might have 3 possible options. Obviously, back up any important files before attempting these...

    1: Put your Windows disc in the drive, go to Start->Run->"cmd", then type in sfc /scannow

    This will start the system file checker up, and make sure that no damage has been done to any system files. Try it after that.

    Step 2 is a little more drastic.

    2: Boot from the Windows disc, and FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS VERY CAREFULLY to repair your Windows installation. Normally you press R to repair your Windows installation <b>AFTER</b> you accept the EULA. It will delete JUST the Windows folder, and reinstall into it. This will sort out any possible conflictions within Windows that the system file checker doesn't cover.

    If that doesn't work, then the problem is being caused by something extraneous to Windows, which means the "whole nine yards" apporach, wipe and reinstall.
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    Awesome, thank you Patch. I'll check into those. *Searches for Windows CD*
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    Obviously, there are more methods, but most of them aren't worth it. Windows updates are faster now than they used to be, when everyone went searching off for the most obscure method of repairing an issue. Now me, working with PC repair, and doing it to strict restrictions for the sake of the customers and their wallets, use the above methods. If everything else works fine, as in network wise, then it's something unique to that computer. System files first, then try, repair installation, then try, if not, wipe, and it WILL work. If it doesn't then it s a hardware problem...
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  • SvenpaSvenpa Wait, what? Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25012Members, Constellation
    This sounds like the problem I posted a couple weeks ago regarding random disconnects. I found out that it's my routers fault, if I open any ports that I later use the router shuts itself down, all the leds on the front goes blank for a second or two. Havn't solved wth is causing it tho. I'll give patches suggestions a try.

    So what router do you have, a linksys?

    @ reinstalling the windows folder, does that delete your registry aswell? I think I did this some time ago and different programs had trouble functioning normally afterwards.
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    edited January 2007
    Svenpa, the registry is a file called system.dat, usually found within the Windows, or the Windows/System folder, so yes, reinstalling Windows over itself in that manner may cause the registry file to be lost. Doesn't happen all the time, for some curious reason.

    And the programs hes using, Limewire, and Azureus, and firefox can all run from a USB drive, with no registry key involved (I've had to do it myself before on someone's PC I was working on), so they can be tested without the registry being involved.

    *edit*
    .day? WTH. .dat stupid -.-
    */edit*
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  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    one thing to look at - check your port forwarding and make sure the ports are being forwarded to the right IP, and not the IP of one of the other computers you tried...

    I recently checked my router and noticed that my port forwarding was set to forward junk to an ip that wasn't the PC I was using.
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    It's working again. I don't know how.. and I don't know what I did.. but I'm not complaining. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

    Thanks all for your help, it was greatly, GREATLY appreciated. <3
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    You know, the repair isn't finished until the person doing it knows what they did, or what they did wrong.
    So, Sid, list whatcha did, and we'll point out what each part does, so you know what to do if you f*** it up in the future <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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  • SvenpaSvenpa Wait, what? Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25012Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1601913:date=Jan 26 2007, 10:58 AM:name=Lt_Patch)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lt_Patch @ Jan 26 2007, 10:58 AM) [snapback]1601913[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    If they do work fine, then you might have 3 possible options. Obviously, back up any important files before attempting these...

    1: Put your Windows disc in the drive, go to Start->Run->"cmd", then type in sfc /scannow

    This will start the system file checker up, and make sure that no damage has been done to any system files. Try it after that.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    The scan dosn't recognise my valid, non-iso win xp home cd <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" /> It's the swedish version btw.
    It does some progress then it asks for the cd, I insert it and click OK. It just asks for it again, tried the other drive but without any progress.

    Suggestions?
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    Technically, it shouldn't make a difference what language it's in, as long as it's an original CD, or a direct copy thereof. I know there are SOME ISO versions that work fine with it, but most won't. Provided the disc is scratched up, and your drive reads it, then it should work with it...

    Try over at the Microsoft newsgroups, in the XP section, and see if anyone else knows a solution.
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    edited January 2007
    I did too much stuff to list, unfortunately.. and I'm serious. The things I did, man...

    But, whatever I did, I'll make sure not to do it again, I think.
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