Broadband Teething Problems

[Sever]

After signing up for a high speed connection at my not-so new apartment, i've been somewhat disappointed with its performance. At startup or about half an afterwards, or after being idle, (or indeed at any random time of day or night besides) for a short while, my connection is totally unable to log onto any website. I'm still a rookie when it comes to this stuff having only had one previous broadband connection in a regional area. Re-opening the browser (IE) makes no difference, nor does logging on or off to different XP user accounts, nor does rebooting. In fact the only solution i've found is to bugger off for a while and try again later. I'm wondering: is this annoying habbit a symptom of my browser or does it have something to do with the physical lines of the apartment and perhaps the older technology of the city (compared to regional areas)? Apologies if this is obvious, but like i said, i'm a rook. All i know is that my last connection, though slower, smaller and out in the sticks, performed better than the more expensive connection i now have in the city.

I've also managed to catch what i believe to be the first virus to slip through AVG. Picked up from either pron or Ebaumsworld, it redirected me to a dodgy looking page that kindly offered to scan my system for errors. After i cancelled the page, i was bombarded with agressive anti-spyware adware telling me my system was infected and trying to sell me the solution to the problem they'd caused. They've stopped now, but i think it's left its mark in my registry. Every time i open a user account, my system tries to install something from the XP MS Office CD and then prompts me to put the disc in. Am i right in thinking the adware has done something dodgy?

[T-D-C]

Is it ADSL or Cable?

Which Broadband provider are you using?

Are you connecting using a Modem or Modem/router?

If its Telstra Cable using their Cable Modems it sounds like the heartbeat signel isn't being responded to through your firewall. I had a similar problem ages ago.

[Sever]

Telstra Bigpond ADSL with a modem.

[T-D-C]

OK first thing to check is that you have a ADSL Line filter on all other phones.

If you already have that try disconnecting the other phones and see if the problem keeps happening.

If it stops when no other phones are plugged in then you may have a faulty filter and the signal is dropping out.

What did the *shudder* telstra tech support say?

Also whats the make and modle of your ADSL modem?

[Sever]

Originally posted by T-D-C: What did the *shudder* telstra tech support say?

Bah, past experience has taught me to go to the people who know. That's why i asked here first.

Siemens Speed Stream *giggle* 4200

Filters fitted as per instructions. Will try it with no other phones connected for a while and see what that does. Thanks Tim.

Any advice on my non-existant, constantly bitching MS Office suite?

[T-D-C]

For that one I would update Adaware first, load into XP safe mode, scan it there.

Other than that if it is something that is loading on thartup or switching user accounts check

1. START>Programs>Startup
If nothing to suspicious looking is there then
2. Start>Run>MSconfig - Click on the startup TAB
Look for anything out of place. If you see something strage then I usually google the file name and see what it relates to. In this area you can disable it on startup and see if this helps.

[Sever]

A startup item listed as NvCpl showed up in the startup menu of msconfig. A quick search revealed this to be a process of a W32.spybot.S worm. However, after much more searching, i'm still at a loss to remove it. The related file in the system32 folder is dated for about 6 months ago, well before this rig ever saw online use. That combined with the fact that my AVG refuses to acknowledge it as a virus leaves me dubious as to whether this caused my problem. It does refuse my commands to cancel it as a startup item so i'd still like to get rid of it.

Also, there are a number of semi-legit processes that have found their way on to my system which i do not use and do not particularly want. Does anyone know how to remove the following processes/files:

ituneshelper.exe (installed with quicktime, i believe)

realsched.exe (realtime player update schedule.)

qttask.exe (quicktime player update schedule.)

pdvdserv.exe (Power DVD remote control software, listed as a potential security threat and something i don't use or want.)

These processes are currently unchecked in the startup menu and (unlike nvcpl) seem to stay unchecked. Do they use any resources or pose any threat whilst in that state? If not, i'll just leave them there.

[Sever]

Also, disconnecting all other lines from the filters/splitters does not seem to make a difference with the connection availablity. I think it's time to make that call to telstra unless anyone has any other ideas.

[T-D-C]

Did anything come up with the Adaware search?

If you want to gt rid of the NvCpl file try doing a search in the registry (back it up first!!!!!) and see what else is calling it.

To get into the registry go Start>Run>Regedit.

Hit Ctrl+F to bring up the search window and see what comes up.

[Felix The Assassin]

IIRC within recent times a new attacker was released to home in on the Office suite. It was addressed to attach to Office with the auto update beacon blaring for auto-updates.

As T-D-C typed, the registry is the only way to to figure it all out.

If you decide to go the manual route, after each delete, hit the F3 key for the next string. Eventually you will get to the folder that has the file hidden in it, and you should be able to delete from there.