Author Topic: Tweaking.com fixes my problem for a while but then it comes back... (Read 12928 times)

kristainlondon · « **on:** February 11, 2015, 03:16:33 am »

Hi everyone

Hoping you can help me. Windows 8 Lenovo laptop. Worked fine all of 2014 until around December when it would drop the wireless Internet connection every 30 minutes or so and I couldn't get it back unless I restarted my machine. (Although laptop would show that it was still connected to my wireless network.) I discovered Tweaking.com in early 2015 and ran it and it seemed to be the answer to all my problems! After running Tweaking, my laptop stayed connected forever and forever, even with restarts and everything. However, on a few occasions, I've been back in the same situation...connection drops and I have to restart. But if I run Tweaking, it seems to work and I stay connected for much longer...until it stops working. This just happened to me again today and I've just run Windows Repair and am crossing my fingers.

One observation: Sometimes, when the Internet connection drops like this morning, I can still get to YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, and my Twitter stream continues to operate. But I can't get to CNN, NYTimes, etc. etc. That being said, when it has happened in the past...sometimes I can't get to anything at all.

Is there something in the Windows Repair log files that will tell me what Windows Repair has fixed? It seems to be fixing something that is broken and making it better. Maybe if I knew what was broken, I'd be able to further troubleshoot this and/or prevent it from happening again.

I have of course tried unplugging the router and running Malwarebytes. Neither seems to make a difference. In January, I also uninstalled my network driver and reinstalled the latest version. Problem is consistent across Chrome and IE. I have not tried Firefox.

I'm not super-technical, but I can get around. Let me know if I can provide other info or if I should try anything. (But now that I've run Windows Repair today, I'm guessing I have a few days of consistent internet access.)

Boggin · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2015, 06:26:26 am »

As it just seems to affect some sites at times it could be a DNS problem and going into Network and Sharing Center/Change adapter settings then right click on the adapter you are using - select Properties - click on TCP/IPv4 - Properties then check the button to Use the following DNS servers and enter in the top row of boxes 8.8.8.8 then 8.8.4.4 in the lower row.

Check the box to Validate upon exit - close the Windows and Windows Trouble shooter will pop up and check the connection and hopefully report that it can't find anything wrong.

Open a Command Prompt (Admin) and enter -

netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /registerdns

exit

Then reboot

When connectivity drops out on a specific time each time, that could be because of a Time Out setting in the router.

This should be set to Always on or if it is designated as a time such as 30 mins then change this to 0

If you don't lose connectivity when wired to the router, it may be worth changing channels should the problem be due to outside local interference - or it could be an event that happens within your home.

The free inSSIDer3 will help you to determine which is the least populated and best channel to be on. http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

This is a router Wireless setting.

Generally your optimum RSSI value will be around the 50 mark with a Link score of 100 but the link score can drop as your channel is co used or there is an overlap.

You can co-share any channel where other users have values of >=70 as they will be too far away to conflict, but avoid channels where other users on adjacent channels have similar RSSI values to you.

These are some of the causes of interference (REIN) within the home that can knock out a WiFi signal, although there can be other types of interference as you'll see from the article. http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/rein.htm

Boggin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2015, 07:14:20 am »

There is one other thing that you can do as a preventative measure and that is to go into Device Manager and expand Network adapters.

Right click on the Wireless adapter - click on Properties and under the Power Management tab uncheck the box to Allow the computer to switch off this device to save power.

This is a default setting and will be reinstated whenever you reinstall its driver.

It's also possible there could be something recorded in Event Viewer with a time stamp around the time of the disconnects.

Shane · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2015, 11:57:35 am »

I agree, it does sound like it is a DNS problem.

To confirm that, next time it happens open a cmd.exe window as administrator. Once open do these two commands

ping 8.8.8.8

and then

ping tweaking.com

On the 2nd command you can ping any website you havent been to yet.

When you run the first command, DNS isnt needed. But on the 2nd command, when you ping a web address, the system will use DNS to get the IP that belongs to that web address.

So if the first ping to 8.8.8.8 works, but the 2nd ping fails then you know you have a DNS problem

Shane

kristainlondon · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2015, 03:39:35 am »

Thanks guys. I will check these out next time the connection drops and report back.

In the past, I did take a look at the setting about "Allow the computer to switch off this device to save power" and it has always been unchecked but I will do a more thorough review of all your suggestions next time I lose the connection.

kristainlondon · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2015, 04:07:00 pm »

OK, I've figured something out. My internet connection stops working every so often when my firewall status changes. I don't know why the firewall changes. But it occurred to me to check my firewall and I got a message that said that my computer wasn't using the recommended settings. If I click the button that says something like restore defaults or use recommended settings, all of a sudden, I can browse the Internet again. This has happened at least three times now. Basically after a day or two, something will kick in and change the firewall settings again and I will have to restore defaults again. The good news for me now that I have figured this out is that I don't have to restart anymore. I just have to use the recommended firewall settings.

I will run Malwarebytes again tonight but my system seems pretty clean. What else could be changing my firewall settings randomly?? For example...I worked from home all day today without incident. Around 6 pm, I stepped out for a few hours. So that's 10+ hours of uninterruped Internet usage but sometime during the six hours that I was away from my PC, my firewall settings changed. Once I reset the firewall settings, everything was fine.

Will try to take screenshots next time.

Boggin · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2015, 04:44:20 pm »

Have you installed a 3rd party AV program or are you using Windows Defender ?

AVG has recently been causing problems, so it could be that if you have it installed.

Shane · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2015, 08:58:17 pm »

Something is messing with the firewall that is for sure, but is it a antivirus with its own firewall that is doing it or is it an infection?

What anti virus do you have installed and does it have its own firewall?

Shane

Boggin · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2015, 02:18:10 am »

As you have a Lenovo computer, are you aware of http://www.pcworld.com/article/2886278/how-to-remove-the-dangerous-superfish-adware-presintalled-on-lenovo-pcs.html#tk.nl_today and does it affect your model ?

This could make your computer vulnerable to infection if it applies to you and infections usually interfere with firewalls and AV programs.

Your problem could well be because of a buggy 3rd party AV program if you have one installed, but if you are just using Windows Defender then I would advise you to boot up into Safe Mode with Networking http://www.7tutorials.com/5-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-8-windows-81 and run a scan with ESET Free Online Scanner http://www.eset.com/int/home/products/online-scanner/

Click on Advanced and check all of the boxes except the lower Proxy one - check the auto uninstall box and disable your AV program immediately before clicking on Scan and then wait for it to do its thing.

kristainlondon · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2015, 03:28:24 am »

Don't hate me but I only have Windows Defender and Windows Firewall. Every so often, I run Malwarebytes.
I ran the Superfish checker on Chrome and IE and it says I am safe and don't have it.
I will try SafeMode and ESET later tonight and report back.
Thanks guys for your help!!

Boggin · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2015, 04:19:39 am »

Windows Defender in Win 8/8.1 isn't particularly well rated but it will give you basic protection - you are as good an AV program by using safe browsing but that won't defend against hijacked websites or drive-bys.

This is a list of free AV programs but leave AVG and AVAST Free alone as AVG has been causing problems and AVAST Free has some compatibility issues in Win 8.1 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ten-best-antivirus-programs/

If a paid for program is within your means, Kaspersky is topping the list at the moment but it's worth Googling for the best deals as quite often you can get it for a lot less than the normal price.

I use Norton 360 but I've never paid more than £29.99 for it - Symantec's price is about £60.00 for a 3 machine licence.

Shane · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2015, 05:04:20 am »

No worries, All I run is MS and the built in firewall as well

Most people dont realize that their router is a hardware based firewall and most of the time you dont need a firewall on your system unless you want to block a program or you are wide open to the net for some reason

Shane

Boggin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2015, 09:41:21 am »

Norton 360 has blocked a few nasties for me in the 4 - 5 years I've been using it.

Some have attached themselves to a web site and the Toolkits that pop up out of the blue, but it has also warned me when a particular website or download is dangerous and blocked/removed those.

While I've seen where MSE has let some down, it's been very rare that I've seen a Norton user in the same situation - but it does depend upon browsing habits and µTorrent quite often leads to infection.