WinXP Pro & the missing Network Connection.

[Zeke009]

Not sure exactly how to explain it, but when I reboot WinXP I will lose my internet/network connection. Zonealarm will act like there is activity, but nothing will hit the net at all. I thought it was a problem with the onboard VIA NIC, so I installed a 3Com 10/100 NIC and all ran fine for a few days... until I rebooted again.

I did try one of the TCP Optimizer deals, it worked for awhile and a few reboots... but then it started not recognizing the connection at all. Installing default tcp/ip settings for 2K/XP seemed to cure it.

Has anyone messed with the TCP settings to optimized their connection for Cable or DSL?

Specs:
XP1900+
DragonPlus
512MB DDR 2100
3Com 10/100 NIC w/ Cable Access
Windows XP Pro

[primal51]

Someone explain what this ZoneAlarm is, never heard of it?

[engjohn]

zonealarm is a software firewall available from zonelabs (www.zonelabs.com)

[rogerdugans]

I am not thrilled with the way XP networks myself: I have a laptop with it for work, and to connect to the network there and mine at home I have to reconfigure settings every time!

Note: I have switched laptops net to net before with 98, NT and Win2K- no problems.

As far as your issue: have you tweaked any services or anything?
It sounds as though one of the network services is not performing correctly to me, although I am not yet too familiar with XP- only had it a couple weeks.

[Zeke009]

Last night I downloaded the new drivers for the 3Com 3c905 NIC, didn't change any settings for services really... just removed a few services I don't need. All was good, until I rebooted about 3 hours later. Gone no network again... Which is very odd since I had powered down and rebooted a few times since I made that change.

I was reversing the fan on my HSF to see if it made any difference for me, so one would think I would have lost my network during one of those times. Although, this time I noticed that Zonealarm was wanting to reconfigure itself again and had no programs listed for access to the net. I had configured Zonealarm once already.

I killed Zonealarm and immediately ICQ and Analog X NetStat Live (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/nsl.htm) took off right away! Tried a few other things and they all worked as well. Zonealarm was my problem the entire time. It just never prompted me to configure it again before last night...

So... if you are having problems with XP with networking and have Zonealarm installed. Check to see how things work without Zonealarm being used. It would appear that Zonealarm doesn't load its configuration correctly at times, which causes nothing to hit the internet or network.

[Zeke009]

Originally posted by rogerdugans
I am not thrilled with the way XP networks myself: I have a laptop with it for work, and to connect to the network there and mine at home I have to reconfigure settings every time!

Note: I have switched laptops net to net before with 98, NT and Win2K- no problems.

As far as your issue: have you tweaked any services or anything?
It sounds as though one of the network services is not performing correctly to me, although I am not yet too familiar with XP- only had it a couple weeks.

I'm still fumbling through the behind the scenes of XP myself. Having since discovered that Zonealarm is the culprit I am going to try again with tweaking the TCP and other network settings. I did remove the QoS reserved bandwidth setting and QoS service from my network configuration.

Here are some sites I have bee visiting for tips.
Tweak XP - Internet Settings (http://www.tweakxp.com/tweakxp/internet_tweaks.asp)
Speedguide.net (http://www.speedguide.net) At Speedguide.net check out the TCP Optimizer (http://www.speedguide.net/files/TCPOptimizer.exe) after you have checked the TCP Analyzer (http://forums.speedguide.net:8117/)