Hello,

I have a problem that appears at first to be heat related, but I am not yet convinced. After my computer has been on for about an hour or so (have not really timed it)I will lose my commection to the internet just as I get to my ISP home page. (AOL or Juno) Since the problem is the same with both ISP's, then I assume the problem is me. Now if I shut down the computer for about 20 min or so.....then my connections are perfect....hence my reason for thinking a heat related problem. I do have an extra exhaust fan installed, but I have no way of testing the speed. I ermoved the cpu heatsink and renewed the heat-sink compound. Also it si not all that warm in here, which makes me doubt the heat related problem.
My system is a AMD K6, 233 MHZ, 128MHZ RAM. and A USROBITCE 33.6 hardware modem (Well I believe it to be hardware as it uses a ISA port.)
Secont question if I may be so bold, Com Port 1 is listed 4 times and Com port 2 is listed 3 times..anyway to fix this?

Thanks in advance,
Steve48

Get a powerful house fan of some sort and blow it first on your modem and try to use the internet, if it works fine when it usually doesn't then heat is your problem.
Then blow the fan at the intake of your computer (probably the front) then check to see if the net works when it usually doesn't. If heat is the problem, the fan should cool it enough to recognize if it is the problem.

I'm sort of doubting that heat is the problem though. Most likely just the software, for instance after running a certain program it might conflict with your internet software.

Good luck
...d03boy

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Alienware [Grey/Custom]
Intel Celeron 900MHz
128MB SDRAM
30GB Seagate HD
56x CD-ROM
8x HP CD-Writer
IntelliMouse [USB]

Boot into Safe Mode and remove the multiple listsings for your COM ports, actually remove all the listings for your COM ports and then reboot and let Winodws reinstall it.

That is problem one, problem two (disconnecting) may disappear after that or at least it may be a little easier to diagnose...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Thanks for the suggestions.

A little update may be in order. I usually keep my computer on 7/24. I understand the pros and cons of this and I have also been told of the bathtub curve and how it would probably be better if I shut off my computer at bedtime. I may do that from this point on. The reason? After leaving the computer off all night and turning it on this AM, I hvent had a problem all day! It makes me wonder if my power supply was too hot from being on 7/24. As a retired Navy electronics tech, I know too well that overheated power supplies can cause very strange and non logical problems!
So maybe tomorrow I will boot up in safe mode and attempt to remove the multiple Com ports! I will let you know how that went!

Thanks again,
Steve

Hey Steve48,
Sounds to me like you are suffering memory leak. I am assuming you are using Windows, but you don't say which version.
Check to see what is running in the background and what is in Task Scheduler. If this machine is on all the time, then something is eating your memory and this could be your problem.
By shutting down for a few minutes and restarting, you are clearing the memory and regaining resources.

Keep us posted http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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A real Christian is one who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.
Frank's Place (http://dreamwater.net/tech/frankscomp/)

Bassman:

Thanks for the suggestion. I am using Windows 98 SE. I will look at my resources the next time that my internet connection disconnects when I log on. Just to clarify, just a reboot will normally not clear up the problem. It needs at least a 5 min. or longer shutdown. That is why I tend to suspect a subtle heat peoblem. I am consiering getting a 56k modem to replace the 33.6k modem that I have, but most modems now are WIN modems, and I understant that since I only have a 233MHZ CPU and 128 Megs of ram, that I may suffer some poor performance with a WIN Moden. I am also considering a better case, with better ventilation.
Thanks Again
Steve48

There are some hardware modems out there (and some ISA 56k modems are still being made)...just going to take some looking and they will probably be in the $70+ range...external modems are most ofeten hardware also.


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Update #2

Well, the problem re-surfaced last night, and my resources were at 72%. Rebooted and rescorces were at 92% and still the problem existed. So I shut it down and removed the power supply (AT) and blew out the dust with some canned air. It was a wee bit dusty inside, but not all that bad. Re-installed and it worked. But the fact that it worked came as no surprize since I had the unit off for at least 10 min. I will have to see if it passes the test of time today.

Thanks for all of your interests and help!
P.S. I can get a 56k USRobotics hardware modem for $49.00.....I think that is not too bad.

then grab the USR...I have an external USR and it is absolutely fantastic...great connect speed and download speed that is usually very close to my connect speed. Very stable connections and no problems or conflicts with anything else in Windows. Plus I can use it in any OS I desire...thus far I have used it in DOS, several versions of Windows, and several distros of Linux... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif , and I see no reason that I can't use it in ay other OS I might decide to try out.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Update #3,

Well, honestly I have not yet got the USR 56k modem because I am considering getting cable Internet. (The package here includes digital cable and digital phone for less than I am paying for dial up, @Pac Bell lines and Cable tv.) Anyway, the problem returned http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif So I went out and got a bigger CPU cooler ($6.00 and a replacement fan for the Powersupply). Well the CPU cooler mad little , if any difference. BUT the new Power supply fan seems to have solved the problem all-together. That makes perfect sense since everytime that the problem occured, if I took out the power supply and blew air in it.problem would vanish (at least for a while) AND the old Powersupply fan was rather noisy. Now the airflow must be at least 3 times what it was before! I will keep ypu posted if anything changes. But what still puzzles me is why only the modem seemed to be affected. Well if the problem returns, I will have no choice but to replace the modem just to rule it out!

Thanks for the help!
Steve

Could be that the 5V regulator was the firt one to overheat...+5v is what is supplied to the ISA slots.......


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.