Hi
My basic problem is that I'm having trouble browsing using a dial-up. After connecting to the ISP, I can ping the ISP's server and perhaps open one page. Then everything just goes dead. No pages can be opened. The connection status indicator shows no activity, even when trying to open a web page. Pings return request time outs.
I've suspected virus activity but scans reveal nothing, and I would expect a virus to hog up the connection with lots of bytes been sent, and little being received. In this case there is nothing coming or going at all.
Other suspects are winsock and winsock.dll. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the communications software in Windows setup which I thought would also reinstall winsock but no joy.
At my wits end.

I recently spent two months off and on trying to help someone with that problem on an older system. Being hundreds of miles away made it difficult. But he had borrowed a laptop running XP that worked just fine on his phone line and ISPs. His only available ISP's were all based through AOL's network.

His problems all started when he had to send his computer into the shop to be fixed and they replaced his old failing modem with a new V.92 modem (Conexant HSF chip). He did not notice the problem for several months.

The strange part, is he could connect and download and send e-mail all day long, no problem. He could connect and load any web page, as long as he entered the URL into the browser. But when he clicked on a link, usually the connection would drop. He was getting good 50K or better connections on his phone line.

No amount of PING testing, updating drivers for everything, Format and install of Windows and all programs, installing updates, tweaking TCP/IP could solve the problems. Checking phone lines, etc. (The laptop worked OK.) Even tried adding more memory to the system. Many hours looking at connection logs and TCP/IP traces came up with only one indication. The ISP's end was loosing the "heart beat" signal from him and dropping the connection.

Gave up. But then he decided to try replacing his new $80 Conexant HSF chip set internal modem with a much cheaper modem that I had recently started using and recommended. It had an Agere 1648C DSP chipset and good drivers for full V.92 support. Has never dropped a connection again and is getting even better connections. Works great for a low cost modem. The only online source is a bit high because of the shipping (USA only), but gives great support. ModemSite modem

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to try another modem, though from what you're saying, it sounds like your connection was being dropped. In my case the connection stays up, but there is just no activity on the link whatsoever after about connecting for about 5 minutes.

The actual phone line modem to modem connection was not being dropped, just all TCP/IP communications with the ISP. He would have to Disconnect the connection. So it sounds about the same. I think the problem was not the modem hardware, but the modem chipset drivers (software). A different modem using different software or an external modem would tell you if that is the problem. The problem modem was showing up as a "CNXT V92 Data Fax Voice" modem.