Weird Net Problem

Ok, I'm just gonna take you through what happend first...

One day, Internet Explorer unexpectedly crashed, so it gives me the 'do you want to send report' message, of course I dont, but no matter what I do, it won't go away. I CTRL-ALT-DEL, and click on drwatson32 (i think thats it) and click 'end process'. Immediately on pressing the button. I got a BSOD saying somthing along the lines off 'IRQ_less_than_number' somthing or other. Bit strange I thought, so I hit restart.

Now, whenever I connect, using an ADSL USB modem, after an indeterminate amount of time, the net traffic falls very low (a few bps), all open windows cease to work (Explorer, Outlook, BlueJ, Word, anything), I can't open anything (even CTRL-ALT-DEL dont work), and the only thing that functions is the taskbar. However as soon as I disconnect, everything works, it's as if the whole system has been put on hold waiting for somthing that hasn't happend....

Using an nForce II ultra 400 system on windows XP with all latest updates.

Now, any ideas? Anyone? Any Remedies? I don't want to format!

Cheers guys

Have you got the windows XP system restore turned on. If so you can try restoring to a date before your system started having this problem. Probably the easiest thing you can try.

possible USB issue mate

what PSU do you have and how many USB devices are connected to this PC

Could be, but I've had no problems with it before the strange BSOD, so it seems unlikely. I have 5 devices attached and a 500 Watt PSU (more than enough i should imagine). A joystick, printer (often turned off), USB Modem, Digital Camera (rarely on, or even attached) and a USB flash drive (same as the camera).

Do you think I should disconnect some devices?

Ok, I have used System Restore and it appears to have worked (I dislike using it normally). I checked Windows Update and this update:

Critical Update for ADODB.stream (KB870669)
Download size: 104 KB, < 1 minute
An issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Windows and gain complete control over it. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

I had installed this prior to receceiving the BSOD, do you think this could have caused the problem?

installed it on my puter and haven't suffered any problems so far, basically if you can wait a week or two SP2 for XP will be out will have all the updates added to it so it may fix the problem instead of using the singular patch :)

Ok, I spoke too soon and it hasn't actually worked. I expect I shall have to format unless anyone has any ideas? I might wait for SP2 first. It's 'proper doin' my nut in'.

Cheers
Yam

OK, this is stupid, i've now reformatted totally unnecessarily, as it still happens. Next thing i'm going to check is the firewall, but other than that, i'm completely stumped. Can anyone recommend a good firewall, that allows you to setup program access and you can use and play online multiplayer without any problems? (not ZoneAlarm).

Cheers

Ok it's not the firewall. What s it, the modem? Any tools you know of I can test it with? What the hell happend?

Ok, it's not the modem, just tried it in another PC for a few hours no problems. I have noticed a few things.

The first, Windows XP is not recognizing the ACPI funtions of my computer. In device manager it just recognizes my system as 'Standard PC'. I have ACPI enabled in the BIOS but it still recognizes my system as a standard PC, so I can't put it into sleep mode. I've tried selecting Suspend to RAM and POS but it dosn't make a difference.

Second when I look at the properties of 'Standard PC', under IRQ steering, it says 'PCI IRQ Routing Disabled' and 'IRQ Table Not Found'. Also the boxes 'Use IRQ steering, Get IRQ table using MS Specification Table, and Get IRQ table from Real Mode PCIBIOS 2.1 Call' are checked. I also have APIC mode enabled. I bring this up because the initial BSOD i received had somthing to do with IRQ's.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Anything?

so.. You tried a whole other computer... But not a different USB modem on the same computer ?

OR did you use the SAME modem with the different computer ? Just trying to clear things up !

The same modem with a different computer :) It worked perfec.

Does anyone have any ideas? This is doing my NUT in!

Its not the modem (tested in various PC's).

It's not the drivers (used various drivers and it worked fine for months beforehand).

It's not Windows (i have formatted twice).

It's not related to the ACPI/APIC problems I was having (possibly (now solved)).

It's not my Firewall (ZoneAlarm (stop laughing at the back)).

It's not the chipset drivers (worked fine before hand as well as trying different versions).

It is not related to any Windows updates (it just isn't).

I have run Memory Test for 18 hours no errors.

Most of the above are completely unnecessary tests anyway because I have tried it in different machines.

I have been trying to get it working on Linux but I can't set it up to dial the 'number'.

Bear in mind that it worked fine for months beforehand.

My full system specs:

Windows XP Pro SP1a, all critical updates and various others.
Leadtek K7NCR18D PRO II Deluxe Limited (nForce II Ultra 400).
Athlon XP 2500+ Barton @ 3400+ speeds. (200 FSB).
512MB Kingmax PC3200 SUPERram (DDR400, 400 BUS, 2.5 - 3 - 3 - 7).
Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9800 PRO 128mb (no clocking).
WinFast ACR expander (4 IEE1394, 1 SPDIF, Centre/Bass , Rear L/R, 3com 10/100 Ethernet).
Onboard MCP-T Dolby Digital Sound.
2x Western Digital Caviar 80GB 8MB cache HDD's.
2 Antec Thermally Controlled Exhaust Fans.
1 Antec Speed Control Intake Fan (w/Filter)
Thermaltake SilentBoost CPU fan.
LiteOn LDW-811S DVD +/-RW.
el cheapo 450 Watt PSU
Toshiba DVD-ROM.
Thomson SmartCard Reader.
Thomson/Alcatel Speedtouch USB 330 modem.
Saitek Cyborg 3D RumbleForce. (The light has ceased to work on it for some reason ?)
Creative 5.1 5700 Speakers.
Mouse.
Keyboard.

Latest Standard nForce drivers (16/06/04).
Latest Standard BIOS revision (").

I've seen a similar problem with USB ISDN adapters; your SpeedTouch 330 is host-powered (i.e. power supplied by the USB port) and it may be that the USB port doesn't quite supply the level of juice needed. Doesn't have anything to do with your PSU as such, and it WILL work in other machines - I stumbled on this problem while attempting to get some Dell Latitudes working with Hayes Accura USB ISDN TAs and getting IRQL_NOT_LESS_... BSODs. Can you try either a PCI ADSL modem or an independently powered USB adapter - or even get hold of a powered USB hub?

edit: As far as the "Standard PC" thing, you should be able to replace the standard kernel with the ACPI one via CP, System, Device Manager - but take a backup and be prepared to reapply service pack(s) + updates.

Cheers nichomach, but you can disregard most of what I said intially instead and just read my last post. You can't replace the HAL for a standard PC to an ACPI capable PC using device manager, you can only do it the other way around (ACPI to Standard). I posted my solution in the hardware thread. Your suggestion of using a powered USB adapter seems like a good idea, but the modem worked fine for many months before I started receiving this problem. Also since then, I have removed a PCI sound card, disabled 2 LAN adapters, both COM ports, parallel port and firewire are off so there should be no problems.

The only thing I can think of is that a portion of my motherboard is knackered, but I need to be sure before I send it back. WHat can I do, how can I make sure, where can I ask?

Cheers for your help :)

This is probably a silly question, but does it still crash whenrunning the cpu at stock speed?

Yes it does, plus it worked fine overclocked until it suddenly went 'wrong'. It's not really a crash either.

This is probably just a freak occurance and it'll cock-up 10 seconds after I post this, but i've turned the bloody thing (the modem) upside down, and it hasn't 'stalled' and frozen my system for bloody ages...

I have the very same modem you have (Speedtouch 330) and it is very power hungry. Powered hubs are still not enough, it draws more than the usb specification or something. Flat out doesn't work on two out of three motherboards I have and only works on the third if it is the only thing plugged in. I built a mini-itx file server/router and it works well on that but it was pot luck.

Surely you can cut/solder the cable so that you can connect it to another 5v source. Ive done this with other usb things and its worked. Is the usb cable moulded into the modem or one you can disconnect?

Moulded.

You any good with a soldering iron?

Not really. Only ever used one onced to do some non-pc related lighting mods and it wasn't mine. I'm not really bothered. The modem works where I need it to. I would suggest to the original poster to sell the speedtouch and invest in newer/higher quality one. I'll stick with mine for as long as I need to.

I had no problems with the modem for months and it works fine in another machine. I don't think its the modem. Besides I can't sell it becuase it belongs to my ISP.

I need opinions now, after reading the entirety of this thread, is it a motherboard problem? It's the only thing it can be surely? What other forums can I ask in?

I just received the BSOD again which I initlally received. It says exactly:


DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. With a mention of a device driver 'afd.sys'. This apparantly has somthing to do with WinSocks. I looked up the error on the microsoft site and turned up these results:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;840890

(I have Win XP not 2000)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...a62cf5.xml.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;293077

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...d_stp_ottj.asp

Most of these seem concerned with the instalation of new software or hardware. I have installed nothing new and reformatted my hard disk! Any suggestions guys?

Cheers