Tech Help Needed Please

[Connor_Graham]

I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone has thought this.

So do I.

 

[Connor_Graham]

From a command prompt type ipconfig /flushdns

So what does it mean when I get an error message when I do this? The message is "Could not flush the DNS Resolver Cache: Function failed during execution".

 

[Old Man of UO]

Maybe I've missed it reading through the thread, but if you are having disconnects every 15 seconds or so and have only one computer, how are you able to post in this forum?

 

[kelmo]

*chuckles* All good fun Connor. I hope your connection issues get resolved.

 

[Connor_Graham]

Maybe I've missed it reading through the thread, but if you are having disconnects every 15 seconds or so and have only one computer, how are you able to post in this forum?

In between the disconnects.

 

[Harlequin]

Step 1
Back to business - Now open a command prompt, and type in this:

ping -t <ip address of your router>​

Replace <ip address of your router> (including the "<>") with the IP address of your router. So if you router's IP is 192.168.1.254, you type

ping -t 192.168.1.254​

When it disconnects, does it say timeout? (press ctrl+c to stop the ping).



Step 2 (edited after Connor's post)
Maybe I got the wrong manual. Can you check your manual and see if it mentions what does a green flashing ethernet LED mean?

The first part of step one gave me an incorrect syntax for the command error. The second part I ran, and when it disconnected it said "Destination host unreachable". I can't find a manual for the modem itself. It just had a start quick type guide and a bunch of useless paperwork with it. There wasn't any type of users manual.

You are getting a syntax error possible because you left out a space, used underscore instead of minus or did not remove the <> brackets. Just to clarify, it's

ping, space, minus sign, the letter "t", space, followed by the ip address of your router.​

2nd one was just showing you an example of what to type if you router's IP is 192.168.1.254.

 

[Devil_Woman]

So what does it mean when I get an error message when I do this? The message is "Could not flush the DNS Resolver Cache: Function failed during execution".

Sorry, hon, I can tell you the command, but I have no idea what the error means. You'll have to get someone more tech savvy than I, like Harlequin, to answer that question.

Oh, and it's likely your manual is in electronic form on the CD that came with the equipment. Alternatively, Motorola also usually has manuals in .pdf form you can access from their website if you know your model number.

Based on the model number you posted earlier (2210) I found the user manual for Motorola's Netopia 2210-02 ADSL2+ Gateway here.

 

[Allworth]

Are you using XP if so open your network connections and right click on the gig Connection and select status then click on support tab.
Click the details button and tell us what is listed there especially for dns

 

[Snakeman]

I'm betting ISP problem, I have had a similar problem with a Static IP> It has never in 5 yrs givem me a problem, well low & behold, Verizon sold out to Fair Point Communications, 6 mos later Fair Point decides to change their DNS Settings, forgets to tell anyone. Can come in, just not get out onto the net. Finally after 2 wks of BS, one slips up & says, Oh we changed our DNS did/were you told this? @#*(&*^# NO! Change the #'s & bingo. Back on the net. Now ever since their lil playing I drop connection randomly, can go 5 days no prob, then drops for 15 sec's comes back, goes 1 day & again drops. No special time, no special thing going on, it just drops. Watch little DSL ready light blinks to re-connecting & re-sync. And they tell me nothings wrong (even tried new modem & the same). GL

 

[Harlequin]

So what does it mean when I get an error message when I do this? The message is "Could not flush the DNS Resolver Cache: Function failed during execution".

Your PC's DNS client service may be having an issue.

1) Right click the "My computer" icon in your desktop and select "Manage".

2) Expand "services and applications" on the right

3) Click on "services"

4) Look for a service called "DNS Client". It's status probably says that it's stopped.

5) Right click this and select "Start" (or click "Restart" if it's already started)

6) If it starts successfully, monitor it to see if it stops after 25 secs

7) If it gives an error when you try to start it, let me know what the error is.

 

[Harlequin]

You'll have to get someone more tech savvy than I, like Harlequin, to answer that question.

*Puffs chest* Damn, now I really gotta solve it, don't I?

Edit: That's the same manul I found. Note that on pg 14, it doesn't say anything regarding ethernet LED flashing Was thinking maybe I got teh wrong manual.

 

[gjohnson5]

Just curious, how would I go about clearing the DNS cache?

from a command prompt (cmd.exe ... in vista run as administrator)

type: ipconfig /flushdns

 

[Connor_Graham]

You are getting a syntax error possible because you left out a space, used underscore instead of minus or did not remove the <> brackets. Just to clarify, it's

ping, space, minus sign, the letter "t", space, followed by the ip address of your router.​

2nd one was just showing you an example of what to type if you router's IP is 192.168.1.254.

This tells me "The request timed out" and "Destination host unreachable".

 

[gjohnson5]

Your PC's DNS client service may be having an issue.

1) Right click the "My computer" icon in your desktop and select "Manage".

2) Expand "services and applications" on the right

3) Click on "services"

4) Look for a service called "DNS Client". It's status probably says that it's stopped.

5) Right click this and select "Start" (or click "Restart" if it's already started)

6) If it starts successfully, monitor it to see if it stops after 25 secs

7) If it gives an error when you try to start it, let me know what the error is.

Personally I never turn that one and it's not a requirement for an internet connection. Infact in Xp it hogs quite a bit of resources. It only speeds DNS queries. I would keep disabled if it is

 

[Connor_Graham]

4) Look for a service called "DNS Client". It's status probably says that it's stopped.

The DNS Client shows as disabled after I refreshed it and had no option to start.

 

[Devil_Woman]

*Puffs chest* Damn, now I really gotta solve it, don't I?

Edit: That's the same manul I found. Note that on pg 14, it doesn't say anything regarding ethernet LED flashing Was thinking maybe I got teh wrong manual.

LOL I'm quite sure Connor is hoping you can solve it! Maybe if you can solve his networking problem you could help me with mine, although mine is nowhere near critical like his.

That was the only manual I could find for anything with a model number like he posted. In fact, that seems to be the only DSL modem Motorola makes. I couldn't find another one.

 

[Connor_Graham]

Are you using XP if so open your network connections and right click on the gig Connection and select status then click on support tab.
Click the details button and tell us what is listed there especially for dns

It lists the same IP for the DNS server as the one for my modem.

 

[gjohnson5]

Are you using XP if so open your network connections and right click on the gig Connection and select status then click on support tab.
Click the details button and tell us what is listed there especially for dns

This tells me "The request timed out" and "Destination host unreachable".

Can you open a command prompt cmd.exe can you type the following?

ipconfig /all
ipconfig /displaydns
netstat -r

Scroll back up to the top of the text. You can then right click on the menu bar at the top of the cmd window and select "mark". Mark all the output from the commands in the cmd window using a left click and drag. Right click the menu bar at the top of the cmd window and select edit --> copy.

You can then paste that into a reply window and send. I'm just curious what those commands say since you're getting "destination host unreachable" messages. Generally that means the connection is down but not always

 

[Connor_Graham]

I'm not sure it would be a good idea to be posting all of that information here for anyone to read...

I can tell you that it said "Could not display the DNS Resolver Cache".

 

[gjohnson5]

I'm not sure it would be a good idea to be posting all of that information here for anyone to read...

I can tell you that it said "Could not display the DNS Resolver Cache".

OK
I would go over with the repair tech

IP address, subnet mask , and gateway are just used to make sure your connection is working. Right now It doesn't look like it based on the "destination host unreachable" messages

 

[Harlequin]

The DNS Client shows as disabled after I refreshed it and had no option to start.

Ok, it's not activated probably because you are not running a home network. No worries, leave it as disabled as gjohson says, all your DNS requests will be forwarded to your ISP and no DNS caching will be done by your PC. No cache means you don't have to flush your DNS cache.



Does your modem look anything like the one in the manual Devil_Woman posted?

If the flashing ethernet LED is an undocumented feature, at this moment, it looks like the disconnection is happening at the ethernet connection. ie btwn your NIC and the router. If it was the DSL/phone line, the DSL LED would be flashing instead.

So we'll concentrate on those parts. First, we'll force your Gbit to use 100/full duplex instead of auto-negotiate.

Right click the Gbit connection (the one that reports being disconnected every 25 secs) and go into properties. Click the "configure". You should see a tab called "Advance". Look at the list of settings, there should be one that says "speed" or "media" or something similar where you can choose between
"Auto",
"100mbps full duplex",
"100mbps half duplex",
"10mbps full duplex",
"10mbps half duplex".

Select 100mbps full duplex. When it asks you to reboot, select no. instead, power down your PC and power up again (not just reboot, power it off, wait 5 secs, then power it up).

Also, while it's powering back up, see if you can find another network cable? Maybe the old one? In case we need to swap. If you can't find a Cat 6 cable (vendor would likely have provided one with your gbit card), a older Cat 5 cable will do, since you are not going to be using 1k mbps.

 

[Connor_Graham]

Also, while it's powering back up, see if you can find another network cable? Maybe the old one? In case we need to swap. If you can't find a Cat 6 cable (vendor would likely have provided one with your gbit card), a older Cat 5 cable will do, since you are not going to be using 1k mbps.

I did what you said above but didn't get the option to reboot. I'm going to go ahead and power down anyway while I fix myself some lunch and wait for it to come back up. For the cable I'm currently using the new one, although I've tried both with no change.

 

[Old Man of UO]

I'm not sure it would be a good idea to be posting all of that information here for anyone to read...

I can tell you that it said "Could not display the DNS Resolver Cache".

Are you using a proxy DNS server?

 

[Connor_Graham]

Are you using a proxy DNS server?

I don't know. It might help if I knew what that was though.

No, I never claimed to be the most tech savvy person around. I know a lot about a little, a little about a lot, and just enough to be dangerous.

 

[Harlequin]

I don't know. It might help if I knew what that was though.

No, I never claimed to be the most tech savvy person around. I know a lot about a little, a little about a lot, and just enough to be dangerous.

No worries, you are getting that message coz the dns client service was disabled. We'll leave it as it is for the time being first.

So, any improvement? Or is it still disconnecting you every 25 secs?

 

[Connor_Graham]

It's still doing the same thing. I finally (after an hour of hold and multiple personnel transfers) got a tech scheduled to come out tomorrow sometime. I was just hoping someone might know that magic button to press to fix this problem as they have in the past.

 

[The Craftsman]

If you dont get it fixed can I have your stuff? :loser:

 

[Old Man of UO]

I don't know. It might help if I knew what that was though.

No, I never claimed to be the most tech savvy person around. I know a lot about a little, a little about a lot, and just enough to be dangerous.

If you don't know what it is, you probably don't have it, unless your ISP set it up for you. My ISP did and it was flaky and I had to remove it.

Any chance your router has a USB connection that you could try instead of the Ethernet connection? Have you tried another Ethernet port on your computer and router? Have you turned your router off for 30 seconds then back on to force a soft reset? I would avoid pushing the reset button itself because mine erases all settings if I do this.

 

[Storm]

If you dont get it fixed can I have your stuff? :loser:

lol

 

[Harlequin]

It's still doing the same thing. I finally (after an hour of hold and multiple personnel transfers) got a tech scheduled to come out tomorrow sometime. I was just hoping someone might know that magic button to press to fix this problem as they have in the past.

I am trying to think what might cause it to drop the ethernet connection every 25 secs. The timing is still pretty regular?

Double chek that the NIc is still configured to run at 100/full duplex.

There are only a couple of things I can think of. Auto-updates for windows and antivirus. Some rely on the DNS service to be running. So contrary to my earlier advice, I'm gonna tell you to enable the dns client service.

Remember how to get to the services screen? This time right click the dns client service again, but select properties instead. Change it from disabled to automatic.

Then start the service.

 

[Connor_Graham]

I am trying to think what might cause it to drop the ethernet connection every 25 secs. The timing is still pretty regular?

Yep. It goes down about every 25 seconds.

Double chek that the NIc is still configured to run at 100/full duplex.

It is.

There are only a couple of things I can think of. Auto-updates for windows and antivirus. Some rely on the DNS service to be running. So contrary to my earlier advice, I'm gonna tell you to enable the dns client service.

Remember how to get to the services screen? This time right click the dns client service again, but select properties instead. Change it from disabled to automatic.

Then start the service.

Did this, and still no change.

 

[Old Man of UO]

I am trying to think what might cause it to drop the ethernet connection every 25 secs. The timing is still pretty regular? ...

There is a hardware issue that could cause that, just didn't want to alarm Connor before he tried all the "easy" stuff. It is unusual for a router to just "die" on its own, without a power surge or whatever. It's possible that if there were a power surge, it also affected whatever the router was connected to, in this case the NIC. A bad capacitor could cause this behavior. That is why I asked if perhaps Connor's router also had a USB connection, which would bypass the NIC card (although not as fast).

This is probably the least likely, but just saying....

 

[Harlequin]

No usb ports from looking at the modem's manual

But! It's still new and should definitely be under warranty. The problem is they've already swapped it out before without any progress.

Now, of course, both likely had the same firmware version and has bugs that requires flashing, however, since it's disconnecting him regularly, it's not a good idea to try using his PC. However, the technician can try if his connection is stable.

Also re-read the older posts, Connor has also tried connecting the original onboard nic to the modem and was getting the regular disconns as well... (Connor pls correct me if I am wrong).

Last attempt coz it requires Connor to do a fair bit of work - in the computer management screen when you see the "services and applications", look at the top left and expand "system tools"->"event viewer"

Now take a look at the events under "system" and "application". Look for any events that are yellow (warnings) or red (errors). Esp those that occur every 25 secs.

Google the warnings and errors.

 

[Devil_Woman]

Just to be sure all the obvious things are covered, when you installed the new modem you did remove all references in your system to the old one, right? Computers can do really strange things if you don't make sure to let them know when hardware is no longer attached to the system, especially when it's been replaced by new hardware.

 

[Old Man of UO]

Ya, I understand what you are saying Harlequin, what I am stumped about is that the Technician connected through Connor's new router and got a stable connection. This is telling me it is something before the router, i.e. cable, NIC, software, driver, or home network settings. I've had trouble with bindings in XP overriding anything I tried doing with router and modem for whatever reason, and only got that fixed by reinstalling the modem drivers.

*Waves at Deb*

Devil Woman might be right, could be old router drivers lingering. What do you think about deleting the drivers and software for the router and reinstalling?

 

[Harlequin]

Looking at old drivers is pretty good thinking DW and OM!

Edit: Gtg, lots of the stuff I said was mentioned by Enigma earlier as well (he also thinks the drivers is a good idea, we've been exchanging PMs), so I'm gonna drag him right back into this

 

[Old Man of UO]

Looking at old drivers is pretty good thinking DW and OM!

There could also be fragmented registry entries from the old router causing the problem. Uninstalling the drivers is supposed to get rid of these, but usually doesn't get them all. I would hate to try telling Connor how to check for these manually - tedious and full of hazards. Best bet would be to uninstall all routers/modems and reinstall.

OH - another thought, Connor do you have a wireless modem/router installed on your system? Probably not since you have only one computer, but my motherboard has one built in. I had some conflicts with that.

 

[EnigmaMaitreya]

What modem did you previously have and do you remember if you had to install software for it.

One .... well possiblity would be this scenario.

Assume the previous modem was a "Bridge" style modem. This would mean that it is simply forwarding the traffic back and forth between the Computer and the ISP. In this case, it is likely that the PPPoE was being performed on the Computer and NOT in the modem.

The new modem is not (as best as can be derived by this thread) in the Bridge Mode. It is in the Server/Router Mode. Meaning it was given the userid/pw to do the PPPoE internal to itself. It is also acting as the DHCP, DNS and Gateway server.

IF the first assumption is true, then it is possible that the previous software is trying to establish a PPPoE connection via the enable nic. It is my understanding that for the Computer to perform the PPPoE connection, the modem must be in bridge mode otherwise there will be a failure. Given the failure, then it is possible that the previous software may be in fact disconnecting the nic. This may in fact account for the 25 second cycle of the ethernet LED turning off then on again.

The above may also account for the Repairmans Laptop functioning correctly .... assuming it was set up for the new modem etc.

One other thing Connor, just humor me pull the ethernet cable out of either the modem or the nic. Watch the Ethernet Light on the Modem. It had darn well better stay off for the count until you plug the cable back in. If it doesn't then there is a problem.

The bottom line to the above is if the previous modem has software installed ... well then get rid of it.

 

[Storm]

Did the isp register the new mac address for the new modem? I had this same problem 2 weeks ago i could connect but only for a very brief moment then disconnect I called them and asked if they had the new mac address turned on and they did not they regestered it and boom fixed! just a thought

 

[Old Man of UO]

SEE... this is why I never messed around with networks.

 

[Nok]

Hi Conner,

If it hasn't been fixed by now, you need an on-site tech. Pick your poison:

• ComputerAssistant.com
• Geeks On Time
• Geek Squad
• PC Pinpoint
• PlumChoice
• Techs On Call

 

[Zodia]

Install more RAM.
Then flash your bios.
Restart the computer 3 times in a row.
Then jump up and down on one leg.
That should do it.

 

[Connor_Graham]

Hi Conner,

If it hasn't been fixed by now, you need an on-site tech. Pick your poison:

I've got a tech from my ISP provider coming tomorrow, but thanks.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

So you say that it is showing disconnected in your systray? (the area beside your clock in Windows)

That does change things quite a bit.

Some suggestions...

1 - Try a different ethernet cable. I know it sounds stupid, but when you drop connection like that, it means that you have lost your connection to the modem/router...its not likely a problem past the modem.

2 - Your new NIC card could be mis-seated in the PCI slot. Especially if you had a little trouble getting it to go in. The vibration of your case fan could be causing it to lose connection in PCI slot.

3 - Do you know what the power output on your power supply is? If you added a PCI card where there previously was none, you may be exceeding it. Try this, unplug the power to your CD/DVD drive, just temporarily (do this with the machine turned OFF). Try it again. If you no longer get dropped, you know what the problem is.


And finally, a dumb question, but have you tried re-enabling the old NIC, removing the new one, and trying it that way? That would completely eliminate the possibility of a NIC issue.

Again, like I said above, unless your built in NIC is ancient, I cannot imagine how a gigabit NIC is going to help you in your situation. Your modem is built into your router, and there is only one connection from what I saw in the manual, so you are not going to be too worried about LAN connection speed...and your modem only sends a max of 6mbs, your NIC, even if old, should be capable of 10. More than enough for a 6meg connection.

 

[Heartseeker]

Connor, right click on My computer, look under properties tab, then hardware and then device manager.

See if there is any problems; ? or x

That ususally means no driver or disabled hardware.

If there is a problem or conflict there it usually is a easy fix.

 

[Experimental]

The disconnects are every 25 seconds???
It's obvious!!
Your comp is pregnant and will soon give birth to a Baby Dell!!

 

[Zyon Rockler]

I didn't take time to read all of the responses yet, but I had this issue. I used UO Trace and there was a black shield, at the time that meant the connection could not go through. The internet uses way stations, your connection gets bumped from station to station. If one of these stations is black, that's as far as the connection will get. There may be 5 or more way stations before it hits UO's server. Sometimes these connections are bad, in various ways, to being completely closed or barely connected.

Once I learned this was the problem, I called my ISP and told them, I forget the job title name, it was something like routing director. His job was to take connections and make sure that the information got from one point to another. What they did for me, was reroute the way my connection went to UO. What I told them was it was the only reason I was paying for internet, was to play UO. After it was fixed I used UO Trace again and found that it used different server stations.

All of the shields were white, which is a fantastic connection. Again, this was a long time ago and I was told that these stations had alot of problems. I'm not sure but I think you can ask them to run a trace for you if you tell them from your house to UO. I'm not sure of the addresses or IPs. Good Luck.

 

[Connor_Graham]

Can someone explain how I now have a toolbar across the top of my screen? It wasn't there yesterday...

 

[Connor_Graham]

Can someone also explain how now it seems my problem has gone away? I've been connected to UO for about 5 minutes straight now.....

 

[Harlequin]

Can someone explain how I now have a toolbar across the top of my screen? It wasn't there yesterday...

What kind of toolbar? Is it a language bar? What does it say? On your windows desktop or uo?


Glad to know it's stable now. Do you remember what other things you tried after enabling the DNS service? It shouldn't bring up a toolbar.