GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 23, 2003 I have a 56k modem and OFP:R used to work quite well in MP with it. However, recently the entire internet seems to freeze after a small period of time - maybe 30 seconds up to 5 minutes - stopping any data from being recieved. When I alt-tab out of the game, the two small computers show that data is being sent, every 3 or 4 seconds, but nothing being recieved. If I try and go to a web page, nothing comes. I can't hear anyone on Team Speak 2. I am confused as to what is wrong...I think it's only recently that this has happened. Also, it appears not to happen in-game, only in the in-game browser and so on 'till the game starts. Thanks for your help in advance, (Desperate) Gameer P.S. I don't think it's an ISP issue as, when I play C&C:Generals online, nothing of the sort happens. P.P.S. It also stops me from disconnecting, meaning I have to restart for it to allow me to reconnect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Frag 0 Posted August 23, 2003 I'd scan for Spyware using Ad-Aware. Something might be chewing up some of your precious bandwidth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 23, 2003 But then why does it only happen in OFP? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Frag 0 Posted August 24, 2003 It could be any number of things, but the very first thing I would do is do the scan. In fact, you may want to establish a dial-up Internet connection and NOT start OFP, and see if any traffic flows through the DUN connection. If you have an external modem, it is easy to watch the LEDs; if you have an internal modem, configure the connection to show the connection status in the System Tray. You can also use the NETSTAT -a command from the command prompt to see what processes have established TCP connections. A better solution would be to download a free set of tools from Foundstone, which includes the FPort utility -- the output of FPort is more comprehensive than NETSTAT. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 24, 2003 Yeh, the internet works fine without opening OFP MP, there are no freezes... I will download those tools and report back. Gameer [Edit]I'm confused, what am I using FPort for? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo 28 Posted August 24, 2003 To see if there is anything using your bandwidth that shouldn't be using it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 24, 2003 When I open it up, nothing happens except an MS-DOS prompt flashes and then disappears. I've read the readme, but all it says is: Usage: C:\>fport Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bn880 5 Posted August 24, 2003 Run cmd or command from your start menu, then use fport from inside hte dos window. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 24, 2003 Never mind, got help from my stalker Will experiment Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 24, 2003 Hmm...Perhaps someone can get something from this. I done this a few seconds after a freeze: Quote[/b] ]C:\>fport.exeFPort v2.0 - TCP/IP Process to Port Mapper Copyright 2000 by Foundstone, Inc. http://www.foundstone.com Pid Process Port Proto Path 648 svchost -> 135 TCP C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe 4 System -> 445 TCP 692 svchost -> 1025 TCP C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 4 System -> 1028 TCP 692 svchost -> 2631 TCP C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 692 svchost -> 2636 TCP C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 1720 MsnMsgr -> 4031 TCP C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe 1720 MsnMsgr -> 4470 TCP C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe 840 -> 5000 TCP 0 System -> 9 UDP 1720 MsnMsgr -> 123 UDP C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe 0 System -> 123 UDP 648 svchost -> 445 UDP C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe 4 System -> 500 UDP 692 svchost -> 1034 UDP C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 840 -> 1037 UDP 4 System -> 1116 UDP 692 svchost -> 1352 UDP C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 1720 MsnMsgr -> 1900 UDP C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe 0 System -> 1900 UDP 692 svchost -> 4034 UDP C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe 1720 MsnMsgr -> 4035 UDP C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe 1720 MsnMsgr -> 4036 UDP C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bn880 5 Posted August 24, 2003 I don't see anything special there at all other than msn messenger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo 28 Posted August 24, 2003 You've got 56k yet you run MSN, run voice chat and run Opf? Personally if I had 56k I'd keep all the bandwidth I had solely for Opf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 24, 2003 Well, I done a system restore to two weeks ago and, touch wood, it's working! Hurray! Still not exactly sure what's wrong, but a system restore solved it. Thanks for the help, gentlemen Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 24, 2003 You've got 56k yet you run MSN, run voice chat and run Opf? Personally if I had 56k I'd keep all the bandwidth I had solely for Opf Lol, and my persistant "chatting" makes things even worse Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Frag 0 Posted August 24, 2003 I would sign out of MSN Messenger before launching OFP, simply because the damned thing keeps pulling down ads, and possibly other information for the tabs that are configured. There are patches that can get rid of the ads, but I would try logging out first to see if that is in fact the problem. Other things that might periodically establish an Internet connection are Windows Update, e-mail clients, and anything else that can check for updates automatically. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 25, 2003 I turn Messenger off when playing OFP on the net, but I do have auto update on... I'll check to see whether the system restore has switched auto update off or not. Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suma 8 Posted August 25, 2003 In case freezing / connection lost is related to automatic updates (BITS), it could help disabling this feature in System preferences (Control panel/System/Automatic Updates). This setting probably applies only to Windows Update, but I am not sure. It might be worth trying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 25, 2003 I don't think it is to do with auto updates as I've just checked and it's switched on (that's after the restore). I could be wrong, though... Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suma 8 Posted August 25, 2003 Well, I done a system restore to two weeks ago and, touch wood, it's working! Hurray! Â Still not exactly sure what's wrong, but a system restore solved it. It would be really interesting to know what was changed in between. Any drivers? Or firewall (ICF) activated? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GAMEER_77 0 Posted August 25, 2003 Well I just un-done my System Restore as a matter of testing, and when I went into MP, sure enough it froze. I will now restore to a week ago and try it from then, then figure out just what day it was...and what I done then. Thanks Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suma 8 Posted August 25, 2003 I will now restore to a week ago and try it from then, then figure out just what day it was...and what I done then. I am really interested what this can be caused by. I am looking forward to read your findings. Good hunting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gameer 0 Posted August 25, 2003 OK, it appears that the problem MAY lie in one of Windows' updates...more specifically, KB823980. Well, that's what it says in the system restore point, but i'm unsure whether I installed more than one. Sorry I can't be more of a help, but it takes me about 10 minutes to restore a point then i've got to test it out on the net. It's all a big mess Anyway, I noted down what files it said it'd renamed during the process and this is what it said (not sure if it's useful): ODBC32.DLL MSHTML.DLL URLMON.DLL SHLWAPI.DLL SHDOCVW.DLL Aswell as fraps and another camera program, but they where both installed after the problem. I'll try and mess around a little more when I have time, but for now I better get back to work Thanks Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suma 8 Posted August 25, 2003 OK, it appears that the problem MAY lie in one of Windows' updates...more specifically, KB823980. KB 823980 - this is the update that prevents the (in)famous Blaster worm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gameer 0 Posted August 26, 2003 Well I doubt that'd be the problem then, as a lotta folk would've installed that. I don't think we'll ever find out why, but there's for sure a problem. If no-one else gets it, it's probably a compatibility issue between one of the bits of junk I've installed recently. If I ever do find out what it was, I'll be sure to tell you what it is. If anyone does get this and needs to know how to fix it, use system restore to a time before it started happening. Thanks Gameer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Frag 0 Posted August 26, 2003 Did you happen to try reinstalling the RPC Buffer Overflow patch after going back to the earlier Restore Point? If so, did the problem reappear? Unless you are behind a hardware firewall, I would strongly suggest keeping that patch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites