[Virtualacorn-list] Loosing internet connection with XP

[ralph_valmai at ntlworld.com]

In message <mpro.l193s500qupkd01nw at wingsandbeaks.org.uk.invalid>
          Jeremy Nicoll - ml virtualacorn 
<jn.ml.vac.83 at wingsandbeaks.org.uk> wrote:

> ralph_valmai at ntlworld.com wrote:

>> Jeremy, thanks for the reply.
>> 
>> In your message you wrote wrote:
>> 
>>> What's reporting the loss of connection?
>> 
>> Windows. "Windows cannot make a connection" or some such words. It
>> tells me a few obvious things to try and then asks me if I want it to
>> attempt a repair. This takes a little time but always gets me back on
>> line.

> But is it Windows after you've tried to do something that you think needs an
> internet connection, or does it tell you this out of the blue?

It is when the I attempt to get a web page.

> Do you have a software firewall that would (in its logs) show what internet
> activity was ongoing?

I'm away for a couple of days, but I will check this when I'm back.

> If the failure happens out of the blue does anything on your machine have a
> problem at that time?

Not applicable.

> Ages ago I found that (with my VM cable connection) executing almost any
> command at all (not internet related stuff) took forever unless my firewall
> has been told that the DNS servers I'm connected to are 'trusted'.  Whenever
> (though it is rare) I go to a new network (eg if visiting a friend) I hit
> the problem again.  It was clear (at the time) that there was a timeout
> being waited for in each case.  With no internet connection there was an
> immediate failure of whatever-it-was to communicate with the outside world,
> and with a 'trusted' DNS server whatever-it-was worked ok... but otherwise
> it took 1-2 /minutes/ to decide that it should just do the command anyway.

The DNS address the machines have is the router address, which, I 
assume contacts VirginMedia.

> I have no idea what's causing it.  Nor do I know if the problem still
> exists.  But it does suggest that there may on my machine (and perhaps yours
> too) be something that makes very frequent DNS lookups.

Sounds ominous!

Ralph



-- 

Ralph & Valmai Stevens
In leafy Epping