Need WinXP and DSL help.

[Effaney Crain]

Hi, all! I have finally gotten DSL, yeah! However, I notice that I am getting a LOT of the error message "internet explorer has caused an error and needs to close". This error increases dramatically at night. It has occured while using hotmail, trying to compose a letter, replying to someone, or browsing through an ivillage site. I have searched through the microsoft database and found no answers to this specific error message. I have installed the IE6 service pack..hasn't helped. I am also getting knocked off of my connection the same time every night...strange. Any suggestions or ideas? Thanks!!
Effaney, who is now paying out the butt for a good connection and would like to be able to use it, lol.

[Roger Faucher]

Effaney:

Have you gone to www.windowsupdate.com and installed all the critical fixes (and maybe, recommended fixes and drivers)? I would begin there.

Good luck!

Roger

[Effaney Crain]

Yes, I have done that as well. As far as I know, I have all the updates available for my WinXP and IE. Thank you. Any other suggestions?

[Ron Kinner · Accepted solution]

Visit the website for your PC maker and make sure you have all of the latest updates for the BIOS and drivers for builtin things like video, audio, modem, etc. IF the DSL runs off a card in your system look at the maker of the card's website and see if there is a new driver for it. IF it's a separate modem connected by an Ethernet cable make sure you have the latest driver for your Network card.

Visit

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/

and get DirectX 9.0 if you don't already have it.

Scan your system for spyware.
get ad-aware at www.lavasoftusa.com. Delete anything it finds.

Also visit housecall.antivirus.com and let them scan your system for viruses.

Check your startup programs with msconfig and turn off any you don't need. http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

Finally get zonealarm at www.zonelabs.com. You need the protection of a firewall if you are going to be on line all of the time.

If after all of this you continue to get knocked off at the same time every night I would complain to your DSL provider.



Ron