I am having constant trouble trying to connect to the internet through my D-Link DSL-302 ADSL modem. After clicking the DSL-302 desktop icon to open the modem configuration web interface, all that appears is an Internet Explorer window with the message ‘Page is unavailable’. This can only be fixed by unplugging the power from the modem, waiting a few minutes, and then plugging back in the power. Should this work, when I open Internet Explorer to access a website, the same ‘Page is unavailable’ message appears and can only be fixed by rebooting the computer! Alternatively, I may be conducting research using the web, followed by some word processing, and when I return to the web the ‘Page is unavailable’ message appears, even though it had been available only moments before. The problem used to happen infrequently, but now it happens almost every day. I have done full system scans using Norton Internet Security, Spybot, and Ad-Aware. The computer is running Windows XP. (more…)

My modem drops the internet connection whenever an incoming call is detected by the ‘Modem-on-Hold’ facility. How do I disable this function to stop the dropouts? A second issue relates to backups. Whenever I use the Backup and Restore wizard to make a backup of the system to an external hard drive, the backup does not work correctly on the ‘All information on this computer’. The report has the following information: ‘Backup Status. The files for the recovery diskette could not be created. The operation was aborted. The operation did not successfully complete’. However, the backup works correctly when selecting any of the three other backup options. The computer is running Windows XP SP2. (more…)

My home setup has two PCs running Windows XP, and one printer attached to each PC. I wish to network both PCs together so any printer can be used from any PC, and to allow files and internet to be shared between the computers. You recently wrote an article about a cross-over cable. Can one of these cables be used for this setup, or do we need to buy a special router or print server? (more…)

I am connected to the Transact network, and use a D-Link ethernet router to connect to the internet. Having left the router on when the computers were off, there was still a large amount of download (about 5 MB in a 5 hour period). Is this traffic typical? I am now disconnecting the router from the broadband connection to terminate the session and avoid unnecessary downloads. Can I configure the router to terminate when the PC is off, or is there a better strategy? (more…)

My ADSL connection (using a NB1300 modem) drops out periodically when using the internet, and the same problem is experienced using the modem with my Xbox. The connection does not disconnect from the server, but it just stops uploading and downloading. There is no problem at the ISPs end, the phone line is fine and the modem is not setup to time-out. The computer is running Windows XP. The problem occurs regardless of which application is being used (e.g. Netscape, Firefox, or Outlook). (more…)