Wireless Network Faults

Hi everyone. I'm new. This post is very long, but necessary. I'd be grateful
if someone takes the time out to read it, BEFORE I lose all my hair.

Early Part of January re-installed XP and AOL 9.0. I also decided to try an
ad hoc wireless system between my son’s PC (client) and mine (host) using two
PCI wireless cards. An unmitigated disaster. So I switched to an Ethernet
system, connecting the two PC’s via a Hub and cables. This was successful in
that I transferred 7 gigs of files from the host to the client. Took about 5
hours. But I was unable to set up Internet Sharing.

Both PC’s run Windows XP with service Pack 2 and the Service Pack 2 Patch
installed, along with all Microsoft Updates.

Next, I bit the bullet and bought a Netgear DG834G Wireless Router,
recommended by AOL. This is connected to the Host via an Ethernet cable and
to the Client via a Wireless PCI card.

Now I began to have problems on the Host PC (these may have been there
before but so much has happened that I can’t remember exactly how long
they’ve been there).

Prior to installing the Router I was getting very frequent occasions when
AOL would stop responding. At that time I could only log off via CTRL ALT
DEL. This was sorted after about 4 weeks by AOL.

However, since installing the Router I’ve had frequent crashes on AOL with
the error message:

Your Connection to the AOL Service was interrupted
Error 24.01.08.41
Your connection to the AOL service was interrupted because your network
connection stopped responding

On trying to log back on I get a failure at point 1 – Looking for TCP/IP. At
which point it hangs before giving another error message:

DNS Server Unreachable or Unavailable
Error 24.01.08.033

The only way I can get back onto AOL is by re-booting my PC.

However, I then, frequently, but not always, get the error message :

Generic Host for Win 32 Services………. Has encountered a problem and has to
close.

The error report always lists the same two files :

Svhost.exe.mdmp
Appcompat.txt

I again reboot the PC and everything seems ok. This, however, sometimes
takes 2 or more reboots

AOL repeatedly says these messages point to a firewall problem, BUT; the XP
firewall is OFF and my Norton’s Systemworks 2003 does not have a Firewall.
The only Firewall, therefore, is the Router, and this is recommended by AOL.

However, I did two things:

1. I moved the Router. This also had the effect of being in a cooler place
2. I installed Netgear’s Beta Firmware

Now, the crashes are very infrequent, although they still happen.

I decided, for other reasons, to reinstall XP on the Client. Before I could
do this I had to transfer the 7 gigs of files back to the Host using the
Wireless Network. I achieved this, taking about 5 days. The reason I took so
long was the very frequent crashes with the following error message on the
Client PC:

XXXX is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network
resource. Contact the Administrator to find out……

The Network Path was not found

I would again have to reboot both PC’s before I could re-start the transfer
and during that time I could not access AOL from the Client.

I re-installed XP and set about transferring the files from the Host to the
Client again.

Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, and only for about two days, I began
to have the same problems on the Client PC. Previously I had been able to
access AOL with no problems. On this particular day, however, I failed for
some time to get past the 24.01.08.033 error message.

Sometimes I would get the Generic Host error message on the Client as well.

Then things settled down but now I’ve been unable to transfer the files. I
get the same error message as before, every time I try:

XXXX is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network
resource. Contact the Administrator to find out……

The Network Path was not found

I also get:

Cannot Copy File. The specified Network is no longer available.

One further problem; If I try to cut and paste files from the Host to the
Client I get the error message:

Cannot Copy: Access is Denied. Make sure the disc is not full or write
protected and that the file is not currently in use.
Now, if I go to the Client PC I can cut and paste the same files with no
problems, until I crash with the error messages I’ve already indicated.


AOL say it’s a PC or a Firewall problem. But, the same problem on two PC’s?
Unlikely.
Netgear have checked all the settings and they say everything is set up
correctly. They say it points to a problem with the Host PC. But why the
intermittent problems with the Client?

I’ve run 3 lots of Spyware programs

I’ve run antivirus on both (although I did find a number of viruses on the
HOST when I forgot to re-activate the antivirus for a few days). However,
subsequent checks say there is no virus.

And finally, I’ve disabled my on board sound and have a PCI sound card
installed. Suddenly, I’m intermittently losing my speakers and my on board
sound is active, although disabled.

Can anyone PLEEEEEEAAAAASE tell me which button to press, I really don’t
want to re-format and re-install my XP’s

Many thanks for your patience.

Allan