UE causes my tcpip connection to hang

Dave RL · Post by **Dave RL** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:18 am

OK,

I've spent a couple of days on this one before posting - trying all the things suggested on this board except a total rebuild of windows

After about 5 - 7 minutes of retrieving headers my network connection gets corrupted / non responsive (no other network app can connect, even local router)

I don't have this problem for any other app. I'm Looking for anything else to try to isolate the problem... Here's what I've tried:

1) I tried changing versions of UE to 113, 110, and 103 of UE with the same result
2) have tried changing firmware on router, disconnecting router altering UE settings (keep conn alive, socket buffers at 50K)
3) I tried changing my ip for the server (usenetserver) from an IP address to the DNS name (news.usenetserver.com)
3) finally I captured a windbg session

CommandLine: D:\UE\UE.exe test1
Starting directory: d:\ue\
Symbol search path is: C:\WINDOWS\Symbols
Executable search path is:
ModLoad: 00400000 00689000 image00400000
ModLoad: 7c900000 7c9b0000 ntdll.dll
ModLoad: 7c800000 7c8f4000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
ModLoad: 77d40000 77dd0000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll
ModLoad: 77f10000 77f57000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\GDI32.dll
ModLoad: 763b0000 763f9000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\comdlg32.dll
ModLoad: 77f60000 77fd6000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
ModLoad: 77dd0000 77e6b000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
ModLoad: 77e70000 77f01000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\RPCRT4.dll
ModLoad: 77c10000 77c68000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll
ModLoad: 5d090000 5d127000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMCTL32.dll
ModLoad: 7c9c0000 7d1d5000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
ModLoad: 73000000 73026000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV
ModLoad: 74d30000 74d50000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\oledlg.dll
ModLoad: 774e0000 7761d000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll
ModLoad: 77120000 771ac000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\OLEAUT32.dll
ModLoad: 71ab0000 71ac7000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2_32.dll
ModLoad: 71aa0000 71aa8000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2HELP.dll
ModLoad: 76b40000 76b6d000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINMM.dll
ModLoad: 77c00000 77c08000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll
(dc0.19c): Break instruction exception - code 80000003 (first chance)
eax=00241eb4 ebx=7ffde000 ecx=00000004 edx=00000010 esi=00241f48 edi=00241eb4
eip=7c901230 esp=0012fb20 ebp=0012fc94 iopl=0 nv up ei pl nz na pe nc
cs=001b ss=0023 ds=0023 es=0023 fs=003b gs=0000 efl=00000202
ntdll!DbgBreakPoint:
7c901230 cc int 3
0:000> g
ModLoad: 773d0000 774d2000 C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2180_x-ww_a84f1ff9\comctl32.dll
ModLoad: 5ad70000 5ada8000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll
ModLoad: 76380000 76385000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\msimg32.dll
ModLoad: 769c0000 76a73000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\USERENV.dll
ModLoad: 76fd0000 7704f000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\CLBCATQ.DLL
ModLoad: 77050000 77115000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMRes.dll
ModLoad: 74980000 74ab0000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\msxml3.dll
ModLoad: 4d4f0000 4d548000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINHTTP.dll
ModLoad: 77260000 772ff000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\urlmon.dll
ModLoad: 75cf0000 75d81000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\mlang.dll
(dc0.19c): Access violation - code c0000005 (first chance)
First chance exceptions are reported before any exception handling.
This exception may be expected and handled.
eax=00000001 ebx=0000110a ecx=baadf00d edx=0000baad esi=baadf00d edi=00000200
eip=5d0a21b3 esp=0012f524 ebp=0012f54c iopl=0 nv up ei pl zr na po nc
cs=001b ss=0023 ds=0023 es=0023 fs=003b gs=0000 efl=00010246
COMCTL32!ValidateTreeItem+0x34:
5d0a21b3 8b01 mov eax,[ecx] dsbaadf00d=????????
0:000> g
ModLoad: 72d20000 72d29000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\wdmaud.drv
ModLoad: 77920000 77a13000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\setupapi.dll
ModLoad: 76c30000 76c5e000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINTRUST.dll
ModLoad: 77a80000 77b14000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\CRYPT32.dll
ModLoad: 77b20000 77b32000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSASN1.dll
ModLoad: 76c90000 76cb8000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMAGEHLP.dll
ModLoad: 72d10000 72d18000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\msacm32.drv
ModLoad: 77be0000 77bf5000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSACM32.dll
ModLoad: 77bd0000 77bd7000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\midimap.dll
ModLoad: 71a50000 71a8f000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\mswsock.dll
ModLoad: 662b0000 66308000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\hnetcfg.dll
ModLoad: 71a90000 71a98000 C:\WINDOWS\System32\wshtcpip.dll
ModLoad: 76f20000 76f47000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll
ModLoad: 76fb0000 76fb8000 C:\WINDOWS\System32\winrnr.dll
ModLoad: 76f60000 76f8c000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLDAP32.dll
ModLoad: 76fc0000 76fc6000 C:\WINDOWS\system32\rasadhlp.dll
================================ Break at first delay in downloading headers tcpip for machine unresponsive =====================
(dc0.c04): Break instruction exception - code 80000003 (first chance)
eax=7ffde000 ebx=00000001 ecx=00000002 edx=00000003 esi=00000004 edi=00000005
eip=7c901230 esp=05b1ffcc ebp=05b1fff4 iopl=0 nv up ei pl zr na po nc
cs=001b ss=0023 ds=0023 es=0023 fs=0038 gs=0000 efl=00000246
ntdll!DbgBreakPoint:
7c901230 cc int 3
================================ Second Break at delay in downloading headers tcpip for machine unresponsive =====================
0:005> g
(dc0.da8): Break instruction exception - code 80000003 (first chance)
eax=7ffde000 ebx=00000001 ecx=00000002 edx=00000003 esi=00000004 edi=00000005
eip=7c901230 esp=05b1ffcc ebp=05b1fff4 iopl=0 nv up ei pl zr na po nc
cs=001b ss=0023 ds=0023 es=0023 fs=0038 gs=0000 efl=00000246
ntdll!DbgBreakPoint:
7c901230 cc int 3
================================ UE trying to connect =====================
0:005> g
(dc0.afc): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.6f8): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.ed0): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.dd4): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.db4): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.db4): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.6ec): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.6ec): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.92c): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.92c): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.674): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)
(dc0.674): C++ EH exception - code e06d7363 (first chance)

I can recover from the tcpip problem by disableing the connection re-enabeling and then repairing the connection.
If I do this with UE open UE still does not connect. If I close UE and then open it again it can connect and will work for 5-7 min.

My next test will be to install a clean copy of windows and try that but I'd
like to find the problem and fix it with my current install.

Thanks,

-Dave

alex · Post by **alex** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:15 pm

I'm using exceptions in UE for operator flow control, it is normal C++ mechanism like "goto" operator (you cannot use it really as goto say using it 1000000 times in a cycle but e.g. using it once per thread life time doesn't bring any overhead). If UE doesn't crash it means these are UE exceptions as part of normal working process, if an exception in network threads will come from below winsock (e.g. I saw crashes from McFee dll under winsock), it will let them through and crash (it is not that I don't want to mask other crashes from third party dlls, but it would also mask unwanted exceptions from within UE code which I certainly don't want since it would impair the program reliability, it would be like cheating myself).

you didn't have the problem before so look at what changed at your system when the problem started (in UE i didn't change this part since the beginning, it works the same in NewsPro).

it is clear that Usenet Explorer is not able to bring down network connection since it doesn't run in the system mode (it doesn't have any drivers) so it cannot influence the system integrity. it might be for example third party firewall/antivirus messing with winsock or their remnants.

if you excluded every "hardware" problem like router, it is a good idea to try it on a fresh windows install (yes, maybe just to install a second clean system).

dengle · Post by **dengle** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:05 pm

i've had a similar problem where I get "connecting" as teh status for downloads. If I close UE for 5 mins and reopen, it works fine.

I'm not sure what the cause is but while this issue is occuring, the UE Index server is still operating (and downloading headers) just fine.

ReSiStAnCe · Post by **ReSiStAnCe** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:21 pm

Hi,

I had a similar problem. Read this: http://www.netwu.com/newspro/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=1680

It was the Norton Firewall. The proxyserver (CcProxy) just stopped.

A workaround I use is: In Control Panel -> Administrative tools -> Services, look for Symantec Network Proxy. In the properties, there's a tab Recovery. I have set 1st, 2nd and subsequent failures to 'Restart the service' and the time on 1 minute (can't go lower). I know it's messy but that way I can at least keep it running (both UE and Norton)...

The only other option (which I didn't feel like) is to COMPLETLY remove Norton (Hint: you need some tools from the Symantec site, because the uninstall leaves quite some bits on your machine)

Works for me..

Cheers,
(Lazy) Resistance.

RDC · Post by **RDC** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:57 pm

Hi, I've got basically the same problem, but luckely not as frequent as you though.
And not only with UE, but with all internet access software.
At my side it's the ATM connection that gets dropped (basically it's the network layer underlying TCP/IP that gets mixed up).

I also have to reset the ATM connection or reboot my router to get an internet connection again.
And yes, it can take some time for the software to 'see' the connection again.
I've got a Zyxel 650R-31 Router connected to a 6Mbit/76Kbit ADSL connection (POTS).

I found out that the more connections (TCP/IP sessions) are open the chance of lockups increases considerably.
I have had this with several P2P software and even when opening many webpages in Firefox at the same time.

Try to lower your sessions, or in UE the maximum amount of bandwidth (Properties -> Tasks -> Bandwidth) used.
Maybe you'll find that you will need to drop your bandwidth utilization to get a more stable connection.
I've got mine at 400KB/s and that's perfectly stable for me and gives me a bit of bandwidth left for other internet tasks without 'crashing' my router.
You can also use "netstat -a" from the command line to see how many connections you got open.

I've tried another Router and that seemed to work with less problems (although it still had a problem with many connections) so you might want to try a new router which can handle a bit more stress.
I've got a new one today, but have to wait a month for I can connect it to my new ADSL2+ line.

Good luck.

alex · Post by **alex** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:11 pm

maybe to check on popular p2p software sites, i saw sometimes they have sections dedicated to troubleshooting such problems with specific brands of routers/firewalls etc.

in principle we are talking about a bug on driver or router level unrelated to specific program, but triggered by any program which uses tcp/ip heavily.

Dave RL · Post by **Dave RL** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:58 am

Thanks for the advice guys.

I forgot to mention that I had symantic anti virus installed and I did uninstall that (not the internet firewall).
I'll let you all know what it finally turns out the problem was.
It doesn't seem to be the router as I bypassed this so it's probably some third party driver that's causing the corruption.

-Dave