Dial up connection stops working, disconnecting leaves ghost adapter

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

From: Nil Einne (nil_einne1_at_email.com)
Date: 03/01/04 

Date: 1 Mar 2004 04:38:42 -0800

Hey all,

Posted about a week ago but further investigation has revealed some
new information which will hopefully help solve my problem.

I'm having this problem on a Windows XP Pro 'router' running WinGate
where at random intervals the connection stops working (on both the
router and the clients) even though I remain connected (can't even
ping the gateway). Reconnecting doesn't help (can ping the gateway but
nowhere else) so a reboot is required to fix it. I've just recently
discovered the reason a reconnection doesn't help appears to be
because a ghost PPP adapter (which can't be removed by a router -f or
a route delete * or a route delete 203*) remains on disconnection. I
have long suspected Wingate but I'm not so sure since disabling it
doesn't help (Although it may reduce the frequency). The problem also
appears to be increased by using the router to access the internet
especially to download and browse with IE and also by copying stuff
from/to the router over the network. IRC on any computer also seems to
increase frequency.

I don't have an have never had ZoneAlarm on this system (used it once
but this is a fresh install). I have had this problem on Windows 2000
as well as Windows 98 or Windows NT4 (only one of them had, the other
didn't).

Here is an example of a route print before my connection dies. A
router print after my connection dies but before I reconnect is the
same:

===========================================================================
Interface List
0x1 ........................... MS TCP Loopback interface
0x2 ...00 90 bc 01 54 6e ...... SkyMedia-200D (SM200DPA) Ethernet
Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x3 ...00 50 ba 57 38 a6 ...... Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x20005 ...00 53 45 00 00 00 ...... WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface
Metric
          0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.173.244.68 203.173.244.68
   1
        127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   1
      169.254.0.0 255.255.0.0 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   20
   169.254.61.187 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   20
  169.254.255.255 255.255.255.255 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   20
      192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   20
      192.168.0.6 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   20
    192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   20
   203.109.252.76 255.255.255.255 203.173.244.68 203.173.244.68
   1
   203.173.244.68 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   50
  203.173.244.255 255.255.255.255 203.173.244.68 203.173.244.68
   50
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   20
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   20
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 203.173.244.68 203.173.244.68
   1
  255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   1
  255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   1
Default Gateway: 203.173.244.68
===========================================================================
Persistent Routes:
  None

Here is an example after I reconnect showing the ghost adapter:

===========================================================================
Interface List
0x1 ........................... MS TCP Loopback interface
0x2 ...00 90 bc 01 54 6e ...... SkyMedia-200D (SM200DPA) Ethernet
Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x3 ...00 50 ba 57 38 a6 ...... Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
0x20005 ...00 53 45 00 00 00 ...... WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
0x30005 ...00 53 45 00 00 00 ...... WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface
Metric
          0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.173.244.20 203.173.244.20
   1
          0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 203.173.244.20 20005
   1
        127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   1
      169.254.0.0 255.255.0.0 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   20
   169.254.61.187 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   20
  169.254.255.255 255.255.255.255 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   20
      192.168.0.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   20
      192.168.0.6 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   20
    192.168.0.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   20
   203.109.252.76 255.255.255.255 203.173.244.20 203.173.244.20
   1
   203.109.252.76 255.255.255.255 203.173.244.68 20005
   1
   203.173.244.20 255.255.255.255 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1
   50
  203.173.244.255 255.255.255.255 203.173.244.20 203.173.244.20
   50
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   20
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   20
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 203.173.244.20 203.173.244.20
   50
        224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 224.0.0.0 20005
   1
  255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 169.254.61.187 169.254.61.187
   1
  255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 192.168.0.6 192.168.0.6
   1
Default Gateway: 203.173.244.20
===========================================================================
Persistent Routes:
  None

You will notice I actually have a SkyMedia adapter which is for my one
way (terrestrial) satellite. However, I have ignored this in my post
since the problem also happens with a modem only connection.

I'm guessing here what is happening is the PPP adapter is
dying/crashing and so it becomes unusable and I can no longer use the
connection. But when I disconnect, because the PPP adapter is
buggered, it is not removed and reconnecting doesn't work because
there is the ghost adapter. This does not seem to me to be the same
problem as was reported with ZoneAlarm which from my understanding was
only a ghost adapter appeared after disconnecting and the existing
connection did not die while it was in use.

I would really like ideas on how to fix the problem without
restarting. As mentioned, route delete 203*, route -f, route delete *,
don't help (they refuse to clear the ghost connection). Even more
importantly, any ideas on how to fix this? I'm considering
uninstalling WinGate and trying WinRoute (or whatever it's called now)
so I can see if it is WinGate or not but in the mean time any ideas?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Confusion, chaos and more!
    ... DNS address it provides) to insure that only 192.168.36.21 is the DNS ... Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: ... Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection: ... I have managed to work out that in the LAN setup of the router at work ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.dns)
  • Re: Weird Problem with Dropping internet connection
    ... I am using a zxyel 330 router connecting to comcast ... onboard adapter, tried the repair function, stopped and started wzc, ... then disconnect from the neighbors signal and reconnect to my wireless ... connection on the zyxel router, my connection is then alive again. ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Windows 2000 RAS Server and a Cisco Client Router
    ... You need to use the method which a router to router connection uses. ... This involves setting up a demand-dial interface on the server. ... dropdown list as the interface to link with the route. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.ras_routing)
  • Re: Routing for Verizon FIOS -- Reward for answer
    ... It is never "best" to simply route traffic to your inside network. ... You can also request a separate address from Verizon so that the connection ... between your router and their connection is on a different subnet than the ...
    (comp.dcom.sys.cisco)
  • Re: Weird Problem with Dropping internet connection
    ... I am using a zxyel 330 router connecting to comcast ... I have tried disabling/re-enabling the ... onboard adapter, tried the repair function, stopped and started wzc, ... connection on the zyxel router, my connection is then alive again. ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)