Hi all,

I originally posted this issue on the OSNN boards but haven't been able to get much feedback on my issue so I decided to post here as well. I'll do my best to explain what's been happening and what I've tried to resolve my issues.

I'm not really even sure when it started, but as of now, almost every morning I wake up and my wireless internet is down. This has become somewhat of a common problem for me for unknown reasons with my router, but I've learned to deal with it since I haven't been able to find a proper answer to fix it.

[EDIT: Well, I guess it's not being devious just when I'm asleep - this problem occurred about five minutes after finishing this post. However, most of my settings (at least trillian's) weren't lost. Just the slow-to-freeze thing described below.]

Anyways, after noticing that my internet is down, I'll go through the process of "properly" closing down my apps such as Trillian, uTorrent and whatever else may be open. I notice my computer get slower and slower and eventually completely freeze up - I attempt to access Windows Task Manager but it never shows up; I'm forced to do a hard reboot.

I get no errors on bootup and it usually boots up without a hitch (with a couple exceptions of it hanging on "Windows is starting up" before the login screen). I attempt to load up Trillian and any other programs I was using, and my settings are CONSTANTLY getting deleted.

So far I've noticed these things:
-Trillian: My settings and buddylist being completely reset (with errors)
-Firefox: Bookmarks deleted, window position keeps being reset as well as the toolbar - they keep going back to default. My history seems to be intact.
-uTorrent/Azureus: All of my torrents are continually deleted and I have to re-add them. Settings reset.
-Newsleecher/Newsbin: Server settings and group database/download queue wiped out.

What I've tried:
-HijackThis: I'll post my log at the bottom, but I haven't noticed anything unusual.
-Memtest-86: Let it cycle 7 times with 0 errors.
-RegistryMechanic: Finds plenty of problems, but never seems to resolve any issues.
-Avast!Antivirus: It picked up two minor viruses when I ran the bootup scan and quarantined successfully, but the virus chest has been wiped out as well *sigh*.
-AVG: Picked up one minor virus and removed successfully, virus vault wiped out as well
-Panda Online Scan: Just spyware picked up
-AdAware SE: Nothing worth mentioning
-Diskeeper: Nothing worth mentioning, no errors
-SpyBot S&D: Nothing worth mentioning
-DxDiag: (lol) no errors reported

Programs I regularly run:
-Trillain 3.1 Pro
-uTorrent 1.5
-Rainlender 0.22.1
-Daemon Tools 4.03HE
-Winamp 5.2 Pro

The main stuff:
Windows XP Pro w/SP2 fully updated
ASUS SK8N w/8.00.09 (3/29/04) BIOS
AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 (2.2ghz)
2GB RAM
Pagefile: 455mb used, 2937mb avail
DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Radeon 9800XT (Omega 3.8.231 drivers) 256mb
HP L2335 flat panel monitor
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS (currently screwing with drivers, been a problem for me)
Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter with SpeedBooster v2
Linksys WRT54G v5 Router
Western Digital 500gb MyBook external HDD
Maxtor OneTouch II 300gb external HDD
Lite-On DVDRW SOHW-812S
Plextor PX-716UF DVDRW/DL


Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 12:59:49 PM, on 5/19/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\AvidSDMService.exe
C:\Program Files\Diskeeper\DkService.exe
C:\Program Files\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G USB Wireless Network Monitor\WLService.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G USB Wireless Network Monitor\WUSB54GSv2.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WDBtnMgr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\Program Files\Rainlendar\Rainlendar.exe
C:\Program Files\Trillian\trillian.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
E:\utorrent1.5.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DiskeeperSystray] "C:\Program Files\Diskeeper\DkIcon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WD Button Manager] WDBtnMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [Inetreg] "C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{AC85CD9E-BC46-4874-90E6-ADB558DE7D9E}\Setup.exe" /i_again -s
O4 - Startup: Rainlendar.lnk = C:\Program Files\Rainlendar\Rainlendar.exe
O4 - Startup: Trillian.lnk = C:\Program Files\Trillian\trillian.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O16 - DPF: {0A5FD7C5-A45C-49FC-ADB5-9952547D5715} (Creative Software AutoUpdate) - http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15015/CTSUEng.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.1.2.76.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/...b?1138523444984
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdat...b?1143659481500
O16 - DPF: {F6ACF75C-C32C-447B-9BEF-46B766368D29} (Creative Software AutoUpdate Support Package) - http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15016/CTPID.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Avid SDM Service (AvidSDMService) - Avid Technology, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\AvidSDMService.exe
O23 - Service: Avid Startup (AvidStartup) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\AvidStartup.exe
O23 - Service: Diskeeper - Diskeeper Corporation - C:\Program Files\Diskeeper\DkService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\SharedCOM8\RoxMediaDB.exe
O23 - Service: Remote Packet Capture Protocol v.0 (experimental) (rpcapd) - Unknown owner - %ProgramFiles%\WinPcap\rpcapd.exe" -d -f "%ProgramFiles%\WinPcap\rpcapd.ini (file missing)
O23 - Service: StarWind iSCSI Service (StarWindService) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
O23 - Service: StyleXPService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
O23 - Service: WUSB54GSv2SVC - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G USB Wireless Network Monitor\WLService.exe" "WUSB54GSv2.exe (file missing)

Yes, I just noticed that (file missing) with my wireless adapter. Meh. I've screwed with the router and that thing so much, I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.

Anyways, any help would be GREATLY appreciated as I really, really do not want to reformat unless absolutely necessary. It was done less than two months ago.

If any other info is needed please let me know as well.

[EDIT: I ended up sending the Application and System logs from Windows Event Viewer to a friend and there are some very strange errors going on. He concluded that it might be that someone is attacking my network and overloading my tcpip connection limits. I'm still hoping for some second opinions ]

[EDIT: I'm adding some information from the Event Log that occurred around the time my internet died and it began it's Cycle of Death and directly after it finished rebooting:
Note: TARA-T6SG6NTWA0 is the other computer connected to the router: that computer is wired to it, mine is wireless.

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I ended up reformatting to see if it helps. So far, so good, but it's only been about 30 mins. ;p

I'll try keeping the antivirus programs off for awhile - I had them installed previously, but kept most of their functions turned off and just used them for scanning when I needed to check (a) file(s).

As far as the WinPcap thing goes, I believe XBConnect installs that to communicate with my xbox for playing online. And no, nobody has access to this computer but me.

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Well after reformatting and setting everything up, I managed a night without a hitch. Then, about 5 minutes ago, it did it again. I have no idea what to do now. I only have one antivirus installed, and that's NOD32. Not much else has changed, I've only installed the essential programs at this point. I'd be grateful for any help anyone can offer at this point.

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How I'm connected:
Wireless G connection with 128-bit WEP in Infrastructure mode.
Two computers connected to the router, the other is via CAT5 cable directly to the router.

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I also noticed this when I did a quick scan of something with NOD32 during the memory scan...."Error occurred while scanning MBR sector of the 4. physical disk. Error reading sector." It doesn't seem to pick this up regularly.

NO clue what that means, but I wonder if it could be related?

A tidbit of info I forgot:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 (ST3160021A) 160 GB Internet HDD

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Another discovery...while watching Windows Task Manager, I noticed two memory leaks:

One with WUSB54GSv2.exe (which is the software my wireless internet adapter uses) and one with btdownloadgui.exe which is BitTorrent T-0.3.7 (BitTornado).

I noticed this after my computer started becoming REALLY slow, so I checked the task manager and noticed my second btdownloadgui.exe was running at 99% CPU. I immediately closed it and performance returned to normal.

So I'm assuming that would most likely be the problem - two memory leaks in two things I use constantly. The only inconsitancy is that this also occurs with Azureus and uTorrent, but I haven't had a chance to check them out yet. Come to think of it, I've had problems with the wireless program (Wireless Network Monitor, I assume) crash/hang/freeze/explode numerous times since day one.

Any theories or agreements as to this matter? If it is a memory leak, why do my settings for...ooh, revelation...internet-based applications reset and, in the case of firefox, make them frozen? And, if it is the memory leak and possible the main problem being the Wireless Network Monitor...will it be possible to connect to the network without it? I'm a TOTAL network newb :\

EDIT: Alright, did some more research and disabled the Wireless Network Monitor service and enabled Windows Zero Config to see if that helps. We'll see what happens...

EDIT2: Another update I found...

My assumptions have now redirected...as I'm at a loss as to what to do. It's too late to return the router and exchange it for something else...and they don't do firmware hacks for my v5...argh! I don't know what to do.

Anyone notice anything else that might be the problem? Heh.

EDIT3: Well, I did some more research and decided to buy a WRT54GL router and have the firmware ready to install when it arrives in (hopefully) 2-3 days. At least that'll scratch one thing off the list of possible problems - I wish I had done my research properly before I bought the WRT54G v5. Waste of money.

My friend also suggested I do a reformat using the "zeros" function that I downloaded from Seagate which would wipe out the boot sector in case I have a virus...however, if I don't have to reformat again, I don't want to!

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Well, that's all I've managed to find out so far. As you can tell, I've responded to myself quite a bit but I wanted to get as much information as I could possibly find about the issue out to aide in finding a solution. Thanks for taking the time to read this and please let me know if you happen to know any reason why this problem is still occuring!

Thanks
- Spiricore

Sounds like there's likely HDD corruption. Thus you're probably required to reformat the HDD then reinstall Windows after backing up some stuff to another HDD. Sorry.

Geez I sure hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised for as much use as it's had. I ran Seagate's tool that extensively checks the drive and it came up with no errors...though i'm not sure I can take it's word for it or not.