Troubles maintaining internet/VPN server connection while MB-P is active.

[Grak]

Hello, I'm having troubles with my connection while using the VPN. it will work for a while, and then it will randomly disconnects and then it will either require a reset of my pocket Wifi, or a reset of my computer to work correctly again.

It especially seems to happen if the kill-switch is active.

I think it started after I installed some software that might have edited something with my registry while using MB-VPN. I can't fully remember.

I have updated my Malwarebytes and Privacy to the latest version, and have also tried to do a repair using "Mb-Support" tool. But I didn't have any luck yet.
Please help.
Thank you in advance!

mbst-grab-results.zip

[Porthos]

@Grak Please reset you Hosts file to default.

Instructions on resetting your HOSTS file can be found in this Microsoft support article.

[Grak]

I just tried that, and it didn't change anything.
Also, I edited the "HOSTS" file awhile ago and I didn't have any issues with MB-P until about a week or 2 ago. So I'm not sure what's going on.

Thanks for trying though. ^_^

[Porthos]

7 minutes ago, Grak said:

I just tried that, and it didn't change anything.

That was just the beginning. Please keep a default hosts file. The rest of the instruction and continued operation of Malwarebytes will depend on it.

Now after you set the hosts back to default.

Please do the following Uninstall and reinstall using the Malwarebytes Support Tool

Please close all browsers and programs before running the tool. Right click and quit MB from the system tray also.

Once done it will attempt to reinstall both Malwarebytes and Privacy VPN.

Restart once more.

When finished, Get us a set of logs from the support tool.

 

[Grak]

Okay, Just finished doing that just now.

mbst-grab-results.zip

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello, @Grak Please review and run the following for me.

 

Please note that the USB Pocket-type network cards are well known for not being very stable. You might want to check with the Vendor and see if they have any updated firmware or drivers

 

 

Your DNS Servers: 192.168.128.1

Please consider changing your default DNS Server settings. Please choose one provider only

DNS is what lets users connect to websites using domain names instead of IP addresses

• Google Public DNS: IPv4   8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4   IPv6   2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
• Cloudflare: IPv4   1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1   IPv6   2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001
• OpenDNS: IPv4   208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220  IPv6  2620:119:35::35 and 2620:119:53::53
• DNSWATCH: IPv4   84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40   IPv6  2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f and 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b

The Ultimate Guide to Changing Your DNS Server
https://www.howtogeek.com/167533/the-ultimate-guide-to-changing-your-dns-server/

Here is a YouTube video on Changing DNS settings if needed

 

 

NEXT,

 

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop or location where you ran FRST from.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Please make sure you disable any real-time antivirus or security software before running this script. Once completed, make sure you re-enable it.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system that cannot be undone.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or wherever you ran FRST from. Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

NOTE-1:  This fix will run a scan to check that all Microsoft operating system files are valid and not corrupt and attempt to correct any invalid files. It will also run a disk check on the restart to ensure disk integrity. Depending on the speed of your computer this fix may take 30 minutes or more.

NOTE-2: As part of this fix all temporary files will be removed. If you have any open web pages that have not been bookmarked please make sure you bookmark them now as all open applications will be automatically closed. Also, make sure you know the passwords for all websites as cookies will also be removed. The use of an external password manager is highly recommended instead of using your browser to store passwords.

NOTE-3: As part of this fix it will also reset the network to default settings including the firewall. If you have custom firewall rules you need to save please export or save them first before running this fix.

The following directories are emptied:

• Windows Temp
• Users Temp folders
• Edge, IE, FF, Chrome, and Opera caches, HTML5 storages, Cookies and History
• Recently opened files cache
• Flash Player cache
• Java cache
• Steam HTML cache
• Explorer thumbnail and icon cache
• BITS transfer queue (qmgr*.dat files)
• Recycle Bin

Important: items are permanently deleted. They are not moved to quarantine. If you have any questions or concerns please ask before running this fix.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

[Grak]

Thanks a ton for the help!
Sorry for the late reply, I was busy with work and real life stuff until now. (Also, I'm living in Japan at the moment, so my hours are different from most people.

I just finished doing the instructions you gave me. (changing DNS/backing up my files/running FRST.)
It seemed to function correctly from what i saw.

I'm not sure if that fixed my issues. But here is the log file that came from running "FRST".
If I see any differences with my connection, I will post a reply here.

Thanks again for your help.

Fixlog.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Hopefully the clean up helps improve overall performance or stability of the computer at least a little.

Please keep us posted

Thank you @Grak

 

[Grak]

I seem to still be having some small issues with keeping the "Kill-switch" turned on.
But everything has been running fine (or much better/faster) since I followed your instructions.
(I even cleaned up a few other small issues that were slowing my computer/hard drives down as well.)

I really appreciate your help! (I am really impressed at your knowledge of computers, it is really inspiring! ^_^)
I will post here again if I have any major issues. But I think I will just keep an eye open on my VPN to make sure it it is running most of the time. (I am aware that this idea isn't the best, but I am hoping I can get the Kill-switch to work in the near future)

P.S, I use the Kill-switch for things like connecting to the US games servers/websites, and if I don't use a VPN, I get emails that need to verify that I am who I say I am all the time.
(I know it might seem like a small inconvenience, But it becomes really tiresome when I need to verify it everyday.)

Thanks again! ^_^

[AdvancedSetup]

VPN usage alone can cause that type of behavior depending upon the service whether or not you use the kill-switch.

I've used VPN off and on for twenty years and most systems don't care but some try hard not to allow using a VPN with their service.

Best of luck and have a great weekend

Cheers

 

[Grak]

My internet connection was really stable for the past 4-5 weeks, but it has started acting really poorly over the 5-6 days.
Now I've just had about 10 disconnects within about 30 minutes.
It's been a massive issue because I've been trying to play games online, and it is just becoming a constant frustration.

I tried to reset everything to how it was before, and tried following your instructions again to fix the issue. But it didn't seem to work this time.
I thought my Pocket Wifi was broken, but my phone hasn't had any internet connection issues.
It seems to fix if I unplug and reconnect the Pocket Wifi device.

Thank you for the assistance.

mbst-grab-results.zip

[AdvancedSetup]

Your cellphone is not playing massive gaming like a PC is and the loads on a connection are much lower. It's also not using an external USB connector for it's connection.

How old is the USB Network controller you're using?

I recently bought a new one that supports Wi-Fi 6 but also drops back and supports all the older protocols too and it seems pretty rock solid so far. Though I've not done gaming on it on VPN but it holds a good connection normally.

 

BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. P2.90Y 02/26/2013
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
Percentage of memory in use: 35%
Total physical RAM: 16268.16 MB
Available physical RAM: 10552.36 MB
Total Virtual: 32534.46 MB
Available Virtual: 25629.64 MB

 

Unfortunately, 2013 is ancient in computer terms. If your USB external Wi-Fi is old you might try a new one, but I cannot promise it will work as some USB Wi-Fi are problematic period.

Mine was about $45

 

You could also try doing a Factory reset again on your router and see if that helps.

How To Reset Your Router
https://setuprouter.com/networking/how-to-reset-your-router/

 

Try to remove any programs that are launching that you don't need to help lower resource usage which could also be causing overall system stress leading to issues.

 

Edited March 7, 2022 by AdvancedSetup
Updated info

[Grak]

Hello, Thank you for the quick reply.

Yeah, i understand, but I'm not really playing massively intensive games at the moment. (The game I've been playing lately is a very old game that I'd used to play using dail-up router, and it ran fine then.)
My computer and internet connection seem to work great most of the time. Then the connection just drops, until I unplug and reconnect the pocket wifi.

I'm not exactly sure how old it is, I'm renting it from the ISP. (I'm currently living in Japan.)

I see. I might try doing a factory reset tonight if I can. Although, it might be hard seeming as it is in Japanese.

Thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.

[AdvancedSetup]

Maybe speak with the vendor that you're renting from and ask them if they have a "newer" unit and explain your issues, concerns with them?

Best of luck and have a good upcoming week

 

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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