More advanced issue [Connection Issue]

This is a problem that has my service provider and the manufacturer of my router (Belkin) bewildered.

Set-up
Connection goes directly (cat5 cable) from the wall to a router.
2 PCs are hard wired to router. (one running service pack 2 the other running service pack3)
1 PC connects wireless to the router (wireless PC is running service pack 3).

Issue
I Cannot connect to the internet via Firefox, IE, and Thunderbird on the two PCs running service pack3.

I can connect to Ventrilo with the two PCs running service pack 3 (this is where it gets weird).

I can connect to Firefox, IE, and Thunderbird on the PC running service pack 2.

The issue seems to resolve itself after 1-8 hours, and I can connect freely once again.
I use a dynamic IP address if that helps.

---

Don't mess with Texas!
--moo

Is this a brand new router, or one you've had for a while? I end up dealing with a lot of wireless routers, and my experience is that they tend to get flaky after a while. I've seen all sorts of unexplainable weird behavior.

Many models are insufficiently cooled which leads to partial component failure eventually, and the flash memory is more subject to corruption than the manufacturers would like you to think. There are also malicious attacks floating around out there against some models, especially older firmware versions. Additionally, some (many?) "home" models are not really designed to put out full power on all ports when new, and their ability to properly handle long cable runs fades as the components age.

I'd recommend starting by downloading the current firmware from the manufacturer's website via a reliable connection, and re-flashing it. You've got good odds of clearing up problems that way.

Try removing all long Ethernet cables, and connecting things back one at a time. It's not unusual to have weird problems if you're pushing the effective total cable length connected to the device, which in practice may be way less than the standard or the claimed specs from the manufacturer.

If it doesn't help and it is more than 2-3 years old, if you live in an area that gets a lot of power surges, or if you live in a warm area and don't have AC, seriously consider just replacing it.

If it's shiny new and after the above stuff it seems fine, I suspect some sort of weird firewall / port forwarding interaction. Are you running a software firewall like ZoneAlarm?

Try powering everything off (computers, router, etc.), and unplugging router from outside connection. Leave it off for a while so things reset (at your ISP), and then connect things back and repower them one at a time, checking to make sure things are working at each step.

---

Miuramir, Windchime, Sariel the Golden, Scarlet Antinomist...
Casino Extortion #4031: Neutral, Council+Custom [SFMA/MLMA/SLMA/FHMA/CFMA]
Bad Candy #87938: Neutral, Custom [SFMA/MLMA/SLMA/FHMA/HFMA]
CoH Helper * HijackThis

Thanks Miuramir, I did all the mentioned above on the first router I owned to no avail. Thinking it was the router I bought a new one a month ago and the exact same issue has arisen once again.

Let's break it down to brass tacks, what besides a firewall would make it possible that Firefox, IE, and Thunderbird can't connect, yet can make it possible for Ventrilo to connect?

A DNS issue?
A port issue?

---

Don't mess with Texas!
--moo

If you don't mind Texas; What version of Windows is each machine running, E.G. XP Pro, Home, Corp or MCE?

Were any of these machines 'office' computers that were originally setup to a network or any other previous network?

What is the Style/Version of your Belkin Router? E.G. G Wireless Router.

To me, it sounds as if the router is trying to issue (via DCHP) the same IP address to the computers and the computers are not releasing/renewing the internal IP's correctly.

---

"...now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb" - Dark Helmet