Internet connection hangs

[mike_italiano]

I have a problem wth my internet connection. I am in the UK and I have a 2mb broadband connection, with AOL. My machine is a Win2K. I do not use the actual AOL software to log on, just the server through an application called AOL dialler. Now every once in a while any application tha has anything to do with the internet, like Outlook Express, PopUk Killer, Firewall etc, stop responding. I am unable to disconnect, as the icon in system tray would not respond, I am unable to stop the Modem (BT Voyager), I am unable to start AOL system Info application, I am unable to open the Network and Dial up window but I am able to use any other program that is not related to the internet (msword, excel etc.). It is a very strange behaviour. I have tried removing spyware but it made no difference. The only solution left is to reboot, and BTW, the machine hangs at shutdown when this occurs. Any idea anybody?

[Greg]

That is indeed strange.

I would want the system behind a hardware firewall/router and then disable all the tray applets except antivirus. Check the system process list and see if there are any odd looking processes. See if the behaviour occurs with the tray applets unstarted. Make sure all the current windows updates are installed.

I hope I didn't just state the obvious and it's helpful.

[mike_italiano]

thank you