Lockergnome reader Robert Wolfe submitted:

I recently bought a basic Compaq Windows Vista Home Basic PC to replace a refurbed eMachine with WinXP. The setup and install was smooth until I tried to connect to the Internet. After installing my ISPs setup program and verifying the various addresses, I could not connect to the Internet. Well, after searching the Net for a solution, I found that many users have this same problem with Windows Vista; however, no where (tech news, PC World mag, Lockergnome or other computer e-zines) has mentioned this huge problem with Vista (all flavors) and Microsoft.

A search on MS forums states: “After you configure Internet Connection Sharing in Windows Vista, you may find that, although the network connection works correctly at first, the network connection stops working after one-to-two hours. For example, you may be unable to connect to the Internet, to other computers on the local area network (LAN), or to network resources on the LAN. The cause: This problem occurs because of a bug in the WinSock bind() function”.

There is no workaround, I have to telephone MS to get the hotfix. Any idea why this problem has not been widely published on the Internet? It would be great if you could spotlight this problem in one of your Lockergnome editions.

Thanks Chris. You are providing us with helpful information as we struggle with technology to make it work for us, and not against us.

I wonder if this was originally assumed to be a security feature? ;)