diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index d269202ec7..48d8cd74d3 100755
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -12034,3 +12034,14 @@ David  2 Nov 2006
 
     lib/
         prefs.C,h
+
+David  2 Nov 2006
+    - core client: get rid of attempts to keep track of
+        network connected fraction,
+        since we don't have a reliable way of seeing
+        if there's a physical connection
+
+    client/
+        time_stats.C
+    lib/
+        network.C
diff --git a/client/time_stats.C b/client/time_stats.C
index fee66d81dc..839167f794 100644
--- a/client/time_stats.C
+++ b/client/time_stats.C
@@ -85,7 +85,12 @@ void TIME_STATS::update(bool is_active) {
         w1 = 1 - exp(-dt/ALPHA);    // weight for recent period
         w2 = 1 - w1;                // weight for everything before that
                                     // (close to zero if long gap)
+
+        // the following always returns UNKNOWN,
+        // but leave it here for now
+        //
         int connected_state = get_connected_state();
+
         if (first) {
             // the client has just started; this is the first call.
             //
@@ -141,7 +146,7 @@ void TIME_STATS::update_cpu_efficiency(double cpu_wall_time, double cpu_time) {
     double w = exp(-cpu_wall_time/SECONDS_PER_DAY);
     double e = cpu_time/cpu_wall_time;
     if (e<0) {
-    	return;
+        return;
     }
     cpu_efficiency = w*cpu_efficiency + (1-w)*e;
     if (log_flags.cpu_sched_debug){
diff --git a/lib/network.C b/lib/network.C
index 4e89d71863..1bcfb159eb 100644
--- a/lib/network.C
+++ b/lib/network.C
@@ -182,7 +182,10 @@ int get_socket_error(int fd) {
 typedef BOOL (WINAPI *GetStateProc)( OUT LPDWORD lpdwFlags, IN DWORD dwReserved);
 typedef int  (*pfnBOINCIsNetworkAlive)(LPDWORD lpdwFlags);
 
-int get_connected_state( ) {
+int get_connected_state() {
+    // The following is commented out because it causes
+    // hangs in some situations.
+#if 0
     int online = 0;
     static bool first=true;
     static HMODULE lib_wininet_module;
@@ -217,6 +220,7 @@ int get_connected_state( ) {
             return CONNECTED_STATE_NOT_CONNECTED;
         }
     }
+#endif
     return CONNECTED_STATE_UNKNOWN;
 }