I can't read email in OE or browse the net with Internet Explorer or Firefox if I've let my computer be idle for an hour or so. I must reboot in order to connect to the internet. I don't have any issues with losing my connection while browsing online. I don't remember where to look to check my settings. I recall setting it up early on so that my DSL connection is always connected but not sure why I am having problems staying connected now. This problem began happening after I got a bit 'cleaning happy' using Crap Cleaner.

I am sure someone else can help you more. But my dsl connection does the same thing at times. I have to unplug the dsl modem for about 10 seconds and then it will reconnect.

PolaRay

Laurie there was a long and interesting thread on this very subject over a year ago but there was no answer at that time. There were a few of us in this situation then. Hopefully we may get an answer this time :)

Two of my three computers connect with no problems yet the best computer does the same as yours. Over time everything has been changed except the case and power supply. Even now I am writing on my slowest computer because I need to save some work on the best machine before rebooting :rolleyes:

WinXP Pro SP2 and all updates 1gig RAM, IE6


>

A little info about your hardware setup would be nice. Such as.... type of modem you're using; type of connection (USB or CAT5); setting your desktop PC into stand-by or hibernation can cause such symptoms. I once had a roommate that had a bad habit of setting her Dell desktop into stand-by and once I told her to stop doing that, her internet connection problems went away. ;)

Have you tried releasing and renewing your IP address?
You can do it from a command prompt, or download and install the Windows NT IPConfig Utility, found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/wntipcfg-o.asp

If you have a WiFi setup, there may be a setting for your router to extend the length of your lease.

My DSL modem from Bellsouth has a configuration page. I had to set my connection to "Always On". It wasn't set that way by default. Your modem probably has some kind of configuration page.

I'm using a Westell 6000 modem with a CAT5 cable. Also using a D-Link wireless DI-524 router. PC is hard wired from the router. Hibernation is off. My homepage for the Westell doesn't have an option for "always on". I'll play around with releasing and renewing my IP. Thanks for the replies.

Next time you "loose it", run IPCONFIG & PING.

Compare your IP Address when it doesn't work to when it does.
PING another site, like www.yahoo.com, & see if you get a response.

After doing that, then try the measures listed above (unplug router/modem or IPCONFIG /RELEASE /RENEW).

You might need a firmware upgrade for the router or driver update for the card. Unplugging the router for a second might help, I have to do that once a month, it will reset the connection, unless they are having a problem on the telephone company end.

If there is no firmware upgrade available, I would consider the option outlined in the following article:

Lost DSL Connections

My computer has been doing this for the past couple of weeks, Laurie...
glad to hear it's not just me. Something has to be going on...we're not
all using the same ISP's, so I think we can rule that out. Regarding
Chewy's suggestion about not using Standby or Hibernation...I've been using Standby for years with no problems, so why would it start up now?
I think we can rule that one out, too. And these intermittent kinds of
things can drive you buggy! They come and go for no apparent reason...
let us know how you're doing, Laurie...I'll do the same...

>Regarding
>Chewy's suggestion about not using Standby or
>Hibernation...I've been using Standby for years with no
>problems, so why would it start up now?
>I think we can rule that one out, too.

Think again DavvyWavy - it can.

Quote:

"A PC may fail to wake up from hibernation or standby mode, ... the other computers on your home network will also lose their Internet connection."

http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0903/28l03/28l03.asp

But it doesn't apply to Laurie's situation since she has stated she doesn't use stand-by or hibernation.

I guess what I'm looking for is some common demominator that connects
those of us having this problem. It's possible that there is none, that
we are each of us simply experiencing similar problems. Fortunately,
as has been suggested, pulling the plug on the modem, or re-booting, seems to clear things up momentarily. But it seems like something else
is going on...

>I guess what I'm looking for is some common demominator that
>connects
>those of us having this problem. It's possible that there is
>none, that
>we are each of us simply experiencing similar problems.
>Fortunately,
>as has been suggested, pulling the plug on the modem, or
>re-booting, seems to clear things up momentarily.

There's absolutely no need to physically disconnect the modem! For me that would be a hassle to get under the desk and bother with unplugging & plugging the cord back in. Simply renewing the IP address within the command prompt would be most sure way and easiest of solutions. And it doesn't take a genius to do it - all you have to do is memorize the ipconfig command as given above by TheRube; or just jot it down on a sticky note.

>But it
>seems like something else
>is going on...

Read the 2 links from the Smart computing website I posted. You will then have a better idea of how to better troubleshoot.

Have tried accessing different sites when the computer "loses it"...and
will give Rube's suggestion a try. Thanks to all for helping...will let
you know outcome.

Alright, gang...here's the answer. Since I disconnected Windows Defender yesterday morning I have not lost my connection once! Things
were magically cleared up immediately....

Laurie, if you're using ZoneAlarm, try disabling it after boot-up and see if the problem persists. I recall encountering a similar problem a couple of years ago. It occurs to me that you might have deleted a required configuration or logfile.

Beth has a similar problem with her laptop. If she hibernates it, then it doesn't reconnect to the wireless network. She has to restart it to reconnect. (She's taken to shutting it down when it's not in use.) One of these days, I need to figure out how to fix that.

There may be a BIOS setting that affects the LAN (NIC) after sleep/hibernation.

By default, Windows Xp sets the NIC card to turn off while not in use. I have this setting unchecked.

Thanks. I'll try this.

EDIT: It worked. Thanks.

In Device Manager uncheck any of the Power Management options for the ethernet card.This will usually correct this.

Sorry I haven't reported back on the suggested fixes. I have all the boxes unchecked(none were checked previously) per Chickenmans, Ropera's, and Maggie's suggestions and the problem still persists. When I can't connect online, I don't get a response from www.yahoo.com when I ping it in the ipconfig command. I do get a response when all is working well. Unplugging the modem doesn't work either. I can pinpoint when the problem began. It appeared soon after installing the latest MS updates. I doubt that has anything to do with it though.

Laurie, did you read my post about uninstalling Windows Defender?

Maybe try going into safe mode and go to device manager the choose View- and show all hidden devices. There might be some ghost installs. Delete or disable them. Or start over by reinstalling the card after you have removed it.
Rant:
I had a guy work on my laptop and he forgot to hook the antenna back up on my wireless mini pci card. Well of course he decided it was nothing he did wrong so he proceeded to unstall and uninstall countless software and pc cards. Screwed my connection royally. He had no reason to get on the internet it was a fan he was replacing. I reconnected the antenna, did everything, and nothing worked until I restored the computer back to a day before he touched it.

I was having the problem of loosing my connection if the computer was idle for a while. I was using Zone Alarm free firewall. I have removed it and use Look N Stop and haven't lost my connection since.

If I can keep my family offline line long enough to make our computer go idle, I'll disable Zone Alarm and see if the problem still continues.

>If I can keep my family offline line long enough to make our
>computer go idle, I'll disable Zone Alarm and see if the
>problem still continues.
>

Just make sure that you enable Xp's Firewall before stopping ZA. You don't want to get hammerred by hackers.

Did you try DaveyWavey's advice on uninstalling Windows Defender ( if you have it installed )?

Oh....and nobodies mentioned this before....but can you do a System restore to a point before you used the " Crap Cleaner" ?

Quote:

Just make sure that you enable Xp's Firewall before stopping ZA. You don't want to get hammerred by hackers.

She is behind a router.

>

Quote:

Just make sure that you enable Xp's Firewall
>before stopping ZA. You don't want to get hammerred by
>hackers.

>
>She is behind a router.

Thanks....missed that.

>Did you try DaveyWavey's advice on uninstalling Windows
>Defender ( if you have it installed )?

This problem began before I installed Windows Defender. Isn't my D-Link router serving as a firewall also?

Yes, that was the point I was trying to make in #29.

Why don't you try uninstalling Defender just to rule it out?

Yes.

>I can't read email in OE or browse the net with Internet
>Explorer or Firefox if I've let my computer be idle for an
>hour or so. I must reboot in order to connect to the
>internet. I don't have any issues with losing my connection
>while browsing online. I don't remember where to look to
>check my settings. I recall setting it up early on so that my
>DSL connection is always connected but not sure why I am
>having problems staying connected now. This problem began
>happening after I got a bit 'cleaning happy' using Crap
>Cleaner.
>
>

This would be the first thing I would check:

Go to Internet Explorer Properties\Tools\Internet Options\Connection. Under the Lan Settings make sure that " Automatically Detect " Settings is UNCHECKED.

Your ADSL connection has a "Lease" period that expired and releases on a regular basis. This is assigned by DHCP. This renewal can be blocked if " Automatically Detect Settings" is checked.

While you're in " Lan Settings" make sure that yo.u do not have "Proxy Server " checked.


There may also be some NIC card settings that may need checking, but check the Lan settings as listed above and get back to us first, before we start checking those.

IE: Some NIC cards have Power Saving modes that can cause problems. Independant of whether or not main system uses APM or not. If that mode got " Enabled" it could cause the problem.

You don't say what provider you have, but I seem to recall that it's Verizon. When I'm using my computer (or his) on Dad's Verizon service in New Jersey, it gets dropped regularly after an unknown period of activity. The only fix that works if it is my computer is to turn of the Westel modem for a couple of minutes and then turn it on again. From his computer, the connection can be reestablished through the connection manager program that is part of the Verizon software.

Yes it's Verizon.

Speaking of Westell, if you look around DSLReports, you will find that particular models of Westel modems were flaky. Perhaps it is a hardware issue.

Also, if you have a modem/router combo, or if you have a plain modem & a seperate router, in general, it should not be necesary to use any ISP software - to "connect", as the router can be set up to automatically provide your login/password, & will also provide the (generally needed) PPPoE protocol.

broadband » Verizon Online DSL
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/ilec,vz

I spoke too soon. The disconnection problem has returned. x(

And what does IPCONFIG show when you get "disconnected"?

Are you using any Verizon supplied software to "connect", or is the connection automatic - through the modem/router?

What particular modem/router do you have?

No I don't use Verizon's software to connect. I have Westell 6100 modem and a D-Link di-524 router. I'm not for certain how to use the ipconfig. I have made a couple screen shots but not sure if I would be showing something that would make me 'hackable' with personal information.

Unless you made changes to the default settings in the D-Link router, your PC should have an IP address of 192.168.0.xxx, where xxx is 100 or higher. Your gateway should be the address of the router, 192.168.0.1. From the PC you should be able to open a command prompt window and PING 192.168.0.1. If you get responses to the PING, then your PC is communicating with the router.

If your PC has an IP address that start with 169.254, then it has lost communication with the router.

Is this happening on both PCs? Wired or wireless?

I got a reply. My IP does begin with 192.168. This only happens on my wired PC.

So while your IP address is 192.168.x.x and you can PING the router, can you get on the internet?

I'm sorry. I guess I should have waited and tried that when I can't get online. I'll try it again when I've been idle long enough to not connect.

OK, let us know what you find.

I have Sprint dsl and have to reboot the modem quite often. Have never used hibernation or standby. Luckily, there is a button on the back of the modem and I have easy access to it. Have occasionally had to reboot, but not often. Sprint says this is common and I have spoken to fellow Sprint dsl users and they have the same problem. I have just unchecked the "Allow.....etc., in Power Management for my ethernet card as instructed by Ropera and Maggie :-) . Maybe that will make a difference. Good luck Laurie. Sorry, I can't help you.:-(

I also tried the move Ropera and Maggie suggested but after leaving the computer for a couple of hours I need to reboot.

Tried the ipconfig with /release and /renew to no avail either.

Note, these are just my comments on suggestons made and my findings. I have no wish to steal Laurie's thread but I am watching with great interest.


>

I think I might have fixed the problem. I went to my Westell modem's home page via IE. I was playing around with some settings and I somehow reset the modem through the homepage. I did not reset the modem manually with a button. Since I reset the modem through the Westell website, the connection loss has ceased. I don't know why resetting it manually with the button never fixed the problem.