Broaband not working after ~2Mins online....

[DragonQ0105]

My Broadband Internet is having a weird problem.

The internet was working fine this morning, then I left for an hour, came back, and the internet wasn't working. No biggie, happens almost every week - and the solution as it has always been was to reset my Modem. Fine. 2 Minutes later it stoped working again. If I try to "Repair" or Disable and Re-Enable from the Network Connections Control Panel Applet, it says it cannot renew the IP Address or "Aquire Network Address".

HOWEVER, if I reset my Modem manually, it works again for another 2 Minutes. Hmmm...

I contacted their Free Support, and after an Hour on the phone, they said it was a problem with my Network Card. Well, I've tried 2 Network Cards AND the On-Board LAN and it still has the same problems.

I've tried uninstalling both all 3 Adapters and installing again after a reboot, and I always have the 2 that aren't being tested set to "Disabled" to avoid conflicts. I've also double-checked all connections.

What could be causing this? Is it the Modem? PC? Windows? The Cable Company?

P.S. I tried a load of stuff with the Technician on the phone, but can't remember any of it offhand. If anyone suggests something I've already tried, I'll let you know. I have Windows XP Professional SP2.

 

[mcall]

you don't say if you tried a differant network cable. A bad cable could cause the problem. Also, another thing to try is to boot to safe mode with networking. If no probs there, there may be another app/dvc causing the prob. Press F8 as you're booting and select safe mode from menu.

 

[DragonQ0105]

I will try the Safe Mode thing as you suggest...but I have no other Network Cables, only spare Dial-Up Cables....

 

[DragonQ0105]

I forgot to mention, sometimes when I reset it, it says "Limited or No Connectivity" on the Icon in the Taskbar. I have to try to reset again to resolve this too.

I started in safe Mode, and tried a Repair (it didn't work inititally), and the repair actually worked! I am in Safe Mode right now, and I'll keep browsing to see if it carries on working, or if it stops again.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Nope still stops working after about 5 minutes (2 mins was a bit of an exageration).

What could be causing this?! Surely it isn't a program because I wasn't even on the PC between the period when it worked fine and when it started doing this.

P.S. Adaware came up clean. Am running Norton now...

 

[DragonQ0105]

Well Norton came clean also, I've emptied Temp Internet Files etc. and Defragged (C: was 56% Fragmented, F: was 45% Fragmented!!).

This morning, I had to reset it once, but it's been fine ever since. I have another cable to try if it does it again, and I can try using a USB Connection instead of an Ethernet one (the Modem has ports for both).

I'll report back

 

[wantstolearncfm]

DragonQ0105 are you using the ebuyer 4 port ASR 8400?
IF so you need to flash the latest firmware

http://www.adsltech.com

I know i had to flash mine when it did this, there has been a big release.
Otherwise if it isnt the ASR try flashing the new firmware on whatever you have most get updated from time to time.
Try winstock fix as well maybe that.

 

[DragonQ0105]

Well I tried using a USB Connection instead of my Ethernet Cable to my LAN Port, and installed the latest Drivers from the Webstar Website (they are only USB Drivers), which said they fixed "Intermittent Connections with Windows XP", and it's been fine so far, so I guess it's fixed.

Thanks anyway.

 

[tklange]

Possibly related thread at:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=898638

which I ended with:
"OK, I just text chatted with MS support regarding Hotfix 884020 found at

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884020&Product=windowsxpsp2

and according to them it will be the fix needed. (We'll see...)

But, it won't be available for a week or two and they'll e-mail it when it's ready. So if you need it, you may want to get on their mailing list to receive it.

 

[Wxguesser]

If using the USB cable fixed the problem, I would suspect a bad ethernet cable and/or connector. If the cable is hanging verically as mine is, there is a fair amount of strain on the connector and the wires in the top half of the RJ-45 connector can pull out from the pins and cause an intermittent connection. I have seen this happen before. Try replacing the ethernet cable and see if the problem reappears.

Jim W.