Network problems

[MatDavies]

Hi,
I have posted here before about this issue, but I have not yet found an answer.

I have an XP pro desktop connected to an adsl modem router. all works fine but after a period of several hours the desktop loses its network connection. Repairing does not work, the only way to get it back is a reboot.
I have the latest patches and drivers. The strange thing is that when it goes down I can still connect in to the PC from work using remote desktop, but the PC just cant see out.
My father-in-law has now got the same problem with his wireless network, also with an XP box.

I have searched the internet and found lots of others with the same problem but no fix. I believe this is an XP issue because my win98 laptop is fine.

any ideas?

Matt

If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation

 

[Loonygirl]

I had a similar problem with my network - have you got WINS disabled? I found WINS was disrupting my XP boxes from time to time until I disabled it.

Sarah

 

[MatDavies]

I'll check that. thanks.


Matt

If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation

 

[MatDavies]

Ok, WINS is disabled so it cant be that.

It seems to be DNS that is not working because the connection itself is still up, in that if something is already connected( a download for example) it will stay connected. However no addresses can be resolved.

I would think this to be a problem with the router but as I said, the 98 laptop is fine.

I have tried doing a IPCONFIG /renew but that fails ( I think that is what repair does anyway?)

Any oother ideas?

someone somewhere must know the answer (Bill????)

Matt

If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation

 

[Loonygirl]

Have you done ipconfig /all
and checked that the DNS IP on that is the same as your DNS server?

You could try
ipconfig /flushDNS
ipconfig /registerDNS

to wipe all DNS entries and then get the PC to try and rebuild it's DNS entries?

Sarah

 

[bcastner]

. Clean the system of possible adaware,spyware and assorted malware:
. Second, try the utility discussed in faq779-4625
. If still no joy, follow the steps in this article, beginning with the section "How to repair Winsock2 Corruption":

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811259

You might look to see if the is a firmware update for your modem, as what you are describing is a DHCP lease renewal failure.

 

[MatDavies]

thanks for the suggestions.

I am inclined to think it is not the router though, as my father in law has the same problem, but he has a belkin wireless router(with a lead to his desktop, so not actually using the wireless bit), again with latest firmware and drivers.

I have done the winsock repair in the past to no avail, but will try again.

Matt


If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation

 

[bcastner]

I cannot speak to Belkin routers, but DHCP renewal has been a sore point on Linksys routers until the very newest firmwares.

You can see in the changelog for the last several firmware iterations:
. fixed PPTP passthru
. fixed DHCP renewal problems

These same "fixes" that often did not fix the underlying issue have appeared in several firmware iterations.

 

[bcastner]

On a related firmware topic, some ISPs require a heartbeat or keep alive probe from the router. This has been a firmware issue for Linksys to get right as well.

I guess I am suggesting:

. Update broadband modem firware, if available
. Update router firmware, if available

 

[MatDavies]

Sorry for the delay in getting back, no rest for the wicked and all that ...

My system is clean of spyware and viruses etc.
The router has the latest firmware, so if the problem is the dchp lease not renewing properley is there some form of work around that I can use?

I did have the lease expiry set to 30 days ( but the problem occurred more that that) I now have it set to 1 day but the interval appears to be about the same.

I have now also installed XP service pack2 but this hasn't fixed the problem (I was hoping).

thanks for the suggestions so far.

Matt

If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation

 

[MatDavies]

Ok,

once again sorry for the delay, I was on a well earned holiday!

I have now discovered that if after the connection fails I restart the DNS client service then I get the connection back for a short period. This will only work a couple of times though, then I need the full reboot again.

does this ring any bells?

cheers

Matt

If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the seriousness of the situation