Posted on 12/06/2009 7:43:02 AM PST by Apple Pan Dowdy
Please excuse the Vanity post - I am desperate! I have a new PC with Windows 7. At odd times I loose the Internet connection. I know cable internet signal is coming through the router as other PCs in the system have connections.
At first the lost connection was happening each time I would reboot. Now it happens at seemingly "random" times .... I realize it's probly not random, but I can't see a correlation yet ... and the connection usually comes back when I reboot again.
The Dell tech support wants me to reinstall the windows software. That would mean reloading ALL my other software and loosing their respective settings, thus causing me at least 2-days of lost work time which I can't afford.
Has anyone else experienced this problem and found an answer? And... PLEASE ... I don't have time for snide cracks from the MAC guys out there.
Other info pertinent:
Intel Q9400 (2.66Hz)Quad core
4 GB SDRAM
750 BG SATA 2 Hard Drive
Network Adapter (in case that matters because someone else suggested to me that there might be a problem with drivers for this) - Nvidia nForce Networking Controller
Do you have time for snide cracks on your spelling of “lose”?
Logged in?
I hope so as I’m having the same problem. It will auto fix sometimes saying it has to reset the LAN server then other times you have to shut Windows down completely for it to fix. I’ve found that having a program other than IE running at the same time will often keep it from happening for several days (keep a shareware game up and running in the background). So much for fixing VISTA.
I wish my ISP would loose my internet connection. It seems a bit slow at times.
I hate loose connections.
Does your ISP have any fixes for PCs using Win7? Check their website for support info concerning using Win7 with their software. Maybe some settings need to be tweaked.
I certainly do!
Feel free.
Yep my first thought is the drivers. I would actually go to the device manager and update the drivers and have it look to Windows for and update. Good Luck.
However, since the reinstall of his Windows, the internet connection has been stellar.
Have you runed out everything else like
1) Cable modem
2) splitter
3) ISP?
I hope someone knows the answer to your question. I have been having the same problem and it is sooooo frustrating. Thanks for post the question.
Loose women?
Oh, sorry, loose W SEVEN.
If the internet connection is too tight, the LOL cats can’t get through.
I have seen many PC’s with bad e-net ports. Could also be an issue.
Maybe something’s loose, lol. Check your cables.
I would check with your ISP first. I ended up buying a new cable modem and splitter because my internet would lose conection. Please check with your ISP first.
Do not alter anything until have checked.
I owned 2 dells. One was a great machine, the second the monitor literally caught fire within the first 30 days I owned it, and it took Dell 2 months to replace it "under warranty" because their stupid Indian tech support wanted me to plug it in "to run diagnostics." Consequently I've never bought another Dell.
Ok, Dell bashing mode off, here's my recommendation to you: Go to NVidia's website and download the latest driver for your network card & laptop from them and install it. Chances are the one Dell shipped was v.01 and there have been improvements since.
Good luck.
Is there a loose (note spelling) connection from the WAN to your troubled computer? Are all the other WAN lights steady and yours flickers or vice-versa? Try replacing that particular cable if it may be frayed or old. Are the cable connectors tightly attached to the cable?
I had to do a similar thing. It was maddening. Be deep into a Team Fortress game and all of a sudden, i’m toast. Replaced an old Cable Modem a few weeks ago and no problems since!
Is it Comcast? I actually think it’s Comcast, not you, who has been having some intermittent issues with connectivity. We’ve had it happen a few times in recent days, connection lost for a few minutes at a time, then it appears to fix itself, whether we reset the modem or not.
It’s happened with both my machine, which is Windows 7, and hubby’s machine which is on XP.
I started having the same problem, and it is intermittent which makes it more aggravating. You’ll probably see that your network adapter is not connected. And you can go through all the diagnosis you want, and it won’t solve the problem. I had a Realtek 8185 Extensible 802 adapter in my laptop. I went to Best Buy and bought a $49 usb adapter, then DISABLED the realtek using the DEVICE MANAGER. When you install the usb adapter, be sure to use your function keys to TURN OFF your wireless capability. (If it is still on, the new adapter will not install ... and if you call them for help, you get somebody in India that puts you on hold and leaves you hanging for a half hour!). Once installed, do not “enable” the old adapter and DO NOT turn your wireless capability back on with the function keys. My new adapter, that I have had for 3 days now has not dropped me once. Bottom line, I think there is a driver problem, at least for the realtek adapters in many laptops and Windows 7. Anyway, its a $49 solution, but worth it for me. Hope this helps.
.... and all the drivers were updated and the ‘latest’ and I had done all the updates. Look at the adapter.
Let me double up on the “replace the adapter” comment. Go spend a little money on a USB adapter and disable the built-in one. My wife’s HP wireless decided to crap out after less than a year. It’s easier to run down to the store and pick up a USB version of what broke and install it instead of trying to go through the customer support path. Maybe it cost me a few more bucks - but the headache is solved (and wife isn’t nagging about her computer not working ;-)
This allows you to get a clean install on a new driver AND avoid the problem if it’s really a hardware issue. So it’s a two-fer.
IF you still have a problem after going to this extreme - time to replace or re-install Windows 7. Can I interest you in a nice Linux install - perhaps Ubuntu? ;-)
“If the internet connection is too tight, the LOL cats can’t get through.”
Yep...it’s either a driver problem...or a hairball...
Ping. Since you’ll be getting Windows 7 soon on a Dell, you might want to keep this handy.
1) Remove Power Management setting from the NIC. This almost certainly is the cause. W7 doesn't play nice with Power Management sleep settings with many hardware devices (USB root hub, NIC, System sleep, etc.)
Goto: Device Manger, R-Click NIC, Properties, Power Management Tab, Uncheck "Allow computer to turn off...". You should also go to the Display properties, Screen Saver, Power and set "Turn off Hard Disks" to Never. Although it's unrelated to the NIC issue it will cause hangs if/when the OS can't wake up the drive.
2) NIC driver. Use Device Manager and auto-update via the Windows site. But this likely isn't it. From my experience The "I have to Reboot to restore [device]" is the W7's Power Management not being fully coded for the hardware to enable re-start of device. Just turn off Power Management (Uncheck 'Allow Computer to Turn Off') for all the devices listed above and you should be fine.
It took me a week of tweaking but now our W7 runs like a champ. Best of luck.
All your internet are belong to us.
(You can reply to my future vanity post in a few weeks when my free copy of Windows 7 arrives from my OEM. I’m wondering if and when to install it over Vista (slap me).)
I have Earthlink DSL and I had several dropouts yesterday. Maybe it’s a larger problem with teh intarwebs.
OTOH, the original poster mentioned that only his windows 7 computer was affected, not his others.
Checkout this document for a one possible solution to the issue of Windows 7 dropping internet connection related to a default setting for IPv6 (which you'll want to uncheck).
BTW, I am a Mac guy.
I installed Zone Alarm on the 3 computers in the household. No problems with two of them but it caused one to lose its internet connection frequently. I switched over to Avast on that computer and haven’t had any further problems.
You don’t say how you connect this PC to your router - is it wireless?
you may try this it should work with win7. go to system tools open your command prompt or dos prompt type in the command line type in without the = sign ====ipconfig/release===== when it finishes type in ===== ipconfig/renew ===== this should reset your modem without having to reboot your whole system I do know it worked with vista and dsl it should work with cable and win7 too. and no i will not tell how old I am lol you used to have to know this just to get on the net!!!! these 2 commands do the same as rebooting your whole system without having to reboot.they are old old commands, me i run nothing but Linux usually redhat but the last few weeks debian hey its free .......
My wife's HP Vista machine has the same problem. The wireless drops the connection and won't reconnect until I reset the router. I bought an "N" router, reset the "sleep" function on her machine and typed in registry patches from MS. Although it drops it less frequently now, it's still a headache. The XP machines I have don't experience this problem. The USB wireless is a good idea. Occham's razor to the rescue!
Disable autotuning on your NIC.
1) Open an elevated command prompt (search for “Command”, then right-click and click “Run As Administrator”)
2) Type in the following: “netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled” then hit enter.
3) Reboot and see if that helps.
9 times out of 10 this will take care of networking issues like you described.
How do you know if it is turned on?
sounds like a hardware or interference problem to me
//Windows 7 arrives from my OEM. I’m wondering if and when to install it over Vista//
From all the stories I’ve read about that, I would caution against it.
//How do you know if it is turned on?//
Maybe thats the default mode, dont know.
Slowdowns occur constantly. Not much you can do about those on the ISP side, unless you’re willing to spend good money on bandwidth monitoring software, and there is a LOT of it our there-be careful.
If you’re having, or you suspect you’re having, OUTAGES, then I can recommend a FREE software that I use to monitor your connection to your DNS server (ISP/Host/Provider) or to any website, for that matter, etc. It’s also tell you your Min/Avg/Max ping times. You can have it start at boot, and minimize to tray, with a balloon pop up every x minutes informing you of the results. It maintains a log, as well.
It’s called EMCO Ping Monitor, and you can download it here: http://emco-ping-monitor.emco-software.qarchive.org/_download2.html .
It’s FREE (hey, if it’s FREE, it’s ME!) and it doesn’t use too much of your resources, {about} 1% of RAM and .1%-.2% of CPU.
Good luck.
LOL... admitting I am NOT the spelling bee champ!!
I hope you found a solution to your problem.
Two other PCs (both windows XP) on the same router keep their connection just fine, so I am thinking it HAS to be something to do with the windows 7.
Oops! I hit enter before finishing my post. {doh!}
“I know cable internet signal is coming through the router as other PCs in the system have connections. “
Very first quick thing to do is to plug in directly to your cable modem. Does it still go in and out? If yes, then you should check your event viewer log (event viewer is your friend) for errors and/or warnings and address any issues listed there. If you have no pertinent issues there, then check your device manager for problematic or malfunctioning hardware.
After eliminating the above my experience is that it’s usually a settings or other application conflict or an outright error, or it’s the router or NIC going out, and if it’s only occurring on your machine, then it’s most likely the Nic. So, if you have the patience, you’ll need to remove all settings, reboot, and reset them all again. Then, if you still have the problem, try replacing the hardware, one at a time, with a known good piece.
To “see” what’s booting at startup, and when, you can download Microsoft’s bootvis here: http://majorgeeks.com/BootVis_d664.html. This is only a graphical tool to visualize the startup processes, it doesn’t “do” anything, nor can you use it to change anything, but it does help in understanding what’s being loaded, and when, at boot.
Actually when the connection goes bad... I check the Device Manager for the NIC and it says there that it is connected and working..... it has to be connected and working if the other two PC's on the same router are getting connection just fine.
That's one of the first things I tried... saw that suggestion from someone on Microsoft's forum. No change in problem.
I am happy to hear that you have your win 7 running smoothly now.
This just might turn out to not be a windows problem, but perhaps a bad NIC card. Convincing Dell is the trick, they want you to reinstall several times before they will admit a part had a problem.
LurkedLongEnough, I would NOT hesitate to install your new WIN 7 over Vista............. nothing, I repeat nothing (wellll maybe WIN ME) could be worse than Vista. I skipped Vista altogether on desktops after a bad experience with a laptop.
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