troubleshooting

[desh]

My new WinXP Pro computer seems to lose its internet connection entirely if the connection is completely idle for too long. There was a helpful option in the hardware manager to tell the network adapter to go to sleep if it's idle for too long; I disabled that, but it didn't help. The only workaround I have is rebooting; logging out of Windows and back in doesn't help. (At least, I don't think it does, if I remember from last time; I can't test it this time, since logging back in seems to be hanging the computer. Whoever said XP Pro got the bugginess out was lying.)

Now it could be a problem with my crappy crappy router. (Don't buy D-Link!) In fact, that seems likely, because I can successfully ping my other local computer. But does anyone know of anything else it might be? Known issues with ZoneAlarm, XP Pro SP1, or ethernet adapters onboard NVIDIA mobos?

Edit: Apparently it's DNS that stops working! I can get to Google by its IP address, but not by "google.com". I'm totally confused now. Ideas?

Edit 2, ~6:15pm EDT: What timing. Now my cable modem is entirely non-functional, and Comcast has a message on their tech support line that there are widespread problems. Yippee. This dialup is painful.

Comments

[t3chnomag3.livejournal.com]

I like my D-Link router just fine, and I've never had that problem.

I'd look it up for you, but I'm at work, so perhaps later.

Weird

[dredpiraterober.livejournal.com]

Nothing liek that has ever happened to me. DOes it happen when you are plugged directly in to the cable modem also? My guess would be that your computer goes in to sleep mode, and it disables the network connection. My suggestion would be to upgrade all of your drivers.
Also, did you install Windows XP with SP1 and then upgrade to SP2? Because I have been told that has caused some trouble for people in the past (I have never done it, so I do not know). Ummm, yea, I have some more ideas, so IM me or something

[flyinbutrs.livejournal.com]

Why are you using SP1? Upgrade to SP2... it's much better. Sort of. And XP pro is still way better than home. Or any other MS OS. If you can ping the other computer on your network / the gateway/router, then your network connection is operational. Can the other computer access the internet when this happens? If it can't, it's definitely a router issue. You might want to check to see if there is a newer firmware for the router... if you haven't updated it since you bought it, there probably is.

Other things to try: go into control panel > network connections > local area connection, right click and either repair, or disable and then enable it.
Worst comes to worst, if it really is a sleep issue, there are plenty of "keep alive" connection programs that will keep sending packets and such.

[myq.livejournal.com]

obligatory OSX comment.

[conana.livejournal.com]

I don't know how your network is set up; my first thought is that dhcp might not be renewed if the network is idle; but for all I know you have a static IP. How long is the timout threshold?

[jdcohen.livejournal.com]

So, your router, when left on for long periods of time, "loses" its DNS server addresses... interesting. If you go to your network settings > Properties > Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) > Properties, you can choose the "Use the following DNS server addresses" option to input some IP addys by hand, which would solve the problem from your computer, at least. You might be able to set the DNS addresses manually on your router, too - but since I have never dealt with D-Link router software, I wouldn't know how off the top of my head.

--Jeff

[bumonyou.livejournal.com]

I've had a d-link 4port for oh...3 years now and it's never given me any trouble.

[t3chnomag3.livejournal.com]

My work had comcast cable troubles today, too.