Losing internet connection...sometimes..

My connection to the Internet is through a Cable Modem (Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter) and it works great until the computer 'sits' idle for a few hours. Then, poof, I lose my internet connection. I can work on my computer at night and the next morning it's gone. The only thing that will restore it is rebooting. This just started happening about a week or two ago. I have searched various sites but it seems like all the ones I find deal with routers, ASDL, or laptops. I fall in none of those categories. I have scanned my computer with Pest Patrol, Bulletproof, and Spybot. I use V-Com as my antivirus. I also have Kerio firewall installed. I have checked the power management to make sure the modem wasn't being turned off. It isn't. I am really at a loss. Any suggestions?

 

If you have not changed anything...

Then it is probably something simple. Try sapping out the network cable.

 

I have no problem picking up another cable but I was just wondering why it would not cut in and out randomly instead of after a few hours of idle time? Just curious. Thanks.

 

Cables and connectors fail sometimes for no apparent reason at all. Network cable specifications are very tight, so it is no surprise that they fail at all. Dust, corrosion, wear, and strain all kill a cable over time. Cable certification testers are VERY expensive, so it is cheaper to have a few cables laying around as spares.

I like Belkin cables my self. I try to buy them in different colors, so that they are easier to trace in a wiring closet. Whatever you buy, make sure that they have molded, snagless ends. CAT5 cables are all you need. CAT6 is a higher fidelity cable that will work just fine.

I have been a network engineer for over twenty years. In this case, I would look at something as simple as this first. Unless of course you did change something, which does not seem to be the case.

One other thing that you will want to do is look at the properties of your network card. Make sure that the "Show icon in taskbar when connected" check box is selected. When it is, you are more likely to see a that failed physical connection is occuring. You should also have it selected for security reasons. You will always be able to see network traffic. If you see network traffic when you know that you shouldn't, then something may be running in the background that you do not know about.

 

I'd be a little more inclined to suspect the cable modem or the ISP here or possibly some sort of strange timing issue with your IP stack.

Next time it happens (and you may need to print this since you won't have internet at the time) do the following and then post a copy of the text file you will be creating here so we can have a look.

Click on start, on run, key in cmd and click OK. This will open a cmd window. Once you have that, do each of the following commands:

Code:

ipconfig /all > c:\ipsettings.txt

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /all >> c:\ipsettings.txt

Note the double >> on the last line. That will force the information to be appended at the end of the c:\ipsettings.txt file you created with the first command.

Note that when you send the output to a text file as you are doing here, you don't see any results on screen. The command will take a second to run then return you to a command prompt.

This is a networking issue so moving the thread to that section.

edit note: sorry Close_Hauled - wasn't trying to step on you. I started on this reply after the initial 'why would it be a network cable' question and didn't see your response when I posted this

 

Thanks for all the input. Newt, I will try your suggestion in the morning (until I can get a cable) and let you know the results. Close Hauled, your suggestion to put the icon in the taskbar made me think of something I did not mention (sorry about that). Once I lose my connection, the modem still shows that it is on and the data light continues to flash like it normally does. I've tried the unplug the modem (I don't have a power off button), wait, plug back in, allow it to reset itself and still nothing. I don't know if that changes anything but I just now thought about it. Sorry.

 

Thanks. I normally walk away from a thread when I get stepped on. I really enjoy helping people on these forums. I'll stay on this one if you don't mind.

 

During that idle time do you have the PC set to go into any form of Standby Mode ? If so it may be actually disconnecting the card and would required a full shudown and restart to fix.

Another reason I ask about possible standby mode.

Another reason for asking Aabout possible standby mode. The problem is not the modem. I think the system is losing the card for some reason.

BillyBob

 

I am assuming that you have your external cable modem connected directly to the network connection in the back of your computer. That your PCI network card uses the Realtek RTL8139A chipset. Please correct me if I am wrong on these assumtions.

Most network connections today have two LEDs. One indicates connectivity, and the other traffic. The connectivity LED will be either green or yellow, but should be steady. The activity LED is usually green and blinking. You will want to look at that on the back of your computer for that as well. If these are all working with the swapped out cable, then we are pretty sure that we have isolated any physical problem between the computer and the modem and can move on to the next step.

What is the make and model of your cable modem? I have never used a cable modem before, so I do not know what the specifications or controls are. For home use, I have only used analog, ISDN, and ADSL. If you post the make and model, I can download the manual and take a look.

 

Ok, where to begin? Haven't got the cable yet will probably try one out tonight and see what happens tomorrow morning. In the meantime, let me get to your questions.

Ok, I added this to the toolbar. Checked the sent/receive amount before I went to bed and when I got up. Minor difference. May be due to my anitvirus updating.

.
On point 1 you are correct. On point 2 I assume so. Never had any problems with it. I even checked to see if there were any driver updates. There weren't.
Make/Model of Modem: Toshiba pcx2200. 5 lights (in order from top) - Cable (always on), PC (always on), Data (flashing), Test (off), Power (always on).

BillyBob - Used to use a screen saver. stopped using it after reading the potential of this causing problems on another bbs. have no form of standby and problem still exists.

Newt - Here is the log from what you suggested..
Windows 2000 IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : batcomputer
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : woh.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Connection-specific
DNS Suffix . : woh.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-30-BD-22-43-4D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.xx.xx edited
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.88.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.41.224.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.29.161.137
24.29.161.129
24.29.161.93

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 15, 2005 3:09:01 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 3:09:01 PM

Windows 2000 IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : batcomputer
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : woh.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Connection-specific
DNS Suffix . : woh.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-30-BD-22-43-4D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.xx.xx edited
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.88.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.41.224.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.29.161.137
24.29.161.129
24.29.161.93
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 15, 2005 3:10:19 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 3:10:19 PM

Something interesting...I used the computer last night around midnight, used it for the first time this morning around 8am. Still had internet connection. the only thing i had done last night was put the connection icon in the taskbar. Came back to use it around 3, no internet connection. Tried logging off instead of rebooting. regained connection.
I really appreciate the help. Thanks a ton.

edit note: the before and after IP addresses were identical. Edited them just in case there isn't a firewall in the system - probably safe enough but I'm a belt & suspenders guy at heart. Newt

 

Try this next time.

Try running IPConfig before and after the failure. Use step one of Newt's procedure before the failure. Then use step three after the failure, then two and three.


BEFORE failure:

ipconfig /all > c:\ipsettings.txt

AFTER failure:

ipconfig /all >> c:\ipsettings.txt

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /all >> c:\ipsettings.txt

I am wondering if your connection is being reset when your lease expires. I have a DHCP server in my lab. I will tinker with it's settings to see if I can get the same results. Maybe your ISP changed something on their end.

I downloaded and read your Toshiba manual. Not much to it, nothing to configure. From what you say, the LEDs are indicating that it is fine.

Also check the coax connection to your cable. Make sure that it is tight on both ends. If you can, make the modem the only thing connected to the cable, forgoing the cable box for a while.

Update: The node type is bothering me too. The default node type is "hybrid" and yours is set to "broadcast ". We may want to configure it to hybrid.

 

In the setting readouts above do I see readings for two connections or is one being read twice.

How about dumping all existing and make one new one ?

Maybe one gets renewed and the other doesn't.

I checked all 3 of my machine and only got readings for one connection.

As to the Node type ??? MY XP says UNKNOWN. One 98SE says BROADCAST. The other says UNKNOWN. No Problems so they WILL STAY that way.

I believe that that is the question that needs to found an answer for.

I am going to check something. Be back in a bit.

Back

First IP check this AM. before coming here.

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 09:24:15 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005 09:24:15 AM

After just a restart from Windows. After being on here.

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:02:17 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005 10:02:17 AM

After another restart

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:35:29 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005 10:35:29 AM

The times seem to relate directly to the times the machines was started/re-started.

Is it possible that a fix for this problem may be just a Simple restarting of the machine ? Because the Address/Lease MAY NOT renew properly while the machine is running.

Actually I believe it is best OVERALL to restart the machine AT LEAST ONCE per day. Not only for the IP but to let other things catch up also. As MANY thing do not/may not get recorded/registered/changed properly untill the machine is restarted.

I still do not think this has anything to do with the Modem OR Cable.

OOPS !!!!
I forgot to say that I am on a Router so things may or may not be different.

BillyBob

 

That words in BOLD are what started me thinking.

BillyBob

 

Alright, here's the latest. First of all, this morning when I went to use the internet, it worked. Got home this afternoon, tried it, it didn't work. Here are the logs you requested.
The before log made last night..
Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : batcomputer
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : woh.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : woh.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-30-BD-22-43-4D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.xx.xx
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.88.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.41.224.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.29.161.137
24.29.161.129
24.29.161.93
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 15, 2005 9:19:12 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 3:15:15 PM

Here is the the after following the steps you suggested
(AFTER failure: ipconfig /all >> c:\ipsettings.txt
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /all >> c:\ipsettings.txt)

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : batcomputer
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : woh.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : woh.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-30-BD-22-43-4D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.xx.xx
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.88.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.41.224.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.29.161.137
24.29.161.129
24.29.161.93
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 6:17:13 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005 6:17:13 AM

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : batcomputer
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : woh.rr.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : woh.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A)-based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-30-BD-22-43-4D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.xx.xx
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 24.164.88.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.41.224.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.29.161.137
24.29.161.129
24.29.161.93
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 4:26:45 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005 4:26:45 PM

If this is a lease issue I am curious as to why it just started happening a couple of weeks ago. Everything had been working fine until then. BTW, checked the cable and it's secure. Thanks.

 

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 15, 2005 9:19:12 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 3:15:15 PM

Check out the times If that is indeed corrrect then I would bet that that is the connection causing the failure.

Seems to be a slight discrepency there.

Why does there APPEAR TO BE One connection before the failure and apparrently two after the failure ? And so far apart in time if the machine was actuall restarted at app 4:26 PM.

Was the machine powered down and restarted ? Or just a Windows Restart ?

The first print out I believe shows two connections but the appear to be about the same time.

Have you run an Anti Virus check. And a Spyware check ?

From the 1st connection data list after the failure.

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 16, 2005 6:17:13 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 17, 2005 6:17:13 AM

How did that get there unless the machine was restarted or logged off and back on. And if it ligit there should have been no problem in the afternoon.

Do you have ANYTHING auto connecting ( or trying to ) the Internet. That might also be a cause for the just above data.

I HONESTLY think we have two connections fighting each other.

BillyBob

 

I have absolutely no idea.

The only thing I can think of is, possibly, my anti-virus but it asks me before it downloads updates. I do NOT have automatic update for microsoft on. You also asked about anti-virus and spyware. If you read my first post you'll see all the things I have ran. Thanks.

 

If you read my first post you'll see all the things I have ran. Thanks.

Oops !! I goofed there.

BillyBob

 

jkerns007

How about going to the Control Panel and see what you find under Network Connections ?

If more than one, one of them should be set as default.

BillyBob

 

jkerns007 - this is getting more and more puzzling. I was really expecting to see a bad IP address in the 'before' ipconfig when you'd lost internet.

Just to clarify - do you have a working connection after you do the ipconfig /renew command or do you have to reboot or log off/on to get connected again?

 

My apologies Newt but I never tried to connect after I did the renew command. I misunderstood. I will try that the next time and let you know if that works or not.
BillyBob - Only one listed under network connections.