Internet unexplainably goes down for a couple mins...

[NoCalMike]

So I have Windows 7, a computer I've had for a few months. In the last few weeks I've been noticing that when surfing the net every so often the internet seems to go through dead period of 1-2 mins where it just stops working.

I don't think it is the connection itself, cause none of the lights on the modem or router show any disruption and when I am playing online via PS3 I have been paying close attention to see if games ever get laggy or messed up and they haven't yet.

Is there some type of setting on my computer I am overlooking? This problem wasn't happening when I initially got the computer, it started in the last few weeks.

I've tried power cycling everything. It is weird cause it just stops cold turkey for a min or so and then just goes right back to working like regular.

[polywog999]

So I have Windows 7, a computer I've had for a few months. In the last few weeks I've been noticing that when surfing the net every so often the internet seems to go through dead period of 1-2 mins where it just stops working.

I don't think it is the connection itself, cause none of the lights on the modem or router show any disruption and when I am playing online via PS3 I have been paying close attention to see if games ever get laggy or messed up and they haven't yet.

Is there some type of setting on my computer I am overlooking? This problem wasn't happening when I initially got the computer, it started in the last few weeks.

I've tried power cycling everything. It is weird cause it just stops cold turkey for a min or so and then just goes right back to working like regular.

Are you suggesting that the entire internet is going down... and YOU are the only one who noticed?

[Sandman69]

I am hoping he is just talking about his connection or perhaps his provider's connection.

How long has this been happening? Who is your provider?

I would try calling them first to see if they are having problems.

[Tweedr01]

It's Obama testing out his new powers, just be happy it was only a few minutes and not 4 months

[Mufumonk]

Are you using a fixed IP address for your PS3? There could be conflict between the 2 if you are using a fixed IP on one device and auto fetch on the other.

[NoCalMike]

Are you using a fixed IP address for your PS3? There could be conflict between the 2 if you are using a fixed IP on one device and auto fetch on the other.

Would this still matter though if I am using my computer while the PS3 is off?

Also I didn't mention this problem has only been happening for a few weeks. Never happened with old computer(that is getting a new motherboard, but that is an entire different issue).

I will check my PS3 IP settings to make sure.

[Predicto]

I have this problem on one of my laptops. It is extremely frustrating. I think it is a problem with my wireless card, but I have been unable to isolate it.

[SkinsNumberOne]

I have this problem on one of my laptops. It is extremely frustrating. I think it is a problem with my wireless card, but I have been unable to isolate it.

I've had this kind of problem in a few different cases.

In one case, a Netgear router started having a lot of trouble keeping a connection to a new laptop (wirelessly) I was using.

I ended up replacing the router (it was old at the time) with a linksys (the popular G one - the old Netgear one was a B, this was a few years back).

That was one situation.

In another situation, one level upstairs from the router position (the router had to be in the basement of this house due to wiring constraints), the wireless connection to a laptop dropped 20% of the time. Take it to the bedroom level (two levels up from the router) and the connection was dropping 75% of the time. So this was pretty bad, and unusable. They were using the same router I was using (the Linksys G). I ended up getting them a Linksys PCMCIA card for that particular machine, and it works great. Signal strength is good even on the highest level. Sometimes the internal wireless support just isn't that great.

Note that other laptops were fine on all levels of the house, only this one laptop was giving this problem.

By the way, I have now extended the network with Netgear Powerline adapters, which I like for streaming media content like with the Roku.

Just to be clear, for me, it was the wireless connection.

[HOF44]

I had the problem a few times using comcast. I eliminated router/internet outage problems as a reason and tried a different DNS server. The net not only has been on since then, but it's snappier. I'm using googles public DNS right now. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

[SkinsNumberOne]

I had the problem a few times using comcast. I eliminated router/internet outage problems as a reason and tried a different DNS server. The net not only has been on since then, but it's snappier. I'm using googles public DNS right now. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

Cool. Nice work there. I have heard good things about this DNS: http://www.opendns.com/ but haven't tried them. With Google's insatiable need to gather data, I might not have the stomach to use them as my DNS.

[Predicto]

In another situation, one level upstairs from the router position (the router had to be in the basement of this house due to wiring constraints), the wireless connection to a laptop dropped 20% of the time. Take it to the bedroom level (two levels up from the router) and the connection was dropping 75% of the time. So this was pretty bad, and unusable. They were using the same router I was using (the Linksys G). I ended up getting them a Linksys PCMCIA card for that particular machine, and it works great. Signal strength is good even on the highest level. Sometimes the internal wireless support just isn't that great.

Note that other laptops were fine on all levels of the house, only this one laptop was giving this problem.

I have tried this, but I can't get the laptop to recognize the card. It goes through all the motions of installing it, but that's all.

[Bang]

Now, maybe i'm way off base here, but isn't July usually pretty heavy for sunspots, and don't sunspots somehow affect cable reception?

~Bang

[Sticksboi05]

Your line may just be experiencing random noise.

And it's inexplicably.

[JMS]

It's one of four things.... from least likely to most likely..

(4) You have a hardware problem. This isn't very likely, because HW problems usually aren't intermitant as you discribe, but just to rule it out I will mention it.

(3) Microsoft pushed an update to your computer which hosed you up... This isn't very likely because it's not in the press and your computer and os are relatively new.

(2) You've got an issue with your service provider/line. You should call them and discuss it with them and see if they are experiencing any troubles. This is typically unlikely but since you stated you were still using a telephone or the equivelent of bear claws and stone tablets in this day in age, it's possible.

(1) Some one or something is competing for your very limited bandwidth on your computer which you are not aware of. This could be a perfectly normal safe application which you installed and is reporting back to it's mother ship, and that OS or COTS program didn't anticipate folks out there would still be using a telephone modem to connect to the internet.

This could also and just as likely be malicious code. You've picked up a virus and it's competing for your very limited bandwidth with your browser.

It's pretty easy to diagnose. The next time you notice it's not working or pausing, click on the connection icon in the lower right hand trey next to the clock. If you don't see a little connection icon in your trey go to start->setup->networks and click it there.. ( you can also toggle the menu setting there to make it appear on your trey). See if your internet connection is transmitting even though your browser is paused, blocked, resource starved.. If it is you are likely part of a bot army spamming the defense department computers as we speak. Get some disinfectant software, or better yet wipe your drive, reinstall your OS, and stop surfing to the porn sites.

[SkinsNumberOne]

I have tried this, but I can't get the laptop to recognize the card. It goes through all the motions of installing it, but that's all.

I have had similar problems (perhaps with the same type of card, even).

Some of these drivers are very sensitive to the order of installation. For example, when you put a card into your machine, the plug-and-play system automatically tried to recognize it and may associate a driver with that device. Now, even if you install a driver, it may be hard for the OS to associate a new driver with that device.

Assuming you have Windows XP (and this is something to tread carefully with, so don't follow this unless you're pretty confident, I'm just giving a general idea of how to resolve it that's worked for me)-

The best bet, in some of these cases, is to open the Control Panel and remove any "hanging" references to drivers by selecting "Show Hidden Devices" from one of the menus (maybe it's View but I don't remmeber). After that you may see numerous devices that have question marks or some devices that aren't being found. You should do this with the card unplugged, and then with the card plugged. You should see what the OS is trying to load, and then you can delete it. Once deleted, you should be able to unplug the device and re-verify that the driver is gone. In some cases, now you will be able to properly install a driver (without the card inserted), and then insert the card (or when the driver tells you to).

[Chachie]

Now, maybe i'm way off base here, but isn't July usually pretty heavy for sunspots, and don't sunspots somehow affect cable reception?

~Bang

I notice that I get considerably better service in winter than I do in summer. I am far too lazy and ignorant, however, to investigate.

[HouseBowlrz]

Call Al Gore ... he claims to have invented the Internet so he should have all the answers you need. LMFAO

[Predicto]

I have had similar problems (perhaps with the same type of card, even).

Some of these drivers are very sensitive to the order of installation. For example, when you put a card into your machine, the plug-and-play system automatically tried to recognize it and may associate a driver with that device. Now, even if you install a driver, it may be hard for the OS to associate a new driver with that device.

Assuming you have Windows XP (and this is something to tread carefully with, so don't follow this unless you're pretty confident, I'm just giving a general idea of how to resolve it that's worked for me)-

The best bet, in some of these cases, is to open the Control Panel and remove any "hanging" references to drivers by selecting "Show Hidden Devices" from one of the menus (maybe it's View but I don't remmeber). After that you may see numerous devices that have question marks or some devices that aren't being found. You should do this with the card unplugged, and then with the card plugged. You should see what the OS is trying to load, and then you can delete it. Once deleted, you should be able to unplug the device and re-verify that the driver is gone. In some cases, now you will be able to properly install a driver (without the card inserted), and then insert the card (or when the driver tells you to).

I have Windows7, but I will try to do this anyway. Thanks.

[Corcaigh]

For the OP are you losing actual internet connectivity or just connection to your router?

[joeknows]

go to iobit.com and get the free system cleaner.

my guess you prolly have some malware that is using your bandwidth at the moment and causing your browser to time out.

that is the first thing i would check for....