bad network card?

I am trying to help my parents with an internet connectivity problem. Here's what I do know: No problems until recently(friday to be exact), now sudden drops while on the internet and will not connect automatically, on dsl but one of the last people on their line. Gets the DNSerror initially when trying to connect and will connect eventually if you run through the diagnosis hoops. Dad was on the phone with CenturyLink (the ISB) tonight and after a long phone call was told that he needed to get a new network card.

My question is what steps do I need to go through to determine that this is indeed the case and not an excuse from the ISB?

Thanks!!

 

It would help the folks here to know more about the computer you are working with - Operating system? Is there a software firewall running? Is the computer connected directly to the internet, or is there a router between it and the internet? Is your network "card" on board, or an add-in PCI card?

One thing I always do when having connection problems under Windows XP or aboveis to go into the Device Manager and remove my "Network Adapter" - then reboot. Windows will "find" the "new hardware and install the drivers for it (If using an older OS then XP, determine what kind of network adapter you have and download the appropriate driver for it before removing it via the devie manager). Doing this has cleared up a bunch of connection issues for me in the past.

 

Sorry! It is XP, connected directly to the internet, but also has a wireless router attached, using AVG virus protection and the card must be on board because we didn't add one, it came with it.

I will try that! Thanks!

 

I'm assuming that you have a cable modem or DSL modem with a router connected to it then your computer is connected to the router correct? If not sure trace the cables. Reboot both the modem and router and see if it works. Then from there instead of going through the router plug your computer directly into the modem you got from the ISP. Click on start then run and type cmd and the when command prompt comes up type ipconfig and hit enter. Do you have an ip address? Let me know what happens then.

 

Thanks, Spad!! Working like a charm now!

 

Glad it worked for you, and thanks for posting back.

I have no idea what causes adapters to get goofy like that. Anymore with XP and above I'll try deleting the adapter first and let the operating system "re-install" it and its drivers before trying anything else.

At least half the time this cures odd connection issues for me.