Keep Losing Internet Connection, Bug?

Ok, I am not entirely computer stupid, but I just cannot figure this one out. My internet connection seems be connected for a while and then it will just drop out--usually kicking back on in 2-3 minutes or, worst-case-with a reboot. I know that it is not my service provider--I am hooked up to a network and my host has never had any problems, and I can hook up to my laptop with the same internet cable that plugs into my desktop and I am not kicked off once (my speed is Cable, not dial-up)

I continually delete my temp internet files, and run Ad-aware, Spybot and Norton Antivirus weekly. I frequently check my Windows Updates and I am caught up. There are not any other parasites or spyware on my computer that I have been able to detect with my software.

So...since I know it is not an internet cable or service provider problem I figure it has to be within the actual computer itself. I would love some hints, this drives me nuts! Thanks,
Erin

 

Same here, I've been trying to post for the last hour with no luck. I lose my connection at least every five minutes. I have cable and Comcast says they detect no problems on their end. I update and run AVG regularly as well as spybot and adaware. I am getting desperate for help. I have been a long time visitor to this site but have never found the need to post a question before now as I can usually find a solution here. This one has me stumped.

 

Same problem here. I'll be humming along then....nothing. After a couple of minutes or a reboot...everything’s fine. I have even experienced a complete loss of telephone connection, no dial tone, completely dead. I asked my neighbors if they’re phones are dead and they tell me no, their lines are perfectly fine. I check my line by using the outside box jack and its working. I reconnect to my computer and its working again. The dial-up has been very erratic lately, as low as 19,200bps to a tops of 43,333bps. Until two weeks ago, I always had 48,000bps.

Not sure if all these symptoms are related. I thinking modem. Any experts with ideas?

 

I'm still dying out here! I just can't stand my computer losing internet all the time! Does anyone have any ideas? Any specific bugs that I can search for? I have been running Ad-aware and Spybot as specific as I can but I just can't seem to target what is causing my computer to lose its internet connection. Please help! Any ideas!!

Erin

PS, glad to know I am not the only person who is having these problems!

 

I'm not sure this is correct but if you are using Win XP doesn't it have a timeout thingy when you install either dsl or cable into the computer. And you can set it to turn it off. Like if you are idle for a certain amoutn of time it will automatically disconnect for secuirity reasons?

 

it did happen with me though when I first put in my dsl. after like 5 minutes it would ask if wanted to go offline. It said that the idle something something was asking it to autodisconnect

 

alrite .....

 

What I mean by my connection "dropping out" is that for some reason I am simply lose the ability to connect to a website, it wont load. But if I wait 2-3 minutes, the connectivity will kick in again and the page will refresh again at regular speed--so, I'm not waiting 2-3 minutes for it to just load. I cannot log onto ANY webpage or log into my AIM. I will just try to open a page and it eventually times out trying to bring it up. Again--I use the same cable to plug in to my laptop and I am hooked up to a network--neither my host nor my laptop have any difficulties with staying connected to the internet, just my desktop.

I have run about 5-6 online virus scans, and I routinely (once a week) scan my computer with Ad-aware, Spybot and Norton. I also scanned with the CWS Shredder and it produced nothing.

My computer does not lock up when I lose my connectivity--and my leds are lit up and appear to show a connection. Its just bizarre, if this wasn't a normal occurance, it would just appear like I briefly lost internet connection-everything else on the machine "appears" to run as normal.

As far as specs are concerned--I'm a little shaky about the RAM and processing speed. I believe I have 256,000 RAM (??) but I could also be reading the numbers completely wrong-I have no idea. My OS is Windows 98. And I have reduced most of the programs in my task manager to just a few of the basics I need to get by. I don't know if I am having registry problems or not? If you need more hardware specs, can you just let me know where to find that info? Sorry!! I appreciate all the help, thank you!!!!!
Erin

 

Sorry for the long response. 1) I cannot open another session and get connectivity. I have tried, none others work.

2) The whole PC is not frozen, it just seems to be my internet. I can open other applications when I lose connectivity.

3) I have already checked the task manager and I do not have a lot running on startup.

I have run a registry cleaner thinking it might have been a conflict or something but it didn't help (I didn't expect it to). Also, I recently hooked my laptop and desktop into a hub. And I noticed that when my desktop loses its connectivity, my laptop does not (although it runs with linux).

Thanks for all the suggestions. Anything else I can try?
Erin

 

I have just solved a similar problem. My internet connection stoped working after a few minutes. I found that this was caused by the worm W32/Mytob-Z. Check taskmanager for msmgrxp.exe. You can find info on removing it on www.sophos.co.uk/virusinfo/analyses/w32mytobz.html