Windows 7: Laptop keeps disconnecting from network

My laptop keeps spontaneously not being able to connect to the internet.

It'll be working fine one minute and then I'll suddenly lose my internet connection. If I'm browsing then I usually get an error message stating that my router can't connect to the internet.

Also in the taskbar I'll get the little yellow warning triangle over my connection. If I check out the connections available it'll say that my wireless connection is weak and internet is unavailable.

The only way I've found to resolve this is resetting the router.

The only thing is it doesn't seem to be a problem with the router/network because my housemates' laptops / ps3 are still connected with no problems. It doesn't matter where I am in the house either so it's not a range issue.



I've noticed this happens a lot when playing steam games so I don't know if it's related to that at all?

Anyone know what's going on or have any suggestions?

A few things... if you suspect Steam (which has issues) disable it for a while and see if the disconnect issues still occurs.

Do you have latest wireless nic drivers?

If this message is what it is, then all the computers not just yours will be affected. Do you know if this is the case. Work on your laptop and when it happs see if the other laptops also has issues at this particular time.

Have you tried connecting directly to the router via erhernet and see if there any issues?

aem we keep bumping into each other on networking threads... LOL!

I think you didnt read all his OP... he also sez: With that in mind I dont believe the router can be at fault!

Yeah it's a legit copy of windows 7 professional and my drivers are all up to date.

The issue seems connected to steam but I'm not that sure... It only very rarely happens if I'm not actively playing a game online on steam (its usually in the background otherwise). It may have only happened a couple of times when not playing online. However all my online games are on steam so it may be something to do with the fact that I'm playing the game not necessarily steam I guess...

Plus it effects everything including browing etc not just the connectivity of steam... even if I close steam down it does not resolve...

Unfortunately I don't have a spare cable to try it out for a while and see what happens. Plus the router not really in the kind of place I could use it like that long term.

Just unplug the cable that goes from your modem to the router and plug the end that used to plug into your router straight into your PC...

Okay thanks I'll try that and see what happens.

Something I've just noticed - when I just got disconnected it didn't actually say there is a weak connection it says "limited access" next to the network name and if I roll over it it says excellent connection but still no internet access...

Well that does help a bit... I experienced this exact issue on a clients PC a month ago. After deleting the wireless network completely from the list of available wireless networks and then rebooting I added that problem wireless network back in and it all worked fine from then on!

Please let me know if that works for you...

Yeh there is a difference in connecting wirelessly and via ethernet. Doesn't mean if the laptops can wireless access the net, that via LAN it can also. Both adapters on the laptops have different MAC addresses and whether the router was setup to enable MAC cloning or not can define whether or not you can access the internet.

Check in the router controll panel to see if the MAC cloning option is enabled.

Had the exact same problem with my new HP touch sleekbook. It kept disconnecting from the network every few minutes..... I tried everything I could think of, disabled firewall, various tools, changed virus software, various settings tweaked, startup items disabled..... NOTHING WORKED....... Then I went on to my router and changed setting from auto channel selection to "always use channel five" (random choice) MY laptop has not disconnected once since....... Hope this helps you too.....