Network communication between computers keeps dropping

I'm at the end of my rope with this one.

I have a Belkin N+ router, a laptop and a desktop, both running Windows 7. Desktop wired Ethernet, laptop connects wirelessly, via one of two wireless adapters--a Dell WLAN card, or a Netgear RangeMax adapter (I've tested this problem with both adapters, and the behavior is identical regardless which adapter I use, and I disable the one I'm not using).

When I first connect wirelessly, all is fine. I can access the other computer and its files on the network. After a matter of minutes, though (average time around 15 minutes), the laptop "disappears" from the list of DHCP clients on the router's webpage, and I can no longer "see" the other computer or access its files. This is true whether I am on the laptop trying to access the desktop or vice-versa.

I've turned off both firewalls for testing (on both computers), and it happens with them off as well as on.

I've triple-checked that the security setting (WPA2 with AES) is the same on the router and the adapter (I've also tried changing the security settings). I've tried changing the channel, I've tried putting "protect mode" on.

Even though the laptop seemingly "disappears" from the router's client list, I can access the internet just fine, and I stay connected to the network--I just can't access my other computer or its files.

Incidentally (or maybe not), I have NEVER been able to get "homegroups" to work.

I also have network discovery "on" and my network is set to "home".

I have called Belkin, whose tech support insists that if I am able to access the internet, it can't be anything in the router itself.

I believe that this is a relatively recent development, but I can't think of any settings that could have been changed. (The Homegroup situation, though, has been going on since I installed Windows 7).

Any ideas would be appreciated--I have tried everything I can think of or find online.

Lexicat said:

I'm at the end of my rope with this one.

I have a Belkin N+ router, a laptop and a desktop, both running Windows 7. Desktop wired Ethernet, laptop connects wirelessly, via one of two wireless adapters--a Dell WLAN card, or a Netgear RangeMax adapter (I've tested this problem with both adapters, and the behavior is identical regardless which adapter I use, and I disable the one I'm not using).

When I first connect wirelessly, all is fine. I can access the other computer and its files on the network. After a matter of minutes, though (average time around 15 minutes), the laptop "disappears" from the list of DHCP clients on the router's webpage, and I can no longer "see" the other computer or access its files. This is true whether I am on the laptop trying to access the desktop or vice-versa.

I've turned off both firewalls for testing (on both computers), and it happens with them off as well as on.

I've triple-checked that the security setting (WPA2 with AES) is the same on the router and the adapter (I've also tried changing the security settings). I've tried changing the channel, I've tried putting "protect mode" on.

Even though the laptop seemingly "disappears" from the router's client list, I can access the internet just fine, and I stay connected to the network--I just can't access my other computer or its files.

Incidentally (or maybe not), I have NEVER been able to get "homegroups" to work.

I also have network discovery "on" and my network is set to "home".

I have called Belkin, whose tech support insists that if I am able to access the internet, it can't be anything in the router itself.

I believe that this is a relatively recent development, but I can't think of any settings that could have been changed. (The Homegroup situation, though, has been going on since I installed Windows 7).

Any ideas would be appreciated--I have tried everything I can think of or find online.

I do have a question. you say you never could get homegroup to work and then say it is set to home

Are you using homegroup, or workgroup?


Ken

What I meant is that the network is set to "home" rather than "public". Does that clarify it?

Hello all.

Out of interest i would also like some advice on this as i have Exactly the same issue. I have even reinstalled 7, and the Internet is fine, but just as with Lexicat my connection between the laptop and the desktop drops out, but in my case a Windows Home Server connection between the 2 of them remains perfectly fine.!

I do have a workgroup setup correctly and the WHS that sits between them is not a new addition. This is a new problem that has recently began.

Many thanks.

One other bit of info: I've checked the error logs on the laptop, and I receive Event 4321, "The name "WORKGROUP :1d" could not be registered on the interface with IP address 192.168.2.55. The computer with the IP address 192.168.2.52 did not allow the name to be claimed by this computer." 55 is the "disappearing laptop", while 52 is the desktop. I've been trying to research it, but I don't want to mess around with things too much unless I'm sure I'm on the right track.

It kind of makes sense to me on an intuitive level (I'm no expert!) that something like this might be the cause. But I don't know how to fix it.