Network disconnect

[mikeee52]

After a period of several hours my computer disconnects from the internet. It still shows a good connection in network sharing center. I have to reboot to reestablish connection. Any ideas for the cause to this problem? I have a 3 year old Dell Inspiron 1720.

 

[TimStitt]

Hi mikeee52,

I'd guess that your DNS or default gateway is dropping out.

You can check this quite easily by opening an elevated command prompt and running the following command
IPCONFIG /ALL.

Look next to DNS and Default gateway and let us know if anything is blank or starts with 127.x.x.x or 169.x.x.x

EDIT: I should have added, to open an elevated command prompt, type CMD into search, then right click on it (once found) and select Run as administrator.

 

[TimStitt]

mikeee52 - You need to do the test only when the issue occurs... but I guess you know that right? In the meantime i'll write you a little batch file to refresh your settings. This will save you rebooting while we work out the root cause. More to follow....

EDIT: I've attached a little batch file for you that resets your connection should it drop out. This is a band-aide only (to save you rebooting) and presuming that the issue is related to a drop out in your ipaddress, dns or default gateway. Unzip the file and run it as an administrator (right click).

Once you confirm the ipconfig /all test we'll move forward with finding the cause and a solution.

 

[chev65]

After a period of several hours my computer disconnects from the internet. It still shows a good connection in network sharing center. I have to reboot to reestablish connection. Any ideas for the cause to this problem? I have a 3 year old Dell Inspiron 1720.

This can also be caused by channel cross over from other routers in your area. Changing the channel in routers control panel will usually fix that sort of problem.

 

[mikeee52]

Thanks guys

 

[chev65]

Thanks guys

Test out using different channels for a day or two and let us know if it helps with the dropped connection problem. Windows 7 seems to be sensitive to this sort of thing.

 

[acurasd]

What about if his router's DHCP Client Lease Time is very very short

 

[TimStitt]

It could also be due to other devices on your network having a static IP address and this being the same as yours. So it drops yours when they get turned on. A good culprit for this is a printer.

But let us know the ipconfig /all results when it occurs and it will much easier to troubleshoot. We'll stay tuned.... I realise that this can take a while

EDIT: hmmm there should be a pop up warning for this scenario though.

 

[zzz2496]

Before we go and do wild guesses, why not ask the OP what's his ipconfig /all output + ping test when it happened, it'll cut the wild goose chase time...

zzz2496

 

[mikeee52]

Thanks for the help

mike

 

[chev65]

Before we go and do wild guesses, why not ask the OP what's his ipconfig /all output + ping test when it happened, it'll cut the wild goose chase time...

zzz2496

I think that I would refer to my post as an educated guess rather than a wild guess or a wild goose chase. Here's a link to my last educated guess at the same problem with the same symptoms. Looks like that wild goose was caught pretty fast here.

Lets not confuse logic,experience and intuition with wild guessing because there is a huge difference between them.

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-...5-constant-connection-drops-2.html#post722647

 

[zzz2496]

Well, we have different ways to solve problems I do have my own guesses, but according to my experience, educated guess + some important diagnostic data = 95++% chance of nailing the problem. I personally look for diagnostic data first than guessing first, but that's just me

zzz2496

 

[chev65]

I'm pretty sure I wasn't guessing at all, IMO I've personlly fixed this same problem countless times so there wasn't much guess work involved for me. I think the link I posted proves my point.

I won't get into the fact that ping testing won't help with this type of problem. The IPconfig will also look normal and only adds the confusion.

The fact that this same problem has come up over and over again makes the diagnosis much easier. It seems that Windows 7 network is much more sensitive to channel cross over problems for some reason.

 

[Smowke]

can also try flushing the windows ARP cache ... google.com -search for- resetting windows ARP cache ... by default, windows is suppose automatically flush this cache .. if it fills up and windows does not flush it, your internet connection will be disrupted..
Also, you can try to update your router firmware (providing you have a router). If all these fixes that are posted do not work and you have a router, try removing the router and connecting directly to the modem (if your not dial up) and see if the connection remains up.. if so, its a hardware issue.. replace the router.

 

[zzz2496]

Here's what I'd do with ipconfig + ping data, ipconfig shows that it's still normal, default gateway and everything, but can't ping google/the AP, then there is a connection problem between the wifi NIC and the AP, is it channel collision? I don't know, I won't get to that until I get the diagnostic data of the wifi radio connection. Several probes later, I might arrive at your conclusion - but I got there with confidence IMHO, supported with many diagnostic data which then concludes that it's a channel collision. But you're right, you're much more experienced and more knowledgeable than me, I'm bow my head...

zzz2496

 

[chev65]

Of course the Op could always try SSIDer software to find an unused channel, but that might be too easy.

inSSIDer Wi-Fi Scanner | MetaGeek

 

[zzz2496]

Of course the Op could always try SSIDer software to find an unused channel, but that might be too easy.

inSSIDer Wi-Fi Scanner | MetaGeek

Aahhh yes, that app !!! I used to use it back in XP, forgot about that app when I move to Win7... That would help a lot...
zzz2496

 

[chev65]

Of course the Op could always try SSIDer software to find an unused channel, but that might be too easy.

inSSIDer Wi-Fi Scanner | MetaGeek

Aahhh yes, that app !!! I used to use it back in XP, forgot about that app when I move to Win7... That would help a lot...
zzz2496

Might take some of the guess work out of this anyway

 

[zzz2496]

AGREED 100% !!! As I said, I'm all for diagnostic data... I don't (and can't) work by just using instinct + experience, it's just not my nature.
Good job on this one, chev65.

zzz2496