internet connection cuts out

[pontifex]

my internet connection keeps cutting out and i can't figure out why. i have dsl.
i was using the built-in network card on my motherboard so i thought maybe something was going wrong with that. got a separate card and it still cuts out.

seems to do it after some time of inactivity. like i'll use it then watch a dvd or something or just walkaway for awhile. when i come back, it doesn't want to go to any sites.

sometimes if i open IE several times it kicks back on, sometimes if i right click the local area connection icon and select repair it will work again, sometimes if i reboot the modem and/or the pc it will kick back on too.

i can't think of anything i installed or changed that would make it do this. its really annoying and makes no sense.

could it be the dsl modem or possibly my cat5 cable?

 

[montag451]

Have you got any 'disconnect if idle for xx minutes' set.
Is it a regular occurrence - does it happen after a certain amount of minutes - can you measure it?
Can you look in event log viewer and see if anything is there.

 

[pontifex]

1) no
2) dunno, seesm to be random
3) i see some dhcp and tcp/ip messages in system log but they may have been created by me when i was messign around. will have to check that before i do anything to make it work again.

 

[montag451]

Can you ask your ISP while you are at it - they may be having problems.

 

[Malak]

What kind of NIC is it? I heard of a setting for NIC's to go to sleep when idle, it's pretty retarded if you ask me.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Malak
What kind of NIC is it? I heard of a setting for NIC's to go to sleep when idle, it's pretty retarded if you ask me.

the new card was set to do that...forgot to check that. will need to wait and see if it does it again.

didn't check the on-board card settings though.

 

[pontifex]

still cutting out on me.
no error messages in event viewer. put a different cat5 cable on too.

opening several ie windows kicked it back into gear...
it just doesn't make sense

 

[bot2600]

There is a setting for alot of NICs in windows that says 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. Untic that checkbox and the behavior should cease. To get to the setting, go to the network adapter in your network connections, right click, properties, click on the configure button and go to the power management tab.