Dropping cable connection

[geohotrod]

please help. I am computer dumb. After being online for 5 - 10 mins I loose my connection. The cable company says they are not loosing me. I have to reboot to get back on. Any suggestions ?

[geohotrod]

I am runnig windows 98. Sorry so short of info but i have to hurry or I loose my connection.

[gbirke]

Could be intermittent ethernet card or cable modem. Put in a service call for cable company to come out and check it over.

[geohotrod]

Thanks answering. I have contacted my cable company. They came out ran all the checks. They say it must be something in my computer. This problem has gradually got worse. They say as of today they haven't lost my connection in 14 days.

[geohotrod]

Is there something in my windows program causing this ?

[geohotrod]

My cable modem and ethernet cable were replaced when the cable guy was here. I also cannot open pictures in my folders. All i can do is get the thumbnail. Could this be related ? I purchased a norton systemworks. It really hasn't installed properly but i am able to run some stuff from th disk. I ran windoctor and it corrected alot of stuff but my internet trouble still excist. Still can't open pics either. Thanks for any help !

[Confused]

If you can uninstall systemworks do so. In my opinion the only thing worth having from Norton's is the antivirus software and Ghost.

I think you might be in for a system restore though.
Chas

[glc]

Uninstall any other software that you may have "downloaded for free" that "makes things easier or better" - most of that stuff just clogs Windows up worse.

[geohotrod]

Thanks for the help, but I've tried all this. Can anyone else help ? Do I need to wipe windows out and start over ?

[All Righty Then]

Check to make sure that you have good cable connections to your 10/100 card and cable modem. I found that sometimes the connection of the cable fitting to the card is loose.

Next time you lose connection wiggle the cable at your card connection.

If this does not work unplug the power to the cable modem and wait a few minutes before plugging it back in. If you have a router unplug the power to it also and check all connections.

[Familyman]

Does the cable light on the cable modem go out or stay on? If the cable light stays on it’s probably your computer.

If the cable light goes out it’s the cable connection. Did your cable company check the trap? I had the same kind of problem and it was the trap. There was a recall and I had one of the defective traps. Traps are used to by the cable companies to select the services you get, internet only, internet and cable TV , etc. It could also be a bad splice(s) in the cable. Follow the cable from the cable modem and look for splices. If you find any unscrew them and check for moisture, corrosion, etc. Especially any splices that are outside.

Are you running a LAN?

What kind of Firewall are you using? A firewall is a must if you have cable.

Can you connect the computer to the Internet with a dial up modem? That’s the telephone connection.

What browser are you using? MS Internet Explorer?

Can you borrow a laptop from a friend and see if it works on your cable?

[arubahounds]

Did you connect the modem to your PC via an nic? I had a similar problem at first due to a bad cable modem - the ethernet port was broken. Check to see if the port is illuminated. Check to see if the lights are on at the nic as well.

HT