Not connecting until I reboot

[giuseppe]

I got DSL maybe 3 weeks ago. My problem is that after a few hours of the computer sitting idle, I am unable to get online. No connection with IE, Firefox or Outlook Express. I can get to my IP's diagnostic page and there everything is OK. If I reboot then everything is fine. I don't know if it was always like this because I used to turn my computer off if it was going to sit for a few hours or overnight. I now leave it on all the time - after I learned from PC Mech that that was better for the computer.

IP is Earthlink and I've gone through 3 sessions with them without the problem being fixed. One guy had me turn off ppOe and that eliminated the connection. They were able to fix it to the base line above.

The connection is DSL. IP is Earthlink. Modem is Netopia. Direct ethernet connnection from the modem to my computer. Ethernet is onboard.

I also just ordered hardware to network my 2 laptops and this desktop wirelessly. I don't know if this problem will get better or worse with the network set up.

Thanks to all.

[glc]

If you are going to use a router to network the 2 computers (which you should), you will need to turn the PPPoE off in the Netopia.

I'm guessing that your current problem may be your ethernet adapter is going off line when the computer goes to sleep. Do not allow any power management on the adapter, and don't let the computer go to standby.

[giuseppe]

I'll read the MB manual about ehternet adaptor and power management and I'll turn off standby. I'll see how it goes. As for the router, I figure I'll deal with that when the time comes.

[giuseppe]

I checked the power management on the control panel and it's set never to go to standbye. So that's not the problem.

[OpenMind]

How's your packet Loss ( MTU) ?

Mine worked fine a long time , then had to drop MTU from (1500 default)
to 1444 to get a 0 % loss and not reboot every 15 mins - see my other post
http://forum.pcmech.com/showpost.php...30&postcount=2

[giuseppe]

OpenMind,
I went to your other post and didn't understand a word. Way over my head. What do you mean by Ping etc. Should I read somewhere else first? I tried earthlink support again without any luck. They asked me to set up another network connection with my pasword etc on it but it didn't work. It kept trying to dial and said the line was busy even though it was set as a broadband connection and dial up was unchecked.

I think I'm going to live with the problem for another few days because I should be getting a wireless router in the next day or so, as well as a wireless PCI card. I figure then I have a whole new set of problems to deal with and when I set all that harware up this issue may go away.

[glc]

You can't adjust the MTU with an Earthlink modem/router. It's all preset.

No, do NOT use a wireless card in the desktop - just in the laptops. Administration is MUCH easier with one wired connection. Wireless routers have wired ports too.

In device manager, double click on the network adapter - check the power management and advanced tabs.

[giuseppe]

glc,

A ray of hope. I checked network adapter and the power management tab had "allow computer to shut off this device to save power" was checked. I unchecked it so let's see. That logically seems like the fix though. Thanks in advance.

Is it that much harder to have everything wireless? The layout of my house makes wired connections very cumbersome (it's an old house few outlets and 2 phone jacks). Right now I have wires strewn across the floor.

[OpenMind]

glc - "You can't adjust the MTU with an Earthlink modem/router. It's all preset."

Don't know about this particular Earthlink modem/router, but I had BellSouth ADSL w/ a USB "stingray" aka Alcatel and when 1st got the service going only got 1/2 the speed advertised at default setting.

I ditched their software install, and did my own DUN connection, tweaked with DrTCP and used MTU=1472 as best no packet loss , no redirect/retransmit resulting in faster than 1500 dropping all the time if pulling pages at all.

I then got 1500/250 instead of 700/200 if didn't tinker with it.

[glc]

Sure - you can adjust the MTU if you take the modem out of PPPoE mode and use it as a bridge with a software PPPoE client or a router. The only clients that Earthlink supports are Winpoet and the builtin WinXP PPPoE.

I have Earthlink DSL with Win2000, and I have my modem in bridge mode and am using RASPPPoE for a client, hooked into the DUN. Every time I have to call for support (not often, thank god) it gets ugly, especially now that their support is offshore.

1500 MTU's only work well with cable - PPPoE DSL should generally be 1472, except AOL needs 1400.

If you don't have a phone jack anywhere near the computer, yes, you can run them all wireless, but you should do the router config with a wire. Maybe the easiest way would be to use one of the laptops if it has a builtin NIC. Once configured, you can switch it over to all wireless. Just bear in mind that you *may* have to reconnect the wire to take care of any issues in the future - like if the wireless stops working or you need to upgrade the router's firmware.

[giuseppe]

One of the laptops has an ethernet port also so it wouldn't be too hard to reconnect the wire from time to time. The MTU business I don't understand.

I let the computer sit overnight and had the same problem this AM despite changing the poew settings in device manager. However, I didn't reboot after making those changes so maybe that's it. I couldn't tinker with it this AM as I had to go to work early. I will check it tongiht and see.

[glc]

You shouldn't have to adjust the MTU when you get a router - when you set it up for PPPoE it should default to 1472.

[giuseppe]

After changing the power settings the problem persists. Still don't get it.