Network connection severed

[dj4uk]

I'm experiencing a intermittent problem with my network connection.

Every so often my pc just seems to have its network connection severed so I have no access to the internet, e-mail or network places. If I restart my computer generally it is reconnected. I can even disable my network connection and then enable it and it seems to work again. When disconnected it shows no signs of being disconnected.

Can any one point me in the direction of anything that may be wrong - I'm hoping it's a windows problem and not something nasty that I've picked up (trojan or something)!

I'm using Windows XP btw.

Any help appreciated - if you need any other info just give me a yell!

[Iman74]

Need more input. How are you connecting; broadband: dsl, or cable, phone line? If you are using broaband, do you have a router? If yes, what kind? Also, are you using wireless?

[dj4uk]

OK - I'm on a small company network connecting through another pc as a gateway. The gateway has access to a DSL router which is where I get access to the outside world. However when my connection is severed I can't even see the gateway - it's as if my network cable has been ripped out (it hasn't and the cable disconnected error doesn't appear either).

[Iman74]

Change the cable first. If it continues it could be the nic card or something else. Rule of thumb, rule out the simplest things first even if you are sure they aren't it. You will never be absolutley sure till you try. I learned my lesson through a printer incident; I put so many parts and hassle and it turned out to be the toner.

[dj4uk]

I'd rather eliminate any software issues first before cracking open the lid of a company computer. To me it doesn't sound like a hardware problem anyway - I can solve it within windows without waggling any cables or kicking the pc.

[homer15]

do any other computers experience this problem? it might be a problem with your machine or the gateway.

[Iman74]

Originally posted by dj4uk I'd rather eliminate any software issues first before cracking open the lid of a company computer. To me it doesn't sound like a hardware problem anyway - I can solve it within windows without waggling any cables or kicking the pc.

Huh? I mean the cat5 cable that plugs into the "back" the PC. Removing a PC cover is not needed.

[dj4uk]

homer15 - mine is the only computer experiencing the problem.

Iman74 - I've tried a new cable but you also mentioned replacing the NIC card which would involve removing the PC cover.

[homer15]

it sounds to me like a hardware problem, most likely the nic. do you have a spare you can swap out with? but the problem might not lie with your nic. i'm guess (which is probably a mistake) that the other computer has two nic's, right? if so, the one connecting the two machines might be periodically dropping the signal. i would start with yours, first.

[Iman74]

DJ another thing to help you out. Be a little more open minded to the cause of the problem. Correct me if I am wrong but I get the feeling you are really nervous about opening up the PC and wanting to troubleshoot the software. One, it might not be the software, and two, sometimes troubleshooting the software can be a needle in a hay stack. I could very well be wrong but this problem has all the sounds of a hardware issue. I would suggest putting another PC in that PC place to see if the same problem occurs, if it did then it's the cable or the drop. If it doesn't occur with the replacement PC then swap the nic card and try that, then if you swapped the nic and the cable try inserting the NIC into another BUS, if that doesn't work then try the software. On the software I would check to see the NIC isn't sharing IRQ, memory blocks, I/O, etc.. with another device. If it is, change it. Good luck and post back.