vote up 5 vote down star
1

I have rather strange issue with my wireless connection. Once in a while my computer just breaks all the internet connections and couldn't connect anywhere else. It does not however get disconnected from the network. Taking wireless connection down and then up again restores internet access but nothing else does. Other computer connected to the same wireless router works all the time.

So how can I diagnose what's happening and fix it?

flag
59% accept rate

4 Answers

vote up 4 vote down

The computer isn't going into sleep/power saving mode and then not properly restoring the wireless card when it awakes is it? I've seen this happen before.

Purposely put the computer into sleep/power saving mode to see if you can make it fail.

If that is the case, right click on the device in Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Advanced -> Device Manager -> Network Adapters -> Your Network Card

then choose the Power Management tab and try unticking the "Allow computer to turn off this device to save power" option

alt text

link|flag
Properties page for wireless card does not seems to have this settings. Sleep mode is turned off and moreover it can loose all the connections when I'm actually working on it. – vava Aug 24 at 3:57
I should have followed your link :) Have turned power saving off, let's see if it will help. – vava Aug 24 at 5:03
Didn't help, I still have the same issue. – vava Aug 24 at 6:51
vote up 1 vote down

Can you still ping your router when you're disconnected from the internet. Do start run cmd and type ping If you can try doing pathping www.google.com this should tell you where the break between you and the internet is.

link|flag
No, it's unavailable. Another computer connected to the same router can ping it and can use internet through it at the same time as mine couldn't. – vava Aug 24 at 8:43
But connection icon shows that everything alright and I'm connected. – vava Aug 24 at 8:44
That's almost like an authentication failure. Does your ip address change? – Col Aug 24 at 11:19
No, my internal ip always the same. Public ip does change once in a while but it's no reason for only mine computer to lost all connections including the one to the router. – vava Aug 25 at 2:54
I was wondering if the computer was losing it's IP address when it loses it's connection to the router. Are you using a mix of static and dynamic IP addresses? And if so is it possible that one of the dynamic ips is getting allocated to your static one? – Col Aug 25 at 7:59
show 1 more comment
vote up 0 vote down

I have the same problem. My internet stops sending and receiving data, when I use too much of it. For instance, if I use yahoo messenger, voice call and webcam all together, it suddenly crashes and the only way to reconnect is take the connection out of my pc and put it back. This happened recently, and I wonder if I have to change the router? But the internet works fine on the other Pc and Laptop.

link|flag
Yes, I also got the impression it happens when I use too much of the bandwidth. But I'm not sure it is the reason, sometimes connection breaks even networking is idle. – vava Aug 26 at 6:05
BTW check the router temperature. Sometimes when I download a lot it overheats and I have to restart it. But when it happens I still can connect to it and ping it, so it is different issue :) – vava Aug 26 at 6:06
The connection breaks for me too when in idle. Also, the settings for my adapter is active all the time ( no power saving mode). My connection was fine until recently that we changed some setting. Otherwise it works fine for the other computers. I read somewhere else, that its best to uninstall and reinstall the driver again... I havent tried it yet;if i did, ill let u know if it works. – Elle Aug 26 at 13:44
vote up 0 vote down

Troubleshooting wifi is, well, a b*^$h.

Start with your adapter and try to pinpoint if you're dealing with a hardware problem. Try connecting directly with a cable and keep an eye on it....if it stays connected you most likely have a bad wifi adapter/driver issue. Update the adapter's drivers, try again. Still a problem? Get your hands on another adapter...Still a problem? Try Winsockfix. Eek, so much more to check! try these things and get back.

link|flag
I'd rather move to Linux, it is easier :) All that is holding me now is broken support for stereo bluetooth headsets there. I hope they fix it soon :) – vava Aug 27 at 10:23

Your Answer

Get an OpenID
or
never shown

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.