Internet Help Question

Was wondering if those computer-smart people could help me out.

Lately my internet will randomly disconnect and then reconnect for no reason. I'm on my laptop (not wireless) and the cord isn't being moved at all so it's not like it's being jerked out of the jack. Recently this problem has gotten worse and it has been staying disconnected for longer periods of time.

I've had this problem, it feels, every time I move. I'll be in a new place for a while and then after a few months this problem starts happening. I feel like it might be some issue with the cord? Does anyone have any idea?

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Was wondering if those computer-smart people could help me out.

Lately my internet will randomly disconnect and then reconnect for no reason. I'm on my laptop (not wireless) and the cord isn't being moved at all so it's not like it's being jerked out of the jack. Recently this problem has gotten worse and it has been staying disconnected for longer periods of time.

I've had this problem, it feels, every time I move. I'll be in a new place for a while and then after a few months this problem starts happening. I feel like it might be some issue with the cord? Does anyone have any idea?

Click to expand...

Hey Ari,

1. Do you have the exact same modem that you had when you had the symtptoms elsewhere?
2. Have you called or emailed your service provider describing the problem? (The problem could be on their end or your modem or your modem's power supply may need to be replaced.)
3. What is your operating system?
4. What is your antivirus program? Do you keep it updated?
5. Do you have Ad-aware?
6. Do you have Spybot Search & Destroy?
7. If you have XP, do you have Service Pack 2 installed?
8. If you have XP, do you have Microsoft Anti-spyware installed?
9. Can you tell my what my 9th question was going to be? I can't remember.
10. Have you ever had homemade chocolate sauce?
***whoops... This isn't a spotlight thread is it?

1. The exact same modem? No... just whatever the cable companies installed (and they have been 3 diff. companies)
2. No... I guess I could do that
3. Windows XP
4. Norton and I do keep it up to date.
5. Ad-aware? I don't think so but I have a popup blocker.
6. No
7. Um, I think so.
8. Um, I don't know.
9. Probably another poll question
10. You've already asked me that!
***whoops... This isn't a spotlight thread is it? Nope, I already had my turn and you missed out!

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

1. The exact same modem? No... just whatever the cable companies installed (and they have been 3 diff. companies)
2. No... I guess I could do that
3. Windows XP
4. Norton and I do keep it up to date.
5. Ad-aware? I don't think so but I have a popup blocker.
6. No
7. Um, I think so.
8. Um, I don't know.
9. Probably another poll question
10. You've already asked me that!
***whoops... This isn't a spotlight thread is it?

Nope, I already had my turn and you missed out!

Click to expand...

Wow... you don't have Ad-aware, Spybot or Microsoft Anti-spyware?... I'm glad you made a thread. You need all three of those. I would bet that you have some malware/spyware/etc. etc. problems, or my name isn't Orville Redenbacher.

My other question was going to be about firewalls. You need one. However, if you have Service Pack 2, then that is good. To see if it is installed, right click on your "my computer" icon and select properties from the drop-down list. You will be able to see which Service Pack is installed.

It is still possible that your modem/power supply could be faulty. It is also still possible that your provider's wiring to your home is faulty as well, but whatever the case, you seriously need the three programs I mentioned. I use 7 anti-spyware programs and those other three are the bare minimum when running XP.

Wait, how do I know if I have those three? And where do I get them? And most importantly - how much do they cost? Hey, I just install whatever my computer tells me to install!

It does say Service Pack 2 is installed, by the way. I had noticed that whenever I try to access something, it blocks popups and won't let me download stuff without my permission. My computer is super strict.

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Wait, how do I know if I have those three? And where do I get them? And most importantly - how much do they cost? Hey, I just install whatever my computer tells me to install!

It does say Service Pack 2 is installed, by the way. I had noticed that whenever I try to access something, it blocks popups and won't let me download stuff without my permission. My computer is super strict.

Click to expand...

Whew!... That is great that you have Service Pack 2. Give your computer a nice little pat for that. I was going to post links to all those programs, but I wanted to get that post up quick. I'll find direct links and edit them into this reply. Please stand by...

P.S. All those programs are free, so you will have no problems using them.

Download the free edition of Ad-aware: http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10...age&tag=button
Download the free edition of Spybot: http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...ubj=dl&tag=but
Download the Microsoft Antispyware beta: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/w...DisplayLang=en

I just wanted to say that I used to have this problem years ago when I was on dial-up. It was almost always the ISP's fault. They'd actually be there answering phones at 11 pm, even though the place was supposed to close at 6 pm. You might want to consider giving the ISP a call if it doesn't stop and seeing what they have to say.

Thanks wodesorel, I'll give them a call tomorrow. I was hoping to drop them an email but for some reason their info is hard to find (and it's Time Warner, not a small company!).

Ari:

Do you have a broadband or a dial-up connection? I am/was with Time Warner on a broadband connection (although we were bought out by Bright House). Anyway, I have been having the problem you describe lately, as well. Sometimes you need to go trade in your cable modem for another. Those modems go bad after awhile. If you call your tech support number, they can tell you if your connection is good. I was also once told by one of their 'techies' to reverse the ethernet cord, i.e. plug the computer end into the modem and vice versa. In the past couple of weeks, I sometimes have to unplug my modem to reset it, and then it works fine.

If you try running adware or spyware and it's not that. Make sure that your cord could not have become damaged. Run your hand along the length of it to feel if there is a "bump" or kink in the wire. It may have become trapped under the wheels of a computer chair or in a door if the wire goes through a doorway.

Originally Posted by Deb25

Ari:

Do you have a broadband or a dial-up connection? I am/was with Time Warner on a broadband connection (although we were bought out by Bright House). Anyway, I have been having the problem you describe lately, as well. Sometimes you need to go trade in your cable modem for another. Those modems go bad after awhile. If you call your tech support number, they can tell you if your connection is good. I was also once told by one of their 'techies' to reverse the ethernet cord, i.e. plug the computer end into the modem and vice versa. In the past couple of weeks, I sometimes have to unplug my modem to reset it, and then it works fine.

Click to expand...

Broadband is cable right? I have that then, I don't have dial-up. I can see how cable modems can go bad after a while, but after only 2 months? And yeah, in the past I've reversed the cord, which works... for like another week.

I wonder if it's my own fault, that I don't have the computer on a desk but on the couch and that messes with the cord?

Thanks Beth... I'll check. I bet that's probably half the problem, these cords do get twisted!

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Broadband is cable right? I have that then, I don't have dial-up. I can see how cable modems can go bad after a while, but after only 2 months? And yeah, in the past I've reversed the cord, which works... for like another week.

Click to expand...

Yes, broadband is cable. If you have a bum modem to begin with, yes it could mess up.

ive had that problem too except with wireless lan, then i dont know how but bf made a normal cable go from the other room into this room brought the Cable modem in here attached it to the wall and now i have a wire going from my comp to the modem while bf has the wireless thing.
because when i had this little wireless modem it would disconect me so often it drove me nuts!