Laptop keeps 'losing' internet. Help!!!
Laptop keeps 'losing' internet. Help!!!
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schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
All you IT experts out there, help please!

I have a new dell laptop running XP.

My broadband is with NTL (no idea if this is important).

After my laptop has been in sleep mode (and sometimes while I am actually using it) it seems to 'lose' the internet connection. I have looked on the control panel 'connection status' and it says I am connected but the only way I am able to get the computer to hook up again is to pull the USB plug and then plug it in again.

Any ideas?? I am a computer retard as if you haven't already realised confused

Carrera2

8,352 posts

263 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
schmokin1 said:
All you IT experts out there, help please!

I have a new dell laptop running XP.

My broadband is with NTL (no idea if this is important).

After my laptop has been in sleep mode (and sometimes while I am actually using it) it seems to 'lose' the internet connection. I have looked on the control panel 'connection status' and it says I am connected but the only way I am able to get the computer to hook up again is to pull the USB plug and then plug it in again.

Any ideas?? I am a computer retard as if you haven't already realised confused


Dodgy USB socket?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
If a machine goes into sleep mode then it cuts power to its ports, then when it wakes as power has been cut previously it doesnt poll to see whats connected. So unless you disconnect/reconnect or reboot it wont see the USB modem.

GreenV8S

31,027 posts

315 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
How is it connected to the internet?

schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
don't think so, i have 3 usb sockets and they are all the same. when i pull the plug out the computer chimes to register the removed connection or hardware and chimes again when it is plugged back in (but then it works)...

schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
it's connected via usb port to a wire to the back of my ntl cable tv box

schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
Plotloss...

Any way to get it to 'poll' for the connecton without rebooting or turning it off? It takes about 4 minutes to fully start up (much longer than my old desktop used to). don't want to keep pulling the plug as the socket will knacker no doubt...

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
Not that I am aware of.

My advice would be to ditch the USB modem and go with a Netgear router.

You wont have the same issues with an ethernet connection, if its wired it will come up pretty much instantly following being awakened and wireless will come back with a small lag when it does its handshaking.

pmanson

13,388 posts

284 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
Might be better using the CAT5 Ethernet connection (assuming your NTL modem has one - I know mine has)

ThePassenger

6,962 posts

266 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
If a machine goes into sleep mode then it cuts power to its ports, then when it wakes as power has been cut previously it doesnt poll to see whats connected. So unless you disconnect/reconnect or reboot it wont see the USB modem.

yes

Reason why Windows is convinced it's still connected is that it sees the device again.
Of course the actual modem itself requires reinisalising (i.e. pull cable, insert cable) to get itself going again.

If you have the option of using ethernet instead of USB I'd go that way, when Windows comes out of sleep or hibernate it makes a DHCP request (if an adapter is set to dynamic IP) which will restart the whole sheband automatically.

schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
the wire that runs from my usb to the back of the ntl box is plugged in to the ethernet socket there... is that what you mean? (don't know what ethernet means, literally)

Jinx

12,022 posts

291 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
You could always deactivate the sleep mode (look at the power settings under the screeensaver ones). I have mine set up so it will only hibernate when down to about 6% battery power - as I tend to use it plugged in anyway (it's faster off the mains) I don't really need to let it sleep.

schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
ok, having had a look at the ports there is one with a little icon that looks like a bunch of computers connected together. is this the ethernet port? it appears the lead to the ntl box will plug in to this one without the usb adapter i normally use. however, are these ports designed to be left permanently connected (ie will it knacker if i keep unplugging it to use the laptop elsewhere)?

thanks for all your replies BTW, most helpful.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
Yeah, if its square with 8 little tiny connectors at the bottom thats an RJ45 ethernet connector.

If the unadapted cable fits, give it a go it should work.

The only stumbling block I can think of is that the adapter is doing some sort of crossover gubbins, if thats the case you'll need a Cat5e crossover cable.

ThePassenger

6,962 posts

266 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
The cat5 cable will be as resiliant as the USB one. Never had a ethernet cable fail due to repeated use personally.

schmokin1

Original Poster:

1,223 posts

243 months

Monday 13th November 2006
quotequote all
thanks everyone, i will try the ethernet connector then, and if it doesn't work i guess i can always alter the sleep mode so it stays awake.

cheers all
schmo