Wireless connectivity/timeout issues

anothersea · 11-25-2007, 01:06 AM

I have a Toshiba Satellite M45-S331 laptop and I use wireless internet at home and when I am in my dorm for college. For the past couple of months, I have been having connection problems. It started all of a sudden one day without me doing anything. My drivers are up to date.

My connection always claims to be connected excellent at 48-56 mbps, but I notice timeouts/dropped connections with several things. AIM will disconnect and reconnect every 10-15 minutes and often I will just not receive some IMs from people. Sometimes when I am downloading things, the download will freeze somewhere before the end and will not allow me to start over. And when I try to watch videos (I'm not tech savvy and don't know what to call them--but things like on Youtube where the video slowly downloads while you watch it) the video will load to a certain point before the end, freeze, and not continue.

I'm seen lots of posts about this on other forums, but have not been able to find any clear answers on what to do. Can someone help me? Thanks very much.

**sobeit** · 11-25-2007, 01:34 AM

try a little cleanup and get rid of the temporary files on your system. Maybe use ccleaner from ccleaner.com or you can use windows own cleanup utility. I am on a linux computer right now so may not give the exact path but I think its start - all programs- accessories - system tools.

If that does not help, you may want to have your system checked out for nasties. See the top right of this forums window and click on red first steps. Even though you may have scanned the system yourself, there junk out there that knows how to hide from normal scans.

**johnwill** · 11-25-2007, 08:46 AM

What kind of wireless access is provided at the college?

anothersea · 11-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Well, I regularly use the windows cleanup tool so I don't think it is that. I also regularly check for/remove spyware. I'll run through the steps, though, just because it seems like a good idea anyway.

I'm not sure exactly what kind of wireless this is and I don't know how to check that. I don't have a router myself, but it's a network for the dorm.

**johnwill** · 11-26-2007, 07:30 AM

You need to talk to the college IT folks.

11-25-2007, 01:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
anothersea Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP, Service Pack 2	Wireless connectivity/timeout issues I have a Toshiba Satellite M45-S331 laptop and I use wireless internet at home and when I am in my dorm for college. For the past couple of months, I have been having connection problems. It started all of a sudden one day without me doing anything. My drivers are up to date. My connection always claims to be connected excellent at 48-56 mbps, but I notice timeouts/dropped connections with several things. AIM will disconnect and reconnect every 10-15 minutes and often I will just not receive some IMs from people. Sometimes when I am downloading things, the download will freeze somewhere before the end and will not allow me to start over. And when I try to watch videos (I'm not tech savvy and don't know what to call them--but things like on Youtube where the video slowly downloads while you watch it) the video will load to a certain point before the end, freeze, and not continue. I'm seen lots of posts about this on other forums, but have not been able to find any clear answers on what to do. Can someone help me? Thanks very much.

11-25-2007, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Wireless connectivity/timeout issues try a little cleanup and get rid of the temporary files on your system. Maybe use ccleaner from ccleaner.com or you can use windows own cleanup utility. I am on a linux computer right now so may not give the exact path but I think its start - all programs- accessories - system tools. If that does not help, you may want to have your system checked out for nasties. See the top right of this forums window and click on red first steps. Even though you may have scanned the system yourself, there junk out there that knows how to hide from normal scans.

11-25-2007, 08:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,679 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Wireless connectivity/timeout issues What kind of wireless access is provided at the college? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-25-2007, 05:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
anothersea Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP, Service Pack 2	Re: Wireless connectivity/timeout issues Well, I regularly use the windows cleanup tool so I don't think it is that. I also regularly check for/remove spyware. I'll run through the steps, though, just because it seems like a good idea anyway. I'm not sure exactly what kind of wireless this is and I don't know how to check that. I don't have a router myself, but it's a network for the dorm.

11-26-2007, 07:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,679 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Wireless connectivity/timeout issues You need to talk to the college IT folks. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience