lost connection to internet

dorsetcomputeru · 01-31-2008, 03:07 PM

Can anyone help with this problem?
I am running Win XP. ISP is AOL broadband.
When I am online, at random intervals the connection drops out.

I get an error message pops up. Local area connection 3. A network cable is unplugged. I am not on a network, the only cable is to the phone line. This sometimes happens if I start another program, such as MS Works.
If I test the line using the AOL diagnostics it tells me the line is busy. Its not. I have found I have to close AOL. Then pull the plug out of the modem, wait about 30 seconds and plug it back in. The little arrows on the right hand corner then flash yellow,(training) then to green, (looking for a network address.) When it finds it the icon goes out. I can then restart AOL and then reconnect to the net. I suspect XP has a bug but I am not a computer expert and have no idea what I can do about it.
This has been going on for some months now and its getting worse, AOL don't seem to know what to do, does anyone know what the cause is and its cure?

**johnwill** · 01-31-2008, 05:55 PM

Register at DSLReports and run their Line Quality Tests. Post the results link from the top of the test display page here.

01-31-2008, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
dorsetcomputeru Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP	lost connection to internet Can anyone help with this problem? I am running Win XP. ISP is AOL broadband. When I am online, at random intervals the connection drops out. I get an error message pops up. Local area connection 3. A network cable is unplugged. I am not on a network, the only cable is to the phone line. This sometimes happens if I start another program, such as MS Works. If I test the line using the AOL diagnostics it tells me the line is busy. Its not. I have found I have to close AOL. Then pull the plug out of the modem, wait about 30 seconds and plug it back in. The little arrows on the right hand corner then flash yellow,(training) then to green, (looking for a network address.) When it finds it the icon goes out. I can then restart AOL and then reconnect to the net. I suspect XP has a bug but I am not a computer expert and have no idea what I can do about it. This has been going on for some months now and its getting worse, AOL don't seem to know what to do, does anyone know what the cause is and its cure?

01-31-2008, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,748 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: lost connection to internet Register at DSLReports and run their Line Quality Tests. Post the results link from the top of the test display page here. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience