[SOLVED] Vista Drops connection and loses router!

kungfujoe · 09-05-2007, 02:24 PM

In my life, i've dealt with a few networking errors. This is by far the strangest.

I purchased this computer 3 days ago, fresh with vista home premium.

I've got a broadcom 802.11a/b/g network adapter and a linksys wrt54g router secured with a WEP.

Now for the problem

On fresh powerup, I can detect my home network just fine, but (it seems that) if I leave my computer idle, it drops the connection. When I search for wireless networks, it can't even find my router!

It's not only when the computer is idle though, as i have been playing games on it only to have it drop the connection while i'm playing.

A restart, or a sleepmode immeadiately remedies the problem...temporarally, which leads to my other problem. HP can't really help me. As soon as I restart my computer and tell them that my connection is back, they get all excited like they did something.

So now I turn to you guys (you've helped me in the past).

I'm more than happy to give you any info that you'd like

thanks for your time
KFJ

johnwill · 09-05-2007, 03:01 PM

Have you checked in the power properties of the wireless NIC and unchecked the power saving options for the wireless adapter?

kungfujoe · 09-05-2007, 06:38 PM

I've only been using vista for a couple days. Ironically, on top of that, i've been a desktop my whole life too, so idk much about laptops.

so basically, I don't know what you just said.

But I guessed, and checked my power options, went into advanced, went to the wireless, and set "unplugged" to Maximum Performance (as opposed to Maximum powersave). Plugged in was already set to that, but my laptop is plugged in 99% of the time anyway, and the errors have occured while it is plugged in

Thanks for the quick reply.

madeinchina · 09-06-2007, 06:15 AM

Sounds alot like the problem I am having also so I will listen in. I too am using Vista and when i idled or played games it would drop from 200+mbps to just 1... and then its impossible to get it going again.

johnwill · 09-06-2007, 09:06 AM

madeinchina, please don't start posting about your issue in this thread, you already have on going for your issue.

johnwill · 09-06-2007, 09:08 AM

How long do you leave it idle before the connection drops? Is there any indication that the connection is gone? You say it's idle when it drops, but then you mention playing games? Are these strictly local games and not on-line?

kungfujoe · 09-06-2007, 09:46 PM

Yes, it's when i play non-online games it seems. So basicly it seems that if I'm not actively using the connection for...idk, at least 20 minutes, maybe up to an hour, it drops the connection. There are indications...such as it saying "you are not connected to a wireless network" (the icon in the bottom right bar for wireless networks). When I click it, it offers me "connect to a network", and if I do that, it cant find any networks in range. Unless I restart my computer, or go into sleep mode.

johnwill · 09-07-2007, 07:56 AM

That has all the earmarks of the computer turning off the wireless adapter to save power. In Device Manager, Network Adapters, look at the properties of the wireless NIC. Turn off any power saving options there.

kungfujoe · 09-07-2007, 03:19 PM

A) You were right! The power saver options were on...BUT

But I haven't been able (as of yet) to verify or if my computer drops connections still. I'll repost if it does, and if it doesn't for awhile (later today i'll have time to test that theory), i'll post as resolved.

B) Last night, while playing an online game, it did the connection drop, right in the middle of me playing, which could theoretically put a weird spin on the issue. If that didn't resolve my problem, maybe this is some decent evidence worth using

Either way, i'll post back

kungfujoe · 09-07-2007, 10:43 PM

It seems to be working.

I left it idle for upwards of 3 hours and it's still connected.

You are a god at this stuff

If it pops up again, i'll reopen this post, but, considering that it seems to be fixed, I dub this issue

Solved...Thank god

Ever so sincerely
KFJ

09-05-2007, 02:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
kungfujoe Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 73 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	[SOLVED] Vista Drops connection and loses router! In my life, i've dealt with a few networking errors. This is by far the strangest. I purchased this computer 3 days ago, fresh with vista home premium. I've got a broadcom 802.11a/b/g network adapter and a linksys wrt54g router secured with a WEP. Now for the problem On fresh powerup, I can detect my home network just fine, but (it seems that) if I leave my computer idle, it drops the connection. When I search for wireless networks, it can't even find my router! It's not only when the computer is idle though, as i have been playing games on it only to have it drop the connection while i'm playing. A restart, or a sleepmode immeadiately remedies the problem...temporarally, which leads to my other problem. HP can't really help me. As soon as I restart my computer and tell them that my connection is back, they get all excited like they did something. So now I turn to you guys (you've helped me in the past). I'm more than happy to give you any info that you'd like thanks for your time KFJ

09-05-2007, 03:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 32,581 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! Have you checked in the power properties of the wireless NIC and unchecked the power saving options for the wireless adapter? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-05-2007, 06:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
kungfujoe Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 73 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! I've only been using vista for a couple days. Ironically, on top of that, i've been a desktop my whole life too, so idk much about laptops. so basically, I don't know what you just said. But I guessed, and checked my power options, went into advanced, went to the wireless, and set "unplugged" to Maximum Performance (as opposed to Maximum powersave). Plugged in was already set to that, but my laptop is plugged in 99% of the time anyway, and the errors have occured while it is plugged in Thanks for the quick reply.

09-06-2007, 06:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
madeinchina Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 OS: Vista	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! Sounds alot like the problem I am having also so I will listen in. I too am using Vista and when i idled or played games it would drop from 200+mbps to just 1... and then its impossible to get it going again.

09-06-2007, 09:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 32,581 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! madeinchina, please don't start posting about your issue in this thread, you already have on going for your issue. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-06-2007, 09:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 32,581 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! How long do you leave it idle before the connection drops? Is there any indication that the connection is gone? You say it's idle when it drops, but then you mention playing games? Are these strictly local games and not on-line? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-06-2007, 09:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
kungfujoe Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 73 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! Yes, it's when i play non-online games it seems. So basicly it seems that if I'm not actively using the connection for...idk, at least 20 minutes, maybe up to an hour, it drops the connection. There are indications...such as it saying "you are not connected to a wireless network" (the icon in the bottom right bar for wireless networks). When I click it, it offers me "connect to a network", and if I do that, it cant find any networks in range. Unless I restart my computer, or go into sleep mode.

09-07-2007, 07:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 32,581 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! That has all the earmarks of the computer turning off the wireless adapter to save power. In Device Manager, Network Adapters, look at the properties of the wireless NIC. Turn off any power saving options there. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

09-07-2007, 03:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
kungfujoe Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 73 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! A) You were right! The power saver options were on...BUT But I haven't been able (as of yet) to verify or if my computer drops connections still. I'll repost if it does, and if it doesn't for awhile (later today i'll have time to test that theory), i'll post as resolved. B) Last night, while playing an online game, it did the connection drop, right in the middle of me playing, which could theoretically put a weird spin on the issue. If that didn't resolve my problem, maybe this is some decent evidence worth using Either way, i'll post back

09-07-2007, 10:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
kungfujoe Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 73 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1	Re: Vista Drops connection and loses router! It seems to be working. I left it idle for upwards of 3 hours and it's still connected. You are a god at this stuff If it pops up again, i'll reopen this post, but, considering that it seems to be fixed, I dub this issue Solved...Thank god Ever so sincerely KFJ