Intermittent loss of Internet...

[Tiberiuus]

Ive been having a problem with my internet connection recently. It involved losing my internet suddenly at random times then just as suddenly as i lose it, it returns working fine. Ill explain what happened and what Ive done and hope you guys have some suggestions...

What exactly happens is... I lose internet completely (internet explorer and through internet games, cannot send error reports, etc), and i cannot connect to the routers home page (192.168.x.x), but at the same time i still can connect to my networks shared files from the other computers. I have two computers on this network and both behave with this problem.

components i am running...
dell dimension 2400 with windows xp sp3 (A)
gateway essential with windows xp sp3 (B)
linksys router befsx41 (wired)
linksys wireless-B access point wap11
motorolla surfboard modem sb5120
(both computers A+B are wired to the router)

Everything was working fine before this started. One morning I decided to reset the router (just power off, i do that occasionally anyways) shortly after i started noticing problems with my internet. I also couldnt open my routers home page. It would sometimes work, sometimes not. I reset the router to factory settings and no improvement. Also i tried resetting my IE settings back to default, still no improvement.

Around this time, I have wiped my HD and reinstalled windows. Immediatly after this problem wouldnt occur until about a day or two later. This made me suspect an automatic update but wasnt sure.

Then a friend of mine came over. He has a laptop with Vista. While this problem was occuring for my computers he was still able to connect to my internet via wireless. So I decided to try mine wireless (i was at a loss). I disconnected computer A from the router and reconnected it via wireless. Problem still occurred.

After doin some reading i decided, since i upgraded my firmware about 2 months ago, ill try downgrading it. I installed new firmware that was two versions lower than the current version. I did this, reset settings back to factory, and still no improvement.

Now as a last resort, I have bypassed my router, now its modem directly to computer A. This seems to work, I have yet to have the internet fail...

So my million dollar question is, does the problem lie...
In the router? (firmware, hardware failure)
In windows? (recent update, etc)

I want to exhaust all options before buying a new router.

Any suggestions on what to do next?

Thank you.

[Tiberiuus]

I would like to include that in recent times (when connected through the router), my computer would warn me that there's an IP conflict with a device on the network. I would do an internet repair and sometimes that would work, sometimes not. Also I must have reset the computer and router in the proper way dozens of times by now...

My windows is set to select an IP address automatically.

I just reconnected through the router and got this warning again, so I reverted again back to bypassing the router

[johnwill]

Repair duplicate IP address on network issue.

1. Turn off everything on the network, ALL the machines and any other network device like network printers and NAS drives.
2. Turn off the router and modem.
3. Turn on the modem, wait for a steady data light.
4. Turn on the router, wait two minutes.
5. Turn on the network devices and computers, one at a time.

This issue is usually caused by resetting a router without resetting all the network connected devices.

Another issue that will cause duplicate IP addresses is assigning static IP addresses to devices that conflict with the router's DHCP address range. If you require static IP addressed devices on the network, they should be configured to be in the same subnet but outside the address range defined for the DHCP server.

[Tiberiuus]

Thank you for your response...

I have done as you suggested exactly as stated and the problem still remains. When I first started noticing problems this is actually the first remedy I tried, when that wouldn't work is when I began being concerned. During all my attempts to fix problem i must have reset these items dozens of times.

I would also notice it would give me this message "IP conflict" even when only one computer was on. When I looked at the DHCP client table, IP's on all devices would be as they should. I would look at the IP's of the individual items on the items, and they would be as they should.

It was discovering this that i started to suspect a bigger problem.

I would like to note that, when trying to connect to the internet, on the bottom bar it would flash something along the lines of "DNS error" a split second before it would show the "cannot display this page" message.

Any additional suggestions would be well appreciated, thank you.

[johnwill]

First off, can you connect the machines directly to the modem, one-at-a-time? If so, let's try to get wired connections to the router working first.

If you do the reset I described before and connect both machines to the router with a wired connection, I'd like to see the following from each of the machines.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt:

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands, one at a time, followed by the Enter key:

Note that there is a space before the -n or the /ALL, but there is NOT a space after the - or / in the following commands.

NBTSTAT -n

IPCONFIG /ALL

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter to copy the contents to the clipboard.
Paste the results in a message here.

If you are on a machine with no network connection, use a floppy, USB disk, or a CD-RW disk to transfer a text file with the information to allow pasting it here.

[Tiberiuus]

Ok i reset my devices as you stated.

Everything worked for about 5 minutes before the problem started again.

I ran the commands at this time (while internet was failing), the results are posted below

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Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Muffin Man>nbtstat -n

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.101] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DIMENSION2400 <00> UNIQUE Registered
DIMENSION2400 <20> UNIQUE Registered
KEV <00> GROUP Registered
KEV <1E> GROUP Registered
KEV <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

C:\Documents and Settings\Muffin Man>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dimension2400
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : ph.cox.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ph.cox.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Cont
roller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0D-56-02-81-71
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.105.28.12
68.105.29.12
68.105.28.11
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, November 14, 2008 3:25:28 AM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, November 15, 2008 3:25:28
AM

C:\Documents and Settings\Muffin Man>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[johnwill]

I think I'd stick in a new router.

[Tiberiuus]

OK i have connected a different router and the same problem exist

the new router is a linksys befsr41

i recieve warnings that there is a system error - ip address conflict

the pc's are configured to aquire an ip address automatically and upon checking all pc's have different ip's

one of the computers on the network has had windows installed fresh with no updates installed and is still affected.

just as a side note, when i can connect to the internet, in the router setup page under dhcp client table, not all pc's are shown. this was the same with the other router.

otherwise refer to my other descriptions of my problems because im getting the same exact symtoms.



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in event viewer under "system" i got this error...

source - tcpip, event id - 4199


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a friend of mine came over and attempted to discover the problem using command prompt. I had him save all his information so i could send this here
|
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|
V

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Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /flushdns

Windows IP Configuration

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /registerdns

Windows IP Configuration

Registration of the DNS resource records for all adapters of this computer has b
een initiated. Any errors will be reported in the Event Viewer in 15 minutes..

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /renew

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ph.cox.net
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : tejay
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : ph.cox.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet
Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-08-74-96-6D-66

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ph.cox.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell TrueMobile 1150 Series Wireless
LAN Mini PCI Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-2D-7F-3D-9C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.105.28.12
68.105.29.12
68.105.28.11
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Friday, November 28, 2008 4:41:10 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, November 29, 2008 4:41:10
PM

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>help
For more information on a specific command, type HELP command-name
ASSOC Displays or modifies file extension associations.
AT Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
ATTRIB Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
CACLS Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
CALL Calls one batch program from another.
CD Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCP Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CLS Clears the screen.
CMD Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
COLOR Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMP Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACT Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERT Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the
current drive.
COPY Copies one or more files to another location.
DATE Displays or sets the date.
DEL Deletes one or more files.
DIR Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
DISKCOMP Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DOSKEY Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
ECHO Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCAL Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASE Deletes one or more files.
EXIT Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FC Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences
between them.
FIND Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FINDSTR Searches for strings in files.
FOR Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORMAT Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a
batch program.
GRAFTABL Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics
mode.
HELP Provides Help information for Windows commands.
IF Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MD Creates a directory.
MKDIR Creates a directory.
MODE Configures a system device.
MORE Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
PATH Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPD Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINT Prints a text file.
PROMPT Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD Saves the current directory then changes it.
RD Removes a directory.
RECOVER Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REM Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
REN Renames a file or files.
RENAME Renames a file or files.
REPLACE Replaces files.
RMDIR Removes a directory.
SET Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
SETLOCAL Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SHIFT Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SORT Sorts input.
START Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBST Associates a path with a drive letter.
TIME Displays or sets the system time.
TITLE Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TYPE Displays the contents of a text file.
VER Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written
correctly to a disk.
VOL Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPY Copies files and directory trees.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /release

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /flushdns

Windows IP Configuration

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /registerdns

Windows IP Configuration

Registration of the DNS resource records for all adapters of this computer has b
een initiated. Any errors will be reported in the Event Viewer in 15 minutes..

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /renew

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.
An error occurred while renewing interface Wireless Network Connection : unable
to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /renew

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.
An error occurred while renewing interface Wireless Network Connection : unable
to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /release

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /flushdns

Windows IP Configuration

Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ipconfig /renew

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection while it has its media di
sconnected.

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : ph.cox.net
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Tj>


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it doesnt >appear< to be the computers or the router??? could it be a problem with the modem?

according to my provider service seems to be ok.


help!

[Tiberiuus]

Ok since my last post ive been doin alot of investigating and have narrowed the problem down more and more. Since my real problem is way off from what i originally thought ill go ahead and post a new thread about it.

This thread can be closed thank you