Internet Disconnects when Downloading, Streaming, Gaming

[iOrigin]

I have had a recurring problem with this laptop ever since I got it, and I have not been able to find a solution to it. Any help on solving this would be much appreciated :).

Basically, whenever I am streaming a movie, downloading a large file or gaming; my internet will completely disconnect within 5-20 minutes. This internet disconnect is only on my laptop, and does not affect any other laptops or desktops that are connected to the same internet source.

However, when I am just surfing the web and etc, the internet would work endlessly fine.

The internet symbol on the bottom right hand corner shows two computers and a ball to signify being connected, but after disconnecting - the icon changes into either two computers with a yellow triangle symbol or just two computers.

In the case of the movie, the internet will just disconnect somewhere in the middle of the stream bar filling up.
In the case of downloading a large file, it will disconnect somewhere near the finish, or just completely randomly.
For gaming however (in a multitude of games), it will make the game twitch a bit (slight lag spike), followed by an internet disconnect.

A reboot or unplugging and replugging in the modem, or waiting 5 minutes reconnects me to the internet again.

The odd part about this error, is that it occurs regardless of where I am. It happens to me when I'm at my apartment, or at my parent's house. Or even at my cousin's house and school.

[johnwill]

Is the a wired or wireless connection? If it's wireless, does it still happen with a wired connection?

[iOrigin]

The connections mentioned above were all wireless, but I have tried wire while at my apartment to finish a download - it still disconnected when downloading.

The strange thing is, my roommates laptop never disconnects from the same games nor downloads using the same wireless connection.

[johnwill]

Well, it happening wired or wireless is a real mystery.

What happens with a wired connection if you boot in Safe Mode with Networking.

[iOrigin]

It will connect like normal in Safe Mode with Networking.

What if the download disconnecting from the wired was just a fluke.
What would a solution be for the wireless disconnection? <- As stated, my roommates laptop doesn't suffer from any disconnects and etc from the same downloads and games.

And if the wired was not a fluke, and downloading,streaming,gaming in general regardless of connection type disconnects the internet, would it be a driver failing or any solution?

[johnwill]

Please post a HijackThis 2.00.2 Log here.

[iOrigin]

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 2:55:28 PM, on 5/17/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18226)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Windows\OEM02Mon.exe
C:\Windows\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\Windows\System32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect\PCMService.exe
C:\Program Files\Sigmatel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files\DellSupport\DSAgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe
C:\Windows\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Contacts\wlcomm.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\ieuser.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil10b.exe
C:\Users\Steve\Desktop\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dell.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Internet Explorer provided by Dell
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OEM02Mon.exe] C:\Windows\OEM02Mon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\Windows\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\Windows\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\Windows\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dscactivate] c:\dell\dsca.exe 3
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCMService] "C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect\PCMService.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\sttray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DellSupport] "C:\Program Files\DellSupport\DSAgnt.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Digital Line Detect.lnk = C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {B205A35E-1FC4-4CE3-818B-899DBBB3388C} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Encarta Search Bar\ENCSBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O23 - Service: Andrea ST Filters Service (AESTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\aestsrv.exe
O23 - Service: DSBrokerService - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\DellSupport\brkrsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Event Log (EvtEng) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Registry Service (RegSrvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatch9.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - IDT, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\STacSV.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: Viewpoint Manager Service - Viewpoint Corporation - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe
O23 - Service: XAudioService - Conexant Systems, Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\xaudio.exe

--
End of file - 5897 bytes

[johnwill]

I don't see anything obvious there. I'd update the network drivers to the latest versions and see if that changes anything.

[iOrigin]

How do I go about updating my network drivers to their latest versions?

My laptop model is Inspiron 1520 from Dell.

*Would this be the correct network driver version to download to update the driver?*

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=220548

and

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=217662

[iOrigin]

Alright, all network drivers are fully updated according to the Dell website.

Though, I recently logged back onto the game again (Dragonica), and was quickly followed by a complete computer internet connection shut down within 10 minutes of playing. I was playing on wireless.

Any ideas on solutions?

[johnwill]

I don't have a clue why the game shuts you down. I'm assuming that normal network browsing works fine wirelessly?

[iOrigin]

Normal network browsing works fine wirelessly. Games such as World of Warcraft and Dragonica completely disconnect my internet, and upon doing some tests today - I noticed that I actually cannot reconnect again until I perform a reboot of my computer.
Even after waiting 30 minutes and replugging in the modem/etc, a full reboot is needed otherwise the computer will not connect to any surrounding networks. (Normally there are about 3 wireless sources that I can access around my apartment).

When trying to find any wireless network to connect to, the "Connect to a network" screen says that it is unable to find a network or connection.

I also tested the game on my friends' laptops (2 of theirs), and used the same wireless connection in my apartment. Neither of their laptops suffered from full disconnects of any kind.

The disconnect itself causes the computer to have a huge lag on everything for approximately 10 seconds before the disconnect occurs.

[johnwill]

TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Windows Vista.

Start, All Programs\Accessories and right click on Command Prompt, select "Run as Administrator" to open a command prompt.

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands:

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset IPv4 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log

Reset IPv6 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

[wagner-]

I have had the exact same problem for a few months now and have not yet found a solution to it. I have tried basically everything that i could think of. Also, browsing several networking forums with similar problems have led to no permanent results.

I am running 32-bit vista on a hp pavilion dv6500 laptop. I also have tested my connection on several locations, isps and routers but eventually the problem recurs. "Eventually" might mean few minutes or even days but along the way my connection always shuts down. The problem solves for a while after putting my computer on stand-by or hibernation for a few hours (??). This operation usually buys me a couple of minutes of browsing, gaming, or any udp-based traffic :P.

I have reseted tcp/ip stacks countless of times, with zero results. Modifying the DHCP Broadcast flag in the registry and rebooting afterwards randomly helps. I have updated my network drivers, router's firmware drivers and checked that all network cables work. All networks i have tested have had simultaneously an xp comp in the network at the same time. On these computers all internet connections work flawlessly. (Have tried running my laptop solo on the networks too).

My laptop is no more than 2 years old and has never been dropped on the floor or had any major problems before. Routers and NIC have a green light on whenever a cable is plugged.

I don't see any reasonable-sized solution (<format; no hardware changes) to my problem, so if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it very much :).