Connection dropout with ICS

[Stanza]

Hi,

I have an intermittent problem with my ICS at home. The connection keeps on dropping out from time to time. This behavior is erratic and I know that it is not the physical connection that is at fault. I would be connected to the internet and then all of a sudden the popup window saying that my cable modem was unplugged/removed comes up.
I am no longer able to surf the web or do anything that requires an internet connection.
Usually I get re-connected after about half an hour but this type of issue is really annoying.

Current setup:

2 Windows 2000 machines – one as the client the other as host both connected in a LAN.
The host has the following protocols installed:

Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
NETBEUI
TCP/IP

Host machine has two connections – 1 for the Ethernet card and the other for the cable modem

The client has the following protocols installed

Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
TCP/IP

The host has Enable Internet Connection Sharing ticked.
I have no firewall software installed and don’t have a hub/switch connected to the network.
I go the Status of my Cable Modem connection and I have a number for packets sent but nothing for packets received..
I have checked my modem and the Activity light is flashing therefore the connection is active and the modem is online.
The only reason I could think of is that I am getting hacked by some machine or that there is some spyware/virus that is disrupting my internet connection.
I have tried doing an ipconfig to show my current info on the host machine

C:\Documents and Settings\Stanley Lai>ipconfig /all

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : stanley
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Cable Modem:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Motorola SurfBoard 4200 USB Cable Mo
dem
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-08-0E-DA-86-A7
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.193.177
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139(A) PCI Fast Ethernet
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-40-F4-3C-80-22
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

You will notice that the Connection-specific DNS Suffix is blank. This contains the DNS name for my local ISP. This occurs after I get disconnected.
I have rang my local ISP but they were unhelpful as they do not support ICS.
Please help, I am getting really frustrated at this problem. If someone could point me in a right direction on troubleshooting then that would be great.

Thanks,

Stanley

[johnwill]

I don't bother to troubleshoot ICS, since it's such a PITA. Since you have an Ethernet equipped modem, why not consider an inexpensive broadband router? It has many advantages, hardware firewall, no "host" computer to leave on, much easier configuration, and much more compatible across the board with various Internet services.