[Apple Pan Dowdy]

If there is an answer, I bet someone here will know.

[rabidralph]

Do you have time for snide cracks on your spelling of “lose”?

[GQuagmire]

Logged in?

[Mac n Jac]

I hope so as I’m having the same problem. It will auto fix sometimes saying it has to reset the LAN server then other times you have to shut Windows down completely for it to fix. I’ve found that having a program other than IE running at the same time will often keep it from happening for several days (keep a shareware game up and running in the background). So much for fixing VISTA.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I wish my ISP would loose my internet connection. It seems a bit slow at times.

[SIDENET]

I hate loose connections.

[rabidralph]

Are there any Microsoft Updates that need to be done? Start there.

Does your ISP have any fixes for PCs using Win7? Check their website for support info concerning using Win7 with their software. Maybe some settings need to be tweaked.

[oh8eleven]

That would mean reloading ALL my other software and loosing their respective settings
No, you would only lose everything if you reformatted the hard drive while re-installing Win7.
Do not re-format and the other SW programs will be fine.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Seriously though, the Dell guy is probably right. My son had a problem with his internet connection staying up. I tried everything to no avail. Then his motherboard died and Dell replaced it under warranty. Against specific instructions they wiped his hard drive. I had an image of the old one so I didn't care.

However, since the reinstall of his Windows, the internet connection has been stellar.

[Perdogg]

Have you runed out everything else like

1) Cable modem

2) splitter

3) ISP?

[LuvFreeRepublic]

I hope someone knows the answer to your question. I have been having the same problem and it is sooooo frustrating. Thanks for post the question.

[listenhillary]

If the internet connection is too tight, the LOL cats can’t get through.

[RegulatorCountry]

Maybe something’s loose, lol. Check your cables.

[Perdogg]

I would check with your ISP first. I ended up buying a new cable modem and splitter because my internet would lose conection. Please check with your ISP first.

Do not alter anything until have checked.

[usconservative]

NVidia's network drivers have been horrible in my experience, combined with Dell support that's got to be a nightmare.

I owned 2 dells. One was a great machine, the second the monitor literally caught fire within the first 30 days I owned it, and it took Dell 2 months to replace it "under warranty" because their stupid Indian tech support wanted me to plug it in "to run diagnostics." Consequently I've never bought another Dell.

Ok, Dell bashing mode off, here's my recommendation to you: Go to NVidia's website and download the latest driver for your network card & laptop from them and install it. Chances are the one Dell shipped was v.01 and there have been improvements since.

Good luck.

[rabidralph]

Is there a loose (note spelling) connection from the WAN to your troubled computer? Are all the other WAN lights steady and yours flickers or vice-versa? Try replacing that particular cable if it may be frayed or old. Are the cable connectors tightly attached to the cable?

[HairOfTheDog]

Is it Comcast? I actually think it’s Comcast, not you, who has been having some intermittent issues with connectivity. We’ve had it happen a few times in recent days, connection lost for a few minutes at a time, then it appears to fix itself, whether we reset the modem or not.

It’s happened with both my machine, which is Windows 7, and hubby’s machine which is on XP.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

I started having the same problem, and it is intermittent which makes it more aggravating. You’ll probably see that your network adapter is not connected. And you can go through all the diagnosis you want, and it won’t solve the problem. I had a Realtek 8185 Extensible 802 adapter in my laptop. I went to Best Buy and bought a $49 usb adapter, then DISABLED the realtek using the DEVICE MANAGER. When you install the usb adapter, be sure to use your function keys to TURN OFF your wireless capability. (If it is still on, the new adapter will not install ... and if you call them for help, you get somebody in India that puts you on hold and leaves you hanging for a half hour!). Once installed, do not “enable” the old adapter and DO NOT turn your wireless capability back on with the function keys. My new adapter, that I have had for 3 days now has not dropped me once. Bottom line, I think there is a driver problem, at least for the realtek adapters in many laptops and Windows 7. Anyway, its a $49 solution, but worth it for me. Hope this helps.

[Krankor]

I have a new PC with Windows 7. At odd times I loose the Internet connection.

Windows 7 works best at even times.

[snippy_about_it]

Ping. Since you’ll be getting Windows 7 soon on a Dell, you might want to keep this handy.

[Justa]

I had this issue and worse after doing a W7 install on an HP proprietary PC. Two issues to check (in order of relevance):

1) Remove Power Management setting from the NIC. This almost certainly is the cause. W7 doesn't play nice with Power Management sleep settings with many hardware devices (USB root hub, NIC, System sleep, etc.)
Goto: Device Manger, R-Click NIC, Properties, Power Management Tab, Uncheck "Allow computer to turn off...". You should also go to the Display properties, Screen Saver, Power and set "Turn off Hard Disks" to Never. Although it's unrelated to the NIC issue it will cause hangs if/when the OS can't wake up the drive.

2) NIC driver. Use Device Manager and auto-update via the Windows site. But this likely isn't it. From my experience The "I have to Reboot to restore [device]" is the W7's Power Management not being fully coded for the hardware to enable re-start of device. Just turn off Power Management (Uncheck 'Allow Computer to Turn Off') for all the devices listed above and you should be fine.

It took me a week of tweaking but now our W7 runs like a champ. Best of luck.