Internet connection stops working

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Let me say straight away I’ve ran full system scans wit Malwarebytes and MS Essentials

Here’s what I can do:

1. Can ping 127.0.01 and my router 192.168.X.XXX and all websites by their IP address and domain name.

2. Can use all software aboard.

Here’s what I cannot do:

1. Cannot RDP to my server nor access it through the browser at hpserver

2. Cannot access my 2Wire router 192.168.X.XXX via the browser.

3. Have tried to connect to internet using IE 9, Chrome, and Firefox. Same result. No access.

Lastly, rebooting seems to be the only fix until it happens again. Each incident produces the same results as noted above.

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Any ideas on what may be causing this?

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Could be many things causing it.

Let me run through my thought process:

It’s not hardware related since you can ping local and internet addresses. Neither is it DNS since you can do the same using domain names. It’s not a malware attack as I assume that having scanned you see no issues.

The symptoms appear to be browser related – no browser has http:// access internally or externally. However, after a re-boot the problem goes away for an unspecified time. Therefore something is changing in the system configuration.

A few questions then:

Can you ftp (as opposed to http) from the browser?
Are the internet zone settings configured correctly?,….leading to:
Do you have 3rd party Firewall software?

Having thought about those, what is happening in the system event logs before and after the problem occurs?

I might be easy to run a system restore, but you may not know when the problem started, nor have a way of knowing that it has been fixed.

The other option is to run a clean boot, followed by selective enabling of boot time services until you target the problem.

Oh, one final thought, based on an inference from your notes. You mention you can’t access your server by RDP or web console. Are you Domain Joined? If yes, can you attach and configure an independent Internet access method (3G mobile broadband for example). If you can, does the same issue present itself? – just wondering if the server may be having a problem.

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You can test http sites in Telnet to prove access.
Start > Run > cmd
Type: telnet http://www.abc.com 80
Type some characters and press Enter a few times and you should see some movement. This confirms you have a connection on port 80 (http).

cheers, Paul

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Try going to the manufacturers website of the computer you are using. then download the latest drivers for your network card. I have had the same connection problem and this solved it for me.

Let me say straight away I’ve ran full system scans wit Malwarebytes and MS Essentials

Here’s what I can do:

1. Can ping 127.0.01 and my router 192.168.X.XXX and all websites by their IP address and domain name.

2. Can use all software aboard.

Here’s what I cannot do:

1. Cannot RDP to my server nor access it through the browser at hpserver

2. Cannot access my 2Wire router 192.168.X.XXX via the browser.

3. Have tried to connect to internet using IE 9, Chrome, and Firefox. Same result. No access.

Lastly, rebooting seems to be the only fix until it happens again. Each incident produces the same results as noted above.

—-

Any ideas on what may be causing this?

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Definitively not a solution, but maybe an effects mitigator – have you tried to disable and enable your network adapter, when that happens?

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Are you running wireless? If you are then see if the problem happens when you use a wireless phone. Older phones in the 2.4Ghz region will step on a lot of wireless connections. You may want to consider a router that runs in the 5Ghz region or get phones in that region, but not both.

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Are you running wireless? If you are then see if the problem happens when you use a wireless phone. Older phones in the 2.4Ghz region will step on a lot of wireless connections. You may want to consider a router that runs in the 5Ghz region or get phones in that region, but not both.

Almost exactly what I was thinking. My uWave oven does the same thing if my laptop is too close to the kitchen.

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rayt435
Are you running wireless? If you are then see if the problem happens when you use a wireless phone. Older phones in the 2.4Ghz region will step on a lot of wireless connections. You may want to consider a router that runs in the 5Ghz region or get phones in that region, but not both

Almost exactly what I was thinking. My uWave oven does the same thing if my laptop is too close to the kitchen.

The OP can ping internal and external locations by IP address, so an active network connection is established and is not being blocked by interference.

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hey bud, i notice you’re using a 2wire modem. i have the same problem, sometimes multiple times a day!! the only cure i’ve found is to hard-reboot the modem itself. if you have att as a provider, the problem may be lieing with them. i called them a week or so back about it, they said that “temporary internet outtages” can occur in areas where they are presently installing their “uverse” systems. apparently they have to shut down the grid to work on it!! well done…apparently when they do, it screws up everyone’s dsl connection in the area…but intermittently, as some signal appears to backfeed from other points. it’s maddening, to say the least. if you have att, you may want to call them and see if that’s the root of your issue before pulling out your hair like i have. best, jimi

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I had the same problem, and the solution was so simple I’m almost embarrassed to fess up. I was losing my internet connection 1-2 times a day. Tried everything to correct, but problem persisted. In desperation, I bought a new router, and when connecting it up, noticed that the ethernet plug was not securely connected into the back of the modem. Pushed it firmly in place, and have only lost the connection once in 6 months! Don’t know if this is your problem, but no one else has mentioned it.

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I was having the same problem on my own computer using a D-Link router with Vista. Here is a simple fix that worked for me: under control panel> Network Sharing Center> manage wireless Networks> Right click, Properties for your router. Under the “Connection Tab” make sure the “Connect automatically when this network is in range” is checked. I have corrected many computers with this frustrating complaint and it seems to work across the board.

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A successful ping without an ethernet or wireless network connection would be something to record for posterity.

Seriously gentlemen, the OP has recorded a specific set of symptoms, which rule out many issues: When browsing sporadically drops out, he can still ping internal and external IP’s and domains.

If he can ping, he has a network connection; which means his router is up and the dsl is active. Sporadic browsing dropouts means a connection on Port 80 is unreliable. This must be internal (ie on his machine) because he is neither able to browse the router web interface on 192.168.x.xxx, nor to external websites when the dropout occurs – yet he can ping them.

It would be useful to see the result of the test that Paul T suggested.

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I disagree with Mr. Tin, and re his comment on helps from others: rather nasty.

Most members perusing here is to learn and/or find solutions of common problems. Mostly it is knowledge base and FAQ-like. They also hope a few experts (and people with vast experience) could help.

Maybe some suggested solutions do not meet the strict standards of CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). However, maybe an idea ring a bell for someone reading the blogs, solving his/her problem.

Here, it is kind of a social network. It is even worse than the messy democracy. It has many ‘unprofessional’ ‘solutions’. They are just the daily experience members reporting.

I hope the few experts here show patience.

Having said that, Mr. Tin is correct on the problem. It is the kind for pros, real pros. I would trace route to determine the root cause, rather than throwing try-n-see solutions to it.

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I disagree with Mr. Tin, and re his comment on helps from others: rather nasty.

That was not the intention. If you take it that way, you have my apologies.

Having said that, Mr. Tin is correct on the problem. It is the kind for pros, real pros. I would trace route to determine the root cause, rather than throwing try-n-see solutions to it.

Exactly. Knowledge bases are excellent as long as the information is relevant, accurate and in context. Had the original question not included specific detail, I would have no problem with the try-n-see solutions (I might even have thrown in one or two of my own). However, the original question was quite specific and contained diagnostic data. IMHO, it warrants specific diagnostic replies, not try-this or try-that answers which are in conflict with the data supplied.

I will contribute no further to the thread for risk fanning an unnecessary flames.

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I think it may be possible that problems like this may have started occurring this week because a lot of the main testing for IPV6 started (or was scheduled to start anyway) with some sites and ISPs as of last week. I haven’t had any problems myself, but don’t know if something like this might cause people problems.

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In such situations and when all else has failed I have sometimes found my typically less expected causal issue when I put the modem and router on a UPS to eliminate dips and surges as a potential failure point.

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I’m losing my internet connection as much as several dozen times a day. It seems to happen in clusters, where it will go off and back on every minute or so for an hour. It seems to be most often in the evening when traffic picks up as people logon at home, because it is stable during the day until around 5pm. This is on ATT DSL, and the problem just began appearing perhaps 2 months ago.

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I’ve had a very similar problem many times in the past. In those cases however the problem was limited to IE and I worked round the problem by using Firefox. I was able to achieve a fix a few times by a lengthy procedure of resetting the network sockets stack (I found out how by googling a lot and can’t now find my problem log for it). Some piece of software was corrupting the stack, not always the same, one occasion was malware, another a technical application ported from Linux with a middleware layer.

I formed the opinion that although in theory Internet browsing just requires DNS and an IP connection on port 80, something as complex as IE uses the socket stack to get there. A cmd session uses very low level access and so gets through OK.

To support Tim, it does help if the basic situation is appreciated by all – if you can ping websites by name there’s not a lot wrong with the network hardware and the problem pretty much has to be to do with software. Also failure to access the router by browser using IP address eliminates external problems caused by the likes of ATT.

One trivial question – are you using a proxy server? Is it working?

Ian.

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I am having a similar problem which started many months ago when I initiated DSL service. I have a data line (DSL) with AT&T (no voice). I am using the line for both an internet connection and for VOIP. Usually once or twice a day the service is dropped. Sometimes while I am accessing the internet and sometimes in the middle of a VOIP phone conversation. My solution has been to re-boot both the modem and the router. I’m not sure where the problem originates, but one opinion I was given is a poor connection from AT&T. Any suggestions beyond those already mentioned above?

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I am having a similar problem which started many months ago when I initiated DSL service. I have a data line (DSL) with AT&T (no voice). I am using the line for both an internet connection and for VOIP. Usually once or twice a day the service is dropped. Sometimes while I am accessing the internet and sometimes in the middle of a VOIP phone conversation. My solution has been to re-boot both the modem and the router. I’m not sure where the problem originates, but one opinion I was given is a poor connection from AT&T. Any suggestions beyond those already mentioned above?

The first thing to eliminate is an AT&T problem. You should contact them and insist they check your line & connection.

Joe

--Joe

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@SalisburySenior, We had a similar problem with the DSL on a 2Wire modem/router at our church a month ago. I tried everything I could to remedy the problem, but it ultimately took a new modem from CenturyLink to fix things.

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JSHOLLIS you asked for help on this on the 16th June and the last reply was the 24th
Was your issue resolved? I’d like to know the answer

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I have a 2Wire AT&T Modem, and there are several things which are not good about these modems.

My modem was having trouble logging on to the AT&T DSL Network. The Internet could be reached, but syncing up with the AT&T login server was failing intermittently. After checking with a technician, the line was determined to be good. But when a tech came to our house, he tested the modem and determined that the power adapter (wall bug) had gone bad. A free replacement of the power adapter solved the problem. Ours was also an intermittent issue.

But if yours is a time of day issue, I would check for same-channel WiFi interference from nearby routers. I use Xirrus WiFi Inspector ( download ) for this purpose. It finds nearby wireless traffic, and tells you which channel the other users are occupying. Most 2Wire routers by default use the same two channels. Hence the potential issue. You might then have to get inside your router (ask AT&T tech support for instructions) and change the channel your router is using.

Another, less pleasant possibility is that due to the fact that older 2Wire routers use WEP encryption, not the more secure WPA or WPA-2 standards, someone may have figured out how to piggyback on your Wireless Service. This could happen at the same time each day, and might explain a reduction in available bandwidth or a loss of access. The only solution would be to upgrade to a more secure router. AT&T offers an upgrade, or you could shop around for a good deal on a Linksys or DLink model. (Windows Secrets maintains a recommendation in their Security Baseline.)

Regulated voltage (AVR) should not be necessary with a 2Wire modem. Ours does have surge-suppression, but no AVR in the unit. And no battery backup (although I wish sometimes during power outages we had battery backup!). Leaving a 2Wire Modem always on even when not in use can aggravate any or all of the issues I have mentioned. Give the modem a rest once in awhile. This also might cut down on piggybacking.

-- rc primak

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I had a similar problem, I would lose the Internet randomly. I had to reboot the modem.

ISP _ Bell Canada
Type – DSL
Modem – Speedstream 5200
Router – D-Link DIR615

I changed the wireless channel from the default to 6, no more problem.

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