Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

[toasty]

Hoping someone here can offer some guidance. I've got a wireless network set up with three computers -- 1 desktop connected via wire to the router, and a laptop and desktop that are both connected wirelessly. The laptop uses a laptop card and works like a champ. The desktop uses a USB adapter, and that's the one I seem to be having the problems with.

Anyhoo, I'll boot up the wireless desktop and everything will be working just fine for a while. I'll be able to access the internet, etc. After about 10 minutes or so, I won't be able to access the internet, even though the computer still shows itself connected to my wireless network and shows me as having a valid IP address. I've been through 2 USB adapters, both with the same problem, so I don't think it's just a bad adapter.

For what it is worth, I'm running Windows XP SP2, and I've got Norton AV 2006 on both desktops. Could it be a firewall issue of some sort, since it appears that I've still got a connection? Very weird.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Kamal]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

Are you only having problems on 1 desktop that is wirelessly connected ? are you using a firewall ? Zonealarm used to be a POS at one time. After having used it flawlessly for a few months, the software seems to do a number on itself i.e. it would terminate all internet activity and briefly work "normally" upon rebooting, only to freeze up again shortly.

if its not the firewall, you could have a faulty USB socket on your mobo (if you've already changed it twice). Do you multiple USB sockets ? Try changing it to another one?

Also they have PCI based WiFi cards, try using that and see how it works.

[rag21]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

I have had problems like this before....

The easiest and fastest solution I came up with was to get rid of Norton ENTIRELY.

[Funky Dredd]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

You could also change the channel on your wireless router to the highest channel.

[toasty]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

Are you only having problems on 1 desktop that is wirelessly connected ? are you using a firewall ? Zonealarm used to be a POS at one time. After having used it flawlessly for a few months, the software seems to do a number on itself i.e. it would terminate all internet activity and briefly work "normally" upon rebooting, only to freeze up again shortly.

if its not the firewall, you could have a faulty USB socket on your mobo (if you've already changed it twice). Do you multiple USB sockets ? Try changing it to another one?

Also they have PCI based WiFi cards, try using that and see how it works.

Yeah, it's just that one desktop -- the others work like a champ. I've got 6 USB ports, and have been through most of them, so I'm fairly confident that's not the problem. I don't have a stand-alone firewall like ZoneAlarm, but I do have the Windows firewall turned on, and I suppose the router (Linsys) probably has a firewall of some sort built into it.

The easiest and fastest solution I came up with was to get rid of Norton ENTIRELY.

I've considered that because on at least a couple of occasions, this has happened after Norton has given me an alert of some sort. I'm concerned about leaving the system vulnerable, though. Did you try using something else instead that worked?

[Kamal]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

I've considered that because on at least a couple of occasions, this has happened after Norton has given me an alert of some sort. I'm concerned about leaving the system vulnerable, though. Did you try using something else instead that worked?

If you're a safe/watchful surfer and you're behind a router, you wont be open to attacks. I havent used an AV since 2002.

[toasty]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

thanks man -- I'll try it without the AV...

[toasty]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

This actually appears to have resolved the problem -- thanks all!

[Kamal]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

excellent,

[neoee]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

What was the problem?

[toasty]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

Don't know in technical terms, but it appears there was a conflict between Norton AV and the wireless adpater, because as soon as I removed NAV, the problem went away...

[picklemonkey]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

[Kamal]

Re: Networking Question -- Dropped Internet Connection

lmao