Connection to LAN dropping on XP but not Vista

[teddysnips]

About a month ago we finally had our LAN wired up and connected.
Previously, our XP Pro SP3 machine had been connected to our Netgear
ADSL DG834 Firewall router, which was connected directly to our BT
Broadband connection. The only thing that has changed is that three
other patch cables are coming out of the router, into the new LAN
patch board whence the cables run to other rooms. In one of the other
rooms my son is running Vista connected to his local network point.

However. Since the wiring was connected the home computer (XP Pro)
has a very annoying habit of occasionally losing its connection to the
Internet. You click on a link, or open a browser, and the "Dial-up
Connection" dialog pops up. However, pressing "Connect" doesn't
actually connect, just says "Unable to establish a connection".

At this point I can open a command window and successfully "ping" an
external site - e.g. "ping bbc.co.uk". Also, the status of the "Local
Area Connection" states that it is connected.

The only way to reconnect is either to log out and log back into
Windows, or to right-click on the Local Area Connection icon in the
system tray and select "Repair". Once that operation is completed,
opening a browser window now causes the "Web page unavailable while
offline" dialog to show. HOWEVER, if I now press "Connect" the web
page connects successfully.

This fault is intermittent and unpredictable. I've tried swapping
over the cables and it makes no difference. My son, on his machine
elsewhere on the LAN, has no such problem. If it makes any difference
our network card is a Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast.

Anyone any thoughts?

Thanks

Edward

 

[TERRY]

Hi E.I,m not sure if this will help.If you go to control panel,internet
options.Click on connections.Make sure the never dial a connection is
checked.It may be on dial a connection when one isn,t detected.I noticed that
noone has offered help but once i have tried to help i,m sure one of the mvps
will jump right to it and give you some sort of link.Every time i try to help
someone one of them sends me an e-mail with some link on it.I don,t get their
point.I,ve never seen any of their links nor have i ever needed them.Seems
that they,re on some kind of power trip or something.This is suppost to be a
free forum for people to help each other.Not a check out all the mvp
links.They should just post a site with all the links on it.Alot of people
that i,ve talked to said that when they go to alot of these links they can,t
understand half of it.Anyhoo.Hope you get it sorted out.TERRY.