Lost Internet Connection After 3 hours

[Guest]

Problem: I keep my computer powered ON 24/7. If I let it
sit idle for more than 3 hours, programs such as Internet
Explorer, Norton Antivirus, Ad-Aware, Outlook Express,
etc. can no longer establish a connection to the internet
(error message: The Page Cannot Be Displayed). Have to
restart the DELL to establish an internet connection
again. Use XP Home.

Background: Dell Dimension 8200,80GB HDD, 512MB RAM, Dual
Boot - Win98 and Win XP Home w/ SP2, Comcast Cable
broadband connection via motherboard ethernet adapter,
router serves two PC's. Use ZoneAlarm Version 5.5 and
Norton AV Pro. The other PC does not experience the same
problem. Power saving is OFF. Only use XP Home for internet
connection....not 98.

Have contacted ISP, ran their checks and found no
problems. Broadband modem OK. Removed the router and
connected directly to the Dell....does not fix the
problem. At the command prompt I can ping and tracert
other web sites. This problem occurred even before I
installed SP2. I just can't use any Windows based program
to connect. Have done the usual fixes...reset router,
reset broadband modem, verified network and LAN settings,
deleted temp internet files and cookies, checked for
viruses and spyware. Tried to release and renew lease, but
unable to establish a connection. But yet I can ping via
the command prompt. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Malke]

Problem: I keep my computer powered ON 24/7. If I let it
sit idle for more than 3 hours, programs such as Internet
Explorer, Norton Antivirus, Ad-Aware, Outlook Express,
etc. can no longer establish a connection to the internet
(error message: The Page Cannot Be Displayed). Have to
restart the DELL to establish an internet connection
again. Use XP Home.

Background: Dell Dimension 8200,80GB HDD, 512MB RAM, Dual
Boot - Win98 and Win XP Home w/ SP2, Comcast Cable
broadband connection via motherboard ethernet adapter,
router serves two PC's. Use ZoneAlarm Version 5.5 and
Norton AV Pro. The other PC does not experience the same
problem. Power saving is OFF. Only use XP Home for internet
connection....not 98.

Have contacted ISP, ran their checks and found no
problems. Broadband modem OK. Removed the router and
connected directly to the Dell....does not fix the
problem. At the command prompt I can ping and tracert
other web sites. This problem occurred even before I
installed SP2. I just can't use any Windows based program
to connect. Have done the usual fixes...reset router,
reset broadband modem, verified network and LAN settings,
deleted temp internet files and cookies, checked for
viruses and spyware. Tried to release and renew lease, but
unable to establish a connection. But yet I can ping via
the command prompt. Any help would be appreciated.

When you say "power saving is off", does that mean you also turned off
the power saving on the ethernet adapter from Device Manager?

Malke

 

[BC]

Yes, I cleared the check box "Allow the computer to turn
off this device to save power." I thought this may have
been causing the problem, but eventally not.