Question : My computer's Internet access seems to be dying

Hi,

I'm having an unusual problem getting access to my network/Internet. I have two built-in nics. One is an nVidia nForce MCP Network Controller and the second is a Realtek Gigabit Ethernet Network Controller. They have both quit on me and I am reduced to using an SMC EZ-Connect USB/Ethernet Controller.

The problem is that my computer drops my broadband connection several times a day. Usually it will come back up and reconnect but every so often I have to reboot to reestablish the connection. It sounds to me like the computer just generally does not want to connect to the Internet. First one NIC went out, then the second. Fortunately, I had this USB device from my early broadband days, but it sounds like it's days are numbered also.

What part of the computer could affect all three NICs and cause them to drop out, and eventually fail, like that?

I am running XP Pro with an AMD 3200+ and 1 Gb of Ram, on a DFI Lan Party Ultra II B.

I was having other problems with XP at the same time and did a clean install but that didn't have any affect on this problem at all.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I would be interested in hearing them... besides drop-kicking the computer that is. I’ve already thought about that and have not dismissed it completely.

Thanks in advance,

Greybeard

Answer : My computer's Internet access seems to be dying

Grey,

A small suggestion: Check your cables. Better yet, REPLACE your cables.

Intermittent/unreliable connection problems are frequently caused by bad cables. They can look good, b ut have unreliable connections. Sometimes moving them makes them work for a short while.

- Bob Gezelter