PC keeps losing internet connection UPDATED

MrsBartolozzi

Ok, just a quick reply to say thanks for all the input, I will read them again and digest, while I try to see what to do.
I am very loathe to contact my ISP (aol) I had line probs a few years ago (which BT were aware of) and before they would speak to BT/attempt anything I had to send off for new filters and unplug everything and all that carp so that's a very last resort as far as I am concerned. I will read up on this DNS thing and the router as I wonder if it's anything to do with my son's Ipod touch which has been changing its ip address randomly and was affecting my other son's DSi (both were on fixed ip, but one managed to change to that of the other - I don't pretend to understand this.)


Right, my son just called and I was reminded that a few days before noticing this problem, my pc lost it's ip address too (I don't remember being told about this and no-one else uses my pc- aaargh!).
Looking at the local area connection properties, I am not on "obtain DNS server automatically", I have 2 dns server numbers (prefferred and alternate). Could this be the problem? I don't know why it's not auto now - must be my know-everything-computers-son being creative.
I don't know how to get it onto auto - the option is greyed out, I can't click it.

Oh and one last question - does this sound like a router problem? It's only a couple of months old, but when did that stop things failing...?

kwikbreaks

Well this doesn't explain the ping result but what it sounds like to me is that your "know-everything-computers-son" has been fiddling around setting things up with fixed IP addresses and hard coding the DNS instead of leaving things to default. Given that I suspect that he has somehow set up something else with the same IP address as he has given your PC and every time that connects it screws up your PC.

Rather than suggesting you just reset your PC to get the IP automatically (which may not work if he hasn't used fixed IPs outside of the range the router uses for DHCP allocation of IPs) I'd suggest you let your "know-everything-computers-son" know he has naffed up somewhere and he'd better fix it quickly if he expects any pocket money this month.

MrsBartolozzi

Thanks for that Kwik, I had a feeling that it was down to him, you are right I do have a fixed IP address, was told it's a good thing (was always sceptical ). I have just changed it back to automatic, so we'll see if that helps.
Thanks so much for your help everyone.

kwikbreaks

There's nothing wrong with using fixed IPs so long as you get it right. Sometimes you have to but for most people just using the default settings is the way to go.

davester

kwikbreaks wrote: »

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:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:your signiture :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

KEM

Been reading this with interest as from time to time the main pc loses its internet connection - ie Firefox won't load any pages but msn and an email checker (VPOP) still function normally so the connection to the ISP hasn't failed but we can't go onto the web.

When this happens the kids' laptops also can't access the web but they can msn.

The only way around it seems a reboot of both pc and router.

Any ideas on what could be causing this and where I start looking?