Internet Partially & Intermittently Stops Working

[STEWARTBRA]

I've been banging my head against the wall for a week trying to fix this issue... I've done many Google searches, contacted ISP, and Linksys.

Here's my problem: When I first boot up my laptop and connect to my home WIFI the internet typically works fine. So I usually connect to FFXI (MMORPG) then switch to IE and start browsing the 'net. The internet will be running smoothly but then at various times, IE will stop loading any new web pages. IE reports that I am connected to the Internet, but that it is not responding. The exact same thing happens in Firefox. However, FFXI is still running fine in the background. I can grab my wife's laptop (which is connected to the same WIFI) and navigate to the exact same websites just fine. And to clarify, the problem still exists even when FFXI isn't running. Then, after about 5 minutes or so, the internet on my laptop returns to normal and webpages load again.

Details about my setup: Dell M6400 (Intel Mobile Chipset)with updated drivers and fresh reformat/reinstall of Windows XP SP3. Linksys cable modem (had for 1yr+, works fine), Linksys WRT54G ver.6 router (had for 3yr+, works fine). I don't have any goofy firewall or networking programs installed, just barebones stuff. And to reiterate, my wife's laptop nor our 2 iPhones suffer from this problem.

Attempted fixes: /flushdns, /renew, repairing my connection, power cycling modem and router, resetting router. When IE and Firefox won't load yahoo or google, I can go to cmd window and tracert them both successfully.

One thing I haven't done is update the WRT54G firmware. However, I'm afraid to since I've never had a problem with it and my other connected devices work properly.

Help me, A-Nand Tech, you're my only hope. Please and thank you.

 

[Bolatium]

Find out what kind of network resources FFXI is using. Use some type of network monitor to find out what is going on.
Using Windows Task Manager, go to the Networking tab.
What is the readout for network utilization on your wireless adapter? Make sure you go to View>select columns and select all relevant boxes[e.g.:Bytes/Interval and Bytes Throughput] to get more information about your connection, then post the readout here if you have further questions.
FFXI may just be sucking up all your 'bandwidth', even though it doesn't appear to be running. Check it status under Windows Task Manager.

See if you can connect directly with an Ethernet cable, if your service is faster than WiFi connection(not likely, but possible), this may solve your problem temporarily until you pay for faster service.


Who is your internet service provider[e.g.:SBC(AT&T), Verizon, Comcast, or Roadrunner], and what WAN technology is implemented[e.g.😀SL, Cable, Satelite, T1, Dialup(shudder shudder), or Fiber? If you just connect using the WiFi using nothing else, and cannot deal with your ISP, and some of the equipment involved, we may not be able to resolve this issue.

 

[Engineer]

I don't know how to fix it with stock Linksys firmware, but I do know that there are issues between Linksys (actually, broadcom based devices using a general Linux firmware) routers and Intel based chipsets. There are "nvram" settings that correct this but I'm not sure how to implement using the stock firmware (only Tomato and possibly DD-WRT). It "could" be this incompatibility but I'm not 100% sure (just a good hunch).

Not sure if you can Telnet into the stock router and issue nvram commands from the CLI (Command Line Interface) or not.....actualy, would be afraid to recommend it (I would do it myself but I don't want to risk bricking your router).

Edit: After reading more, I'm not sure if this is the issue (although it acts like it) as I can't determine if this is an issue only with firmwares like Tomato or others as well. I know that the latest version of "official" Tomato (non modded version) incorporates the fixes for Intel based chipsets.

Good luck OP.

 

[ScottMac]

Download and run Netstumbler (www.netstumbler.com) and see what your RF environment looks like. Select one of channels 1, 6, or 11, whichever has the least users and / or interferers.

Also make sure that you uncheck the box that allows the system to put your NIC to sleep. It's usually under teh NIC properties, sometimes it's under the power options tabs under the screen-saver settings.