Win XP internet help please!

[Sean7512]

So, I have a year old Gateway Laptop with these specs...

Intel Centrino Processor 1.6 ghz
80 GB HDD (2 partitions - XP Pro and Vista RC1)
1.5 GB Ram

I am a Comp Sci major, but for some reason cannot fix my issue. Anyways, it refuses to stay connected to the internet or it is EXTREMELY slow. It is connected wirelessly, and I know for a fact that it is not the network, as our wireless iMac works perfectly fine! Here is a typical scenario...

1. turn on the computer (xp or vista, it makes no diff)

2. internet works fine for first 5 min

3. all of a sudden, no page loads

4. i check the network connections, and it says it is still connected with a good signal

5. after 10 or 15 minutes, internet works fine again

6. internet only stays on for 3 min this time..

It continues looping until the internet is off completely, and only a restart or a "Repair" will fix it. But after 5 minutes, same old crap! I do not understand what is going on. There is no virus or spyware on it at all, so I am open to ANY suggestions!

 

[angelneo]

Try to isolate the problem if it is due to the OS or the browser. You can try using command prompt to ping a well-known address or switch to different browsers.

If you have more than one internet connection (eg, wireless+ethernet), try switching between them.

After that, you can try going into your task manager and check for any processes saturating your connection or cpu.

 

[mad jew]

If you have more than one internet connection (eg, wireless+ethernet), try switching between them.

Excellent idea. See how it goes with ethernet so we can work out if it's a wireless issue or an issue with your network settings.

 

[Sean7512]

Sweet, thanks for the suggestions. I will try them once I get home tonight, and report back. I really hope to have it solved by tomorrow, so I have a internet in Florida... Thanks again, I'll let you guys know

 

[Sean7512]

Well, I have been using my laptop with a Ethernet wire, and it works just as it should. No slowdowns and never disconnects me from AIM or the internet. So, whats next? I guess it is either a hardware problem, a drive problem, or a setting for my preferred network. I'm gonna test my computer at my g/f's wifi network, and see if my problems are also on her network. If the same problems arise over there, then I'll know that it has to be a driver or hardware problem. Any other suggestions in the meantime?

 

[Sesshi]

Try changing the authentication method, and of course hunt for latest drivers for your wifi card.

 

[Sean7512]

Try changing the authentication method, and of course hunt for latest drivers for your wifi card.

What is the difference between them, I actually have no idea

My choices are:
*Open
*Shared
*WPA
*WPA-PSK

The default is "Open" so that is what I have been using. Also, there is no encryption on my network. I can't believe that I have no idea what these different methods are, especially since I'm a Comp Science major...

 

[Sesshi]

Ah OK... you're already running on open (the above seems to point to a fatal lack of interest in your major, but I guess the same really goes for almost every degree-holder I've ever met who turn out to be hopeless in their supposedly qualified fields). Well, that's that out of the equation then.

If new drivers don't cure it, I guess it's a faulty card or a dodgy antenna connection on the laptop.

 

[MartyMoe]

.... and of course hunt for latest drivers for your wifi card.

Any luck with new drivers?

This may or may not apply, but sometimes I have seen that wireless connections get dropped at various times when the settings get corrupted. With a number of different computers (I work at a school) I have gone into the Wireless profiles and deleted them, thus forcing them to be discovered again. (I right-click the connection to get Properties, then go to the Wireless Network tab, then I trash all of the profiles. Some of the kids I see here can have 15 or 20 profiles saved, and it seems to clog it up.)

I don't know if that applies in your case, but I am throwing it out there, for what its worth...


Do you have another wireless card you can test, to see if it is a card or antenna issue?

 

[Sean7512]

Any luck with new drivers?

This may or may not apply, but sometimes I have seen that wireless connections get dropped at various times when the settings get corrupted. With a number of different computers (I work at a school) I have gone into the Wireless profiles and deleted them, thus forcing them to be discovered again. (I right-click the connection to get Properties, then go to the Wireless Network tab, then I trash all of the profiles. Some of the kids I see here can have 15 or 20 profiles saved, and it seems to clog it up.)

I don't know if that applies in your case, but I am throwing it out there, for what its worth...


Do you have another wireless card you can test, to see if it is a card or antenna issue?

Wow, I actually forgot all about my post Anyways, I have tried your suggestion of removing the profile many times to no avail. I did download the newest drivers that were on Gateway's website for my laptop. It worked! I was soo happy, that I guess that I forgot about this thread. I am not sure why the other drivers went bad, because they were fine and then all of a sudden stopped working. Anyways, it is all back to normal, and it prevents me from being laptop-less from sending it in for repairs

Thanks to all who helped, I appreciate it!