Lost Connection After Windows Update

[Lona]

I've had a same problem as Diss.

Last night I updated windows and shortly after lost my connection.  I rebooted the router and connection came back.

This morning I switched on and again, no connection.  Had to reboot the router again.

I'm wondering if it has something to do with the windows update that I did last night.

[Sebby]

I'll split this off so it'll be easier to follow.

When you say you lost connection, Lona, did the router disconnect with the exchange, i.e. did a light go out and start flashing?

[Lona]

Dunno, I can only tell you that I only had local connection, no internet.

[Sebby]

What router is it? Perhaps we can get hold of the log and have a look.

If you lost connection with the exchange, the fact that you had just performed a Windows Update will just be coincidence.

[Rik]

There's two possible types of lost connection, Lona. A PPP session, where the router thinks it's connected but BT does not - there are usually no symptoms of this, eg flashing lights, but if you check the router, you may see an indication that the connection has not been established, most usually, you won't see your IP address. (What router do you have?)

Far more common is the loss of sync, a breakdown of the connection between your router and the DSLAM at the exchange. This is usually accompanied by a flashing light, or lights, on most routers (and probably an entry in the log). The latter is often caused by a noise burst, especially during the evening.

If you keep an eye on things and let us know which it is (if it happens again), we can set about trying to narrow the search for you.

[Lona]

It's a linksys WAG354G. The top light which says internet blinks all the time but doesn't disconnect. It's always done that.

[Rik]

Kitz has instructions for extracting stats from that, Lona, take a look here:

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.htm

If there are any logs showing disconnections, that would give us a clue. The lighting blinking is just showing data transfer normally, what happens when you first power up the router, does it blink slowly or change colour?

[Lona]

Here's what Kitz website said when I clicked on my routers link

*ADSL Current Status Table* Item Value ADSL Line Type GDMT ADSL Line Coding INTERLEAVED Line Attenuation (Down):24 (Up):10 Noise Margin (Down):9 (Up):26 Total Output Power (Down):0 (Up):0 Current Rate DownStr: 8128(K) UpStr: 448(K) ADSL Line Status UP FEC(FAST) (Near):0 (Far):0 FEC(INTERL) (Near):3876 (Far):278859 CRC(FAST) (Near):0 (Far):0 CRC(INTERL) (Near):13 (Far):266 HEC(FAST) (Near):0 (Far):0 HEC(INTERL) (Near):0 (Far):0 Showtime last(sec) 1206648187 ADSL_FW_Version 0.49 ADSL_Board_Type Annex A

That's gobbltigook to me.

Router is on all the time and lights are a steady green.  I never switch off my router except maybe when on holiday or doing spring cleaning (which isn't very often lol)

[Rik]

I'm curious why you have interleaving on with those stats, you're synching at full speed (8128) with some spare headroom in the noise margin (9db instead of 6db). It might be worth asking support (phone or email) about that.

All I can suggest on the connection loss is if it happens again, take a look at the router's lights and see if they're doing anything unusual. Someone else had a problem last night that might be down to the BT point of presence that I think you would both route through.

[Lona]

Weird thing Rik, ever since I got this new PC, even before I was with Idnet I could lose my connection, while the other two pcs still had one.

I spoke to Sandra about that and asked if it could be something to do with Vista and she said it wasn't possible.

I always had to reboot to connect again and only think I could think of was it was Vista.

[Rik]

Ah... If the other two PCs were still 'netted, forget about the router altogether (well, almost). Is it a wired or wireless connection?

[Lona]

Wired (ethernet)

[Rik]

OK, let's think about the possibilities.

1) Bad cable - have you got a spare you could swap (albeit temporarily)?

2) Faulty network card on the computer. I'm not into Vista, but does it have Device Manager as XP does. If so, if you go into that, are there any issues showing under network adaptors? It might be worth checking for updated drivers.

3) Bad socket on router, can you try a different one (least likely)

4) The networking setup is damaged or incomplete. Does Vista have the ability to do the equivalent of Start > Run > CMD <enter> that XP does. If so, when you lose the connection, do that, then type ipconfig /all <enter> and make a note of what it says.

[Lona]

I'll have to print all that off, Rik, as I won't remember all those instructions lol.

Can't be the cable as I just bought a new belkin one when I got this PC, so that rules that out.

I will check Device Manager and check my network card

socket on router?  I don't have another router.

I will do the 4th one if and when I next disconnect.

[Rik]

I'll have to print all that off, Rik, as I won't remember all those instructions lol.

That's what printers are for.

Can't be the cable as I just bought a new belkin one when I got this PC, so that rules that out.

OK, less likely, but worth checking if all else fails.

I will check Device Manager and check my network card

The fact it's happened after an update makes me wonder about drivers...

socket on router?  I don't have another router.

I will do the 4th one if and when I next disconnect.

OK.

[madasahatter]

4) The networking setup is damaged or incomplete. Does Vista have the ability to do the equivalent of Start > Run > CMD <enter> that XP does. If so, when you lose the connection, do that, then type ipconfig /all <enter> and make a note of what it says.

Yes it does Rik, but "run" doesn't come up as a default option as is does in XP. Follow this to add it so that it does:

Right click on the Start button, and click Properties.
From the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog, click Customize.
Scroll down through the list until you shall find Run command. Check the box next to it.
Click OK.

Either that, or click on search from the start menu and find it that way.

[Rik]

Thanks, Mad. 

[madasahatter]

Cheers Rik - took me ages to work it out when I first got my laptop with Vista 

[Sebby]

The other way you can do it on Vista is to press the Windows key on the keyboard and "R".

[Lance]

I find that the 'search' on the start menu makes the run box pretty much obsolete. Makes things quicker too!

[Sebby]

Are you talking about the text box on the start menu, Lance? You can get up the traditional run dialog, too.

[Lance]

I was Sebby, and I know

I find that pressing the start button and then typing what i want (eg word, excel, cmd etc etc) is quicker than the run button

[Sebby]

Ah, I see. For the brief time that I ran Vista, I must say I found that box quite powerful. At first it seems a bit pointless, but once you start using it it's really useful.

[madasahatter]

It certainly is a handy tool to have