I need some computer help please!

[Sterlingdog]

For some reason, I can't get my router to work for more than 2  minutes today.  Everytime I'm online, I get disconnected after about 2 minutes and have to turn the router off and back on.  Then it works for a minute or two and then disconnects again.  Its doing it both to the computer that is wireless and the one that is connected to the router.  Any help would be appreciated, because I can't figure out what's wrong.  Thanks.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Give it a good swift kick. 

Sorry, I have no idea how to help ya.

[pilferk]

It may not be the router, it may be your ISP. ?The first thing you want to do is eliminate the ISP as a culprit.

Bypass the router (putting the Network cable running from your modem directly into one of the PC's, rather than into the router) and see if the problem resolves itself. ?If it does, you know it's the router. ?If your connection keeps dropping, you know it's your ISP.

[Sterlingdog]

My ISP does drop alot, but it doesn't seem to be happening right now.  I connected it directly to one computer and left it for awhile, it didn't disconnect.

[Tied-Up]

Sterling:  Have you tried throwing your computer out the window?  This may work.  Then again, you may have broken your computer.  It's a gamble... but so is life.

[Sterlingdog]

I haven't thrown the computer out the window yet, but since I work in the ghetto, I probably wouldn't have to throw it far.  Someone would be waiting to take it before it hit the ground.

Instead of assaulting the computer, I turned the damn thing off and went home sick from work. 

[Mr. Dick Purple]

My ISP does drop alot, but it doesn't seem to be happening right now.  I connected it directly to one computer and left it for awhile, it didn't disconnect.

So you now know its not your ISP try using other router 

[Genesis]

What sort of connection is it? Cable/DSL? Have u checked ur modem for trouble? If u're sure it's ur router then it could be that ur PPPoE max idle time is set low. Use the router's configuration interface to view the Setup page. For PPPoE, try setting Max Idle Time to zero (off) and enabling the Keep Alive Option. If the problem is related to the DHCP lease, i can't help u there...

[Sterlingdog]

What sort of connection is it? Cable/DSL? Have u checked ur modem for trouble? If u're sure it's ur router then it could be that ur PPPoE max idle time is set low. Use the router's configuration interface to view the Setup page. For PPPoE, try setting Max Idle Time to zero (off) and enabling the Keep Alive Option. If the problem is related to the DHCP lease, i can't help u there...

Its DSL.  I have the modem connected directly to my laptop at the moment, without the router and it seems to be working fine.  Of course no one else in the office can use the internet, but I'm the boss so I can be selfish. 

As far as the rest of what you said, I didn't really understand it.  I went through the routers configuration and I can't find any settings for idle time.  There is a box checked that says "enable DHCP server functions" if that means anything.

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Yes that means you're using DHCP, that means automatic IP 

[unoturbo]

We bought a cheap ass router that disconnected whenever it felt like it. We updated the firmware and it was sweeeeeeeeeet after that. Log into the router's setup page (the manual or google will tell you the particular address and log-in details) and have a play in there for any update options.

[Genesis]

Check ur DHCP lease time, it should be atleast a few days...
Which router do u have? Like unoturbo said, upgrading the firmware is a good option. If that doesn't work, then search for a 'Keep Alive' option and make sure it is enabled.

[Sterlingdog]

I don't know what DHCP lease time is, how do I check it?

Its a Dell router, about 3 years old, but it has only been in use for about 1 year.

[jarmo]

If you use Windows XP, in the command prompt just type ipconfig /all


/jarmo