Vista - vista disconnects from wireless

I have windows vista home premium 32 bit edition and wireless router. Roughly 2-3 times per day the internet connection will stop working and i have to restart the pc after which it works fine again.

I have 2 other laptops and a wireless skype phone connected to the same wireless router and they remain connected throughout so it appears not to be an issue with the router. Windows says there is an error which it cannot repair. I have tried every diagnostic and repair in the network and sharing center - also disabling and re-enabling the wireless connection, manually switching the wireless card on and off, manually restarting the router.

Nothing seems to work apart from restarting the laptop after which it works fine until the next time. There doesn't appear to be any correlation between what im doing at the time and when the connection breaks either.

any help much appreciated

I have a newer HP Laptop running Vista and have the same exact problem. Tried fixing router. Problem is definitely not with router. My sister is running a Apple and has no problem. I called HP tech support and they weren't able to help. Updated all drivers and firmware. Also called router tech support but they couldn't help either ( didn't think they could but thought it was worth a shot).

I would love the answer to this question.

Thanks!

Hi user1,

Interference from cordless phones, microwaves, tvs and a few hundred other devices can cause wireless to dropout...

What channel and security settings are you using? How many computers are connected to the wireless and how long + often does it dropout?

Steven

Steven,

Thanks for the reply. The main issues isn't so much disconnecting -- which is annoying- but the fact that after i disconnect my wireless adapter seems to be dysfunctional. In other words, after it disconnects, i can't reconnect to my network or even view any of the networks around me (there are at least 8 or 9 usually). Using the "repair" function gives me an error that says that their may be a problem with my wireless adapter. The only solution i have been able to find is to restart the computer. It works every time. Just don't want to restart every 20 minutes

There is a cordless phone near the router so I could try moving that. I tried to routers: a DLink and a Linksys. Both have the same problem.

I have basically one computer connected to a WEP secured network. Channel is 11, I think. I use DHCP cloning from Comcast cable modem. Problem happens anywhere from several to many times a day and seems to happen more frequently when I am streaming or downloading.

Thanks!


Abram

Hey Abram,

Whats the make/model of your wireless device?

Hi,
Try first to reset yout tcp/ip:
Run a prompt command as administrator (cmd.exe)
Type in: netsh int ip reset
Reboot.

Hi Abram,

This sounds like interference from an external source, i.e. your cordless phone. Cordless phones are a bit like a halfway house between a wired phone and a mobile phone. Like a mobile, they are in constant contact with the base unit by transmitting and receiving constantly, but unlike a mobile they are restricted in operating area. Unfortunately, the frequency used can sometimes interfere with wireless Internet reception. The solution? Ideally, remove the source of interference, i.e. remove the phone. Alternatively, change the channel number of your Internet connection. At the same time, if your router can handle WPA or WPA2, I strongly advise that you enable it as WEP, whilst better than nothing, is weak and no longer considered secure.
Dwarf

I experience this issue with a new dell inspiron laptop. my dell latitude d820 with vista ultimate never drops once. THe inspiron with vista home premium will almost never reconnect to the wireless router without resetting the adapter and manually rejoining. I have no rfi external issues as the d820 works fine. I have yet to fine a work around. I am still working on it after two weeks with no luck.

Using linksys with dd-wrt firmware. fwiw

No interference issue. I have the same problem (solving is also possible through just disconnecting via the small icon and reconnecting again).
To check for interference I switched off the phone from electricity but the problem stays. Seems to be mainly when lots of info is downloaded at once (large files). Streaming radio channels was OK. Just a quick on the net shows you a large group is suffering from the same glitch. I had the concern with a USB wireless toggle. But the Linksys in the system maintain the same problem. Sigh.....O yes: completely legal systam, full install Vista, no upgrade version.
Disappointing, very disappointing this is.

Hi Red_baren,

What model Linksys device do you have? It might be possible to upgrade to DD-WRT firmware like myself and others are using

Steven