[WhatMACHI]

Well my sister got a new Sony laptop running Vista. And for some strange reason whenever she plugs into the router, my computer CONSTANTLY gets "network cable unplugged". Its so every few minutes my internet/network connection will disconnect, and will have to reconnect which is DAM annoying if im downloading, playing games or just browsing the net.

Anyone have any ideas why it's doing this? And im 100% sure its her laptop that is causing the disconnects, since all my other family member's computers dont do this when they plug into the router.

 

[digitalmind]

Have you tried swapping ports with your sister, having her laptop connected and then plugging in yours?

 

[WhatMACHI]

Yup no matter what cables we are using or the order we connect it will still happen.

Bottom line. If her laptop is plugged in, it will disconnect the network connection for any other computer plugged in every now and then.

 

[m3ta1head]

Wait-are both of the computers wired to the router, or is someone connected via wifi?

Honestly, it sounds like your router can't handle all those connections and is dropping the other computers to compensate. What router are you currently using? It might be time for a new one.

 

[adanac061]

That's weird.

If none of the other pc's cause this issue then It's most likly a an issue with the laptop. If youv'e tried different ports and swapped the ethernet cable she's using and made sure the laptop is set for dynamic ip then check to make sure she's not running any p2p programs with lots of open connections that could flood the network?

 

[WhatMACHI]

Im pretty sure its not the router.

There are only ever 2 computers connected at one time (only have two cables hahaha)

4 laptops in the family, mine perma connected, my mum and two sisters connect their laptop when they need internet. Whenever the sony laptop connects, i drop straight away then continue to drop now and then.

Strange thing is the computer is basically stock standard. I dont think there should be any programs running to make my computer lose a connection to the router. Even if she were draining the bandwidth, it still shouldnt mean my computer should disconnect.

Only thing i can think of is Vista and the cheapy router we have.

 

[atsang]

does it still have an IP?

 

[plus_c]

Check both of your network settings - would both of you (for some reason or another) have identical MAC addresses or IP addresses? The former should be impossible, as every network device should have a unique IP address, but the latter might. Check and make sure both of your machines are getting their IP addresses through DHCP. Also make sure that neither of your laptops is trying to do something like be the domain controller.

With only two computers there's no reason why the router can't handle the traffic.

 

[atsang]

some cheap crappy routers can't handle multiple connections without crapping out or requiring a restart. Def check the IP, and maybe a ping test?

 

[mb3k]

Quote:

Originally Posted by atsang /img/forum/go_quote.gif some cheap crappy routers can't handle multiple connections without crapping out or requiring a restart. Def check the IP, and maybe a ping test?

From my experience, DLINK routers are notorious for dropping wifi connections.
What brand and model is yours?

 

[adanac061]

I find the worst ones are Belkin routers.
I was thinking about this issue today and ran it by a few guys at work.
Most likely some funky mac cloning going on.
Ip conflict wouldn't disconnect the connection , you would just get "limited or no connectivity."

 

[nghiasays]

Does her laptop disconnect too?

 

[epaludo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nghiasays /img/forum/go_quote.gif Does her laptop disconnect too?

Exactly what i was going to ask.
Which router are you using (brand and model)?

 

[c0mfortably_numb]

I would recommend hard coding the IP address, sounds to me like the router is assigning the same IP address to both computers.

 

[iceyo]

try to assign all the computers different static ip addresses.