Strange Connectivity Happenings
Hi, I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro L300d using Realtek network connectivity in the form of PCIe Family Controller for LAN connections (currently in use) & RTL8187b WLAN. I'm connecting into a D-Link DSL2640R router connecting to an ADSL+ service. Vista is SP2 fully patched. I have checked that I have the most up-to-date drivers for these two components. I connect at the moment to the router via a 1metre cable to the NIC (so I can see the activity) on the router. In the notification area, the icon for local attachment shows I am connected to the router (local connection) & most of the time the blue orb for internet connectivity is there. Here's the strange bit. Periodically when I'm not actively using a browser or some other tool e.g. P2P client, the orb can disappear suggesting I don't have an internet connection. However if I do fire up the browser or do something else that needs internet access, the orb returns. Tad disconcerting 'cos you think you've lost internet service when in actual fact it's there all the time (I've checked in the routers log & it's been continuously connected for over 50 hours but today the orb has been coming & going about a dozen times or more & no error messages. I've not really noticed when this started happening but have only been aware over the past few days - I suspect it's been going on for some time & I've just assumed that there has been a dropped connection. The same conditions are also apparent on my wireless connection. Not a serious issue but when you notice it you eyeball the router lights & then confirm by checking the log. If anyone has any ideas I'd be most grateful. Regards.
November 22nd, 2010 5:58pm

Hi, Thanks for posting! I would like to ask the following question: Do you share the network connection with someone else? When did this issue begin to occur? Please make sure the system is clean first. In case this issue is due to conflict with third party software, I would suggest prepare clean boot to troubleshoot: To place the computer in a clean boot state, follow the steps below: 1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue. 2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup. 3. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. 4. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All. 5. Click OK. 6. When you are prompted, click Restart. 7. After the computer starts, start the installation and check whether the problem is resolved. Please check if you are able to install the update, also let us know as to what error message or error code you get during windows updates. Please disable the antivirus software as well. Regards, Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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November 26th, 2010 4:32am

Hi Thanks for your reply. Yes the router is shared by 2 other XP users. They have not experienced my problem, but then XP doesn't highlight internet non connection just network (to the router) connection issues. I can't really say when this started because I have an ADSL2+ service & they can often be a bit "flaky" so have not noticed how long this has been going on for but I noticed the internet connectivity issue a couple of weeks ago. I will carry out the tests on a clean boot as soon as I can. One query you say "Please check if you are able to install the update" sorry don't understand what update are you referring to? Regards
November 26th, 2010 3:20pm

I would like to confirm where does the blue orb for internet connectivity come from. A third party software? If so, check the manufacture's webside and see if they have any update or patch for their software. Meanwhile, you can also test the issue in Safe Mode with networking. While in Safe Mode with networking, you can launch your security software and perform a full disk scan to make sure the system is free of virus. Regards,Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.
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November 29th, 2010 4:53am

Many thanks for your responses. While this issue is not completely resolved it has now reduced greatly. In answer to one of your queries, the "blue orb" I refer to is a Vista related attribute. On the icon for network connection that appears in the notification area, connection to a LAN is just the two screen image showing traffic activity by the lighting of the two screens. If you are connected to an internet connection through your router, Vista shows a very small blue icon which I call an orb. This is what was disappearing. I have uninstalled the Toshiba utility ConfigFree, which didn't make any difference. I then went through all the services in MSconfig & looked at any Microsoft ones that had been disabled. One in particular stood out & that was the one relating to IPV6. Since this has been running again, while the issue is still present it is only occurring at a very much reduced rate (once a day instead of once an hour). I think I can live with this. Once again thanks for your help. Regards
December 7th, 2010 7:03am

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