Browser doesn't connect

[drhathaway]

After a few minutes, my web browser doesn't link to any pages. I get the "Page Will Not Display." I remain connected to the LAN (the icon is still there) and no one else experiences this.

Once I restart my machine I get web access again but after a few clicks (or minutes), I lose the internet again.

What's up? This is so frustrating.

[redwench]

a few possibilities:
router/hub isnt forwarding data packets or its just malfunctioning
windows is borked
your browser is borked
modem doesnt work correctly
lan connection is malfunctioning

[drhathaway]

I don't believe it's the LAN or the connection. I've plugged my machine into different areas in our office and I run into the same problem.

The only way I can get back on the web is if I restart my machine. I've run anti-virus and spyware stuff but it hasn't really helped.

[redwench]

if youre not the administrator, youll probably need his/her help to do this.

run windows update, scandisk, and defrag, and redownload a fresh copy of all drivers and a second browser, like firefox. put the install files on a flash drive or burn them, you might need them again later.
install the above, and take a tour of the intraweb, using new browser. if its fixed, youve narrowed down the problem to ie or corrupted files. if its not, youll need to do a bit more detailed trouble shooting.

[drhathaway]

I have tried Mozilla as another browser but came up with the same result. I ran Spybot and Adaware but am still running into problems. Further steps?

Also, thanks for helping me out.

[redwench]

replace the lan card. you sound like youre on a large enough network there should be a spare around. put it into a different pci slot. now, how does your lan assign internal ips? is it permanent or temporary for each user? if its permanent, have the admin set the router to allow anything and everything through to your ip, both directions. also check the firewall on your computer for the same. if you can hook up that computer to the internet without going through the router (admin can test at night when no one needs access), that will certainly be helpful.

if a different card or bypassing the router doesnt help, a repair installation of the OS is probably a good idea. its strongly recommended you do a full backup first, although its usually unnecessary.

[drhathaway]

I think I'm going to do as you suggested and reinstall the OS.

Is there a way for me to get my computer back to the same basic setup as it did when I first pulled it out of the box?

I recently reinstalled WinXP but my internet still acts up.

[redwench]

a format and reinstall will give you a clean install. if after updating xp, you still have problems, its in the hardware, the network itself, or theres a compatability problem.

[drhathaway]

Alright. So I'm back to normal after reloading XP all over again. Thanks for the help.

However, a new issue came up. I brought my laptop home from work and connected a Linksys Wireless USB Network adapter. After loading the drivers it works fine but when I restart my computer, I can connect to my wireless hub but I don't have internet access again.

I bring up the C: prompt and do the "ipconfig /renew" but the operation fails and I get a "timeout contact network administrator."

I do know that when installed the software for the adapter XP gives me this message "not Windows approved. . .may cause conflict. . .Continue with installation?" And there aren't any newer drivers on the Linksys web page.

Do you know what might be happening?