Windows 7 and loss of Internet connection

Anonymous
2009-10-30T23:58:23+00:00

In our home office we have a desktop system running Windows 7 as well as an iMac.  Both are connected to Apple's Time Capsule, which serves as a router as well as a backup hard drive for the iMac. (our Internet connection is cable-Internet, by the way.)

Ever since upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7, the Windows 7 desktop is encountering frequent Internet connection errors.  It generally loses the Internet connection several times per day.

Today is the worst manifestation we have seen thus far (since upgrading to Windows 7 last week).  We generally only have an Internet connection for about 2-3 minutes, then it is lost and must be repaired.

We go into Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Troubleshoot Problems > Internet Connections

We allow Windows 7 to automatically diagnose and repair the problem.

Each and every time it goes through the steps of diagnosing and repairing, it ends up "resetting the local area connection adapter."

At the end of the process -- after everything has been repaired -- we get the following report:

"Default gateway is not available - fixed."

What steps do we need to take to permanently solve this problem?

By the way, the iMac is NOT experiencing any Internet connection problems whatsoever.

Thanks in advance!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2009-11-09T19:53:05+00:00

I don't know what you are using to assign addresses, so I am assuming it is a router of some sort. You will need to go to the manufacturers site, look at the manual and find out how to limit the DHCP address scope. I changed mine to limit the assigning of DHCP addresses to 192.168.1.200 through 192.168.1.250. Your router may use the 10. subnet, so your addresses may be different, depends on the router manufacturer, or if you use a DHCP server, the scope set with the DHCP server. That gives me 50 IP addresses for any guests that may want to use wired or wireless connections, and should be more than enough. This allows me to assign 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.199 to a device and not have to worry about the DHCP server trying to use one that is assigned permanently to a device (Printer, switch, PC, Server, Virtual Server, etc).

Once you have that setup in your router, you will now need to assign a static ip to your PC. This is all done from the network adapter.

From the start menu:

Control Panel

Network and Internet

Network and Sharing Center

On the right hand pane of Network and Sharing Center

Change adapter settings

Double Click your network adapter

Select the "Details" radio button

Write down the following lines:

Connection Specific DNS (May or may not exist, depends on provider)

IPv4 Subnet

IPv4 Default Gateway

IPv4 DNS Servers

Once you have written those down, you can close that box.

You should be back at the "Local Area Connection Status" box.

Choose the "Properties" radio button.

Select the "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)", which will be in a blue box when selected. 

Now select the "Properties" radio button

The "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties" box should have popped up. If so:

Select the following:

"Use the following IP address"

In the IP address box, enter an IP address. Example: 192.168.1.20

Press the tab, the subnet should fill in automatically, if not, enter the value from "IPv4 Subnet" you wrote down from the above step. Examp,e: 255.255.255.0

In the dafult gateway, enter the value from the steps above. Example: 192.168.1.254

Now to move on to the next 2 boxes, DNS Servers. You may have only 1 DNS server entry from the DNS entry you wrote down from above.

Enter the DNS servers you notes above.

If there was "Connection Specific DNS" entry or entries, do the following (If not skip the "Connection Specific DNS" sections:

Select the "Advanced" radio button.

The "Additional TCP/IP Settings" windows should open

Select the "DNS" tab

If there is more than 1 "Connection Specific DNS" entry, do the following:

Select the "Append DNS suffixes (in order):"

Select "Add..."

In the "Domain suffix", enter the first Connection Specific DNS entry.

Select the "Add" radio button.

Add all the DNS Specific suffixes you wrote down. You can only enter one at a time.

When finished sleect the "OK" radio button

If you only have 1 entry in "Connection Specific DNS":

In the box labeled "DNS suffix for this connection", type in the entry you noted above for the "Connection Specific DNS".

When finished sleect the "OK" radio button

Check the "validate settings upon exit" box.

Select the "OK" radio button.

Select the "Close" radio button

You should see the 'Windows Network Diagnostics" open, and check for any problems. Hopefully all is well and it states "Troubleshooting could not identify the problem", and choose "Close the Troubleshooter".

Close any additional boxes or pop-ups that are open, and check and make sure allis connecting. If not, go back and verify any steps. the most common are the IP addresses and gateways.

Good luck. Post back if it resolves the issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-02-08T22:33:15+00:00

    many are posting about LOSING their connection and fixing it with win update, I can not GET a connection to lose, so I cannot download any updates!!! What pray tell are the rest of us supposed to do?

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-02-09T05:14:16+00:00

    I bought a new compaq laptop about 5 days ago, and i've had problems with internet connection and windows 7.

    I finally found teh answer, and now i have no problems with my internet.

    If you have a linksys router(mine is wrt110) is not fully compatible with windows 7.

    All you have to do is: open network and sharing,click change adapter settings, click on the connection you are using,hit properties an unclick TCp/IPv6 and problem solved, at least for me anyway.

    Hope it helps

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-02-09T05:32:10+00:00

    Hi all!

    The majority of connection problems within Windows 7 have been solved by installing the latest driver for the network adapter obtained from the manufacturer. Try to download Windows 7 compatible drivers if the manufacturer provides them. If not, try Windows Vista drivers and contact your OEM for any update on the driver.

    Make use of the Compatibility Center to see if your hardware is compatible or requires a download:

    Check compatibility for thousands of devices and software, get downloads, and leave feedback

    For U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7

    • 5,000 software programs and 10,000 devices listed at launch and growing
    • Check compatibility for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7
    • Easily find products that have earned the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo
    • Download drivers and software updates from partner websites
    • Vote and leave feedback on compatibility
    • Read the FAQ's

    Once you've checked that your hardware is compatible with Windows 7 and you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer, test the connection. If you're still having issues, try the connection in Safe Mode with Networking:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode

    If the connection is working in Safe Mode with Networking, it is likely a startup item or service. To determine what process/service is causing the issue, preform a clean boot:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

    Since this thread is considered Answered, I would recommend creating your own thread so the community can best focus on your specific network configuration and issue. To do this, you can click the Ask a question button found at the top of most pages or click here. Be sure to include the steps you took to resolve the issue and the type of hardware you are using.

    Hope some of this helps! Thanks for using Microsoft Answers!


    Cody C

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-09T12:05:15+00:00

    Hi all!

    The majority of connection problems within Windows 7 have been solved by installing the latest driver for the network adapter obtained from the manufacturer . Try to download Windows 7 compatible drivers if the manufacturer provides them. If not, try Windows Vista drivers and contact your OEM for any update on the driver.

    Make use of the Compatibility Center to see if your hardware is compatible or requires a download:

    Check compatibility for thousands of devices and software, get downloads, and leave feedback

    For U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7

    • 5,000 software programs and 10,000 devices listed at launch and growing
    • Check compatibility for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7
    • Easily find products that have earned the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo
    • Download drivers and software updates from partner websites
    • Vote and leave feedback on compatibility
    • Read the FAQ's

    Once you've checked that your hardware is compatible with Windows 7 and you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer, test the connection. If you're still having issues, try the connection in Safe Mode with Networking:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode

    If the connection is working in Safe Mode with Networking, it is likely a startup item or service. To determine what process/service is causing the issue, preform a clean boot:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

    Since this thread is considered Answered, I would recommend creating your own thread so the community can best focus on your specific network configuration and issue. To do this, you can click the Ask a question  button found at the top of most pages or click here . Be sure to include the steps you took to resolve the issue and the type of hardware you are using.

    Hope some of this helps! Thanks for using Microsoft Answers!


    Cody C

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    How can you say the matter is solved? Did you really read through this thread? Upgrade to latests drivers apparently does not solve the issue. If anybody on this thread has solved the issue by applying all the Microsoft suggestions, please be so kind and let us know.

    In my case I " solved"  my problem  by moving my PC next to the WLAN   router. Before the signal went through 3 walls 20 yards away and connected through a repeater without a hitch when using the original Vista Home OS. When upgrading to Windows 7, I lost my WLAN connection in the distant location. This must tell you something? If you could pinpoint the problem for me and the other users rather than suggesting all the general fix arounds most of us probably already tried without success, please be so kind and enlighten us.

    Apart form this I am delighted with Windows 7 here in Germany. Really the best software around (I am not using Apple or Linux ;-) I know that you guys are working very hard and under constant pressure against deadlines but, please, do not rile us by claiming all the issues are solved, unless users here can confirm that they REALLY are solved for them. Any positive responses from this forum?

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