Computer disconnects from network after about 15 minutes

[The Real Bingo]

OK, so here is the deal. I have a wired and a wireless network. My main computer is wired to the router, and the router is wired to a modem provided by Time Warner. The router runs to the wall through a coax line. I'm on Windows Vista.

The wireless network is working perfectly.

The wired part of the network is not and I am at my wit's end here trying to figure it out. I thought it could be the router ports but the internet does work for the first 15 minutes of first starting up the computer. Then it's as if dynamic IP switches and the computer can keep up with it.

We did have a power outage the other day and perhaps that screwed my settings? I'm also thinking my onboard network card may be faulty.

I looked at DHCP and it is enabled. I hate networking, so I don't really know what else to check.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Much thanks.

[Steve R Jones]

Does the pc disconnect while you're using it or after it sits idle?

Did the problem start "after" the power outage?

It would hurt to reinstall the drivers to the nic...or replace the nic for under 20 bucks.

[The Real Bingo]

No, it'll disconnect as I'm using it. I can't recall exactly when it started, but the power outage and the problems seemed to coincide with each other. I was online and actively using the computer when the power suddenly shut off...and it was only for a few seconds. May have even been a surge for all I know, but I didn't notice the lights get bright or anything like that.

I will probably end up getting an NIC and go from there. Thanks Steve.

[Bizkitkid2001]

How about any brown outs though? Those can cause more damage than a surge.

I would try replacing hardware if you have any spares. I had a bridge that started to go flaking after a thunderstorm and several brown outs. The ports would randomly work, causing anything hooked up to it to connect and disconnect from the network constantly. I ended up replacing the bridge and the problems went away.

I would check the router first. Try doing a factory reset. If damage to the NIC occurred from the storm, then other things in the computer should have been damaged as well.

EDIT: Does the computer stay connected to the local network and just lose internet, or does it get completely disconnected from the network?

[The Real Bingo]

It goes completely off the network. And when I try to wire the laptop into the router, it does not pick up a connection either, which is why I thought it was the router at first. But the wireless works perfectly. It doesn't make any sense to me. I shut the computer off and unplugged it for a few hours and it's been working fine now for about 10 minutes. I will wait to see if it conks out again, and if it does, will do a factory reset on the router.

[The Real Bingo]

All right. It conked out again. Tried to hook up my roommate's laptop and that was a no go. Did a factory reset and still a no go. Wireless working flawlessly again. Directly hooking up to Time Warner's modem is a no go, too, which is odd. I don't know whether it's the router or the modem, but I have to think it's the router because if it was the modem, then the wireless shouldn't work. Right?

[The Real Bingo]

Ok, so technical support from Time Warner helped me. Got me to unplug the ethernet cables in a certain manner and turn off the router and plug the cables into my laptop and to turn the router back on and now it's working on the laptop, so I'm back to thinking it's my desktop's NIC. I'm back and forth constantly. Now if the laptop disconnects in 15-20 minutes, then I know it's not my computer. So I'm gonna wait...

I hate networking.