PC looses connection to the internet at times

For a reason I can't understand, when I'm using uTorrent to download a large file, if I later start playing a game like Borderlands or opening other internet programs like IE8 or Skype, my connection will eventually drop.

When I right-click on the Network icon in the taskbar and select "Troubleshoot Problems", this program will reset my network. It almost always says "Default gateway isn't available"; I've seen the message "Local Area Connection 2 doesn't have an IP configuration" but this is rare. Even one time I saw the message "DNS server isn't responding".

I looked on Motorola's site for any driver updates but didn't find any. The specifics of my modem are:

SURFboard SBG900
Software version: SBG900-2.1.15.0-SCM00-NOSH
Hardware version: 3

Is there something I can do to fix this issue?

I'm not familiar with that cable modem - does it double up as a router/firewall device? If so, can you log in to the web admin panel and check the logs. This will rule out that device from being a problem if it looks clean.

The modem does have a built-in firewall, which I've turned off as uTtorrent was having trouble getting through.

I checked the logs and as best as I can figure out, there's been no intrusions. Under the Blocking logs, I see the follow message for different ports, listed below.

No Session Defense


A non-SYN TCP packet has been received, but there is not an associated session. A new session cannot be established either, since this is not a SYN packet, which is expected at the start of a TCP session.

Initiator IP AddressInitiator PortResponder IP AddressResponder PortTransport ProtocolTimeBlocking Reason192.168.0.104998566.152.92.9280TCP2009-11-07 12:39:24NO SESSION DEFENSE208.71.193.98065.96.224.9950562TCP2009-11-07 12:39:25NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105007064.215.158.1880TCP2009-11-07 12:39:28NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.1050035209.62.187.4280TCP2009-11-07 12:39:28NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105002898.137.80.3280TCP2009-11-07 12:39:29NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105001466.152.92.19980TCP2009-11-07 12:39:34NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105001766.152.92.19980TCP2009-11-07 12:39:36NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105001566.152.92.19980TCP2009-11-07 12:39:36NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105000766.152.92.19980TCP2009-11-07 12:39:37NO SESSION DEFENSE192.168.0.105001666.152.92.19980TCP2009-11-07 12:39:37NO SESSION DEFENSE

It's quite hard to decipher that, as there are lots of broken images breaking up the writing (they will work on your end though). Are you able to take a screenshot instead please?

Does the time of the problem correspond to those entries in the log?

I've attached a screen shot of the General and Blocking logs. Yesterday morning I did a hard reset of the modem and later had to reconfigure it to use WEP for my Tivo; that may explain some of the messages. I configured the modem to use Port Forwarding for uTorrent which works. i tried getting the modem's firewall to work and it does for Tivo but not for uTorrent so I totally disabled the firewall.

When I was downloading the file, uTorrent was using UDP 11313 which isn't in the Blocking log. The download completed last night and I could download it again to reproduce the issue if needed.

This may be in a different area, as, like Ian, I am unfamiliar with modems in Windows 7. But. Have you tried right clccking the modem in the Device manager, opening the properties, and looking at the Power management tab. The top option should be empty (disabled)

I tooko a snap shot of the Properties window for my LAN. Are you saying that I should uncheck the first option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"?

That's the one

Thanks for posting the logs I'm out of ideas on this one unfortunately - but I'll keep thinking on it and post back of I have any more thoughts.

So I turned off option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" the other day and tonight, after I was done playing Dragon Age Origins, the connection dropped again.

When I right-clicked on the Network icon in the taskbar and select "Troubleshoot Problems", it fixed the issue and said "Local Area Connection 2 doesn't have an IP configuration".

I know this must be a tough one but any ideas?