PC looses connection to the internet at times

[auutumn]

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?

 

[Ian]

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.

 

[auutumn]

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 Address

Initiator Port

Responder IP Address

Responder Port

Transport Protocol

Time

Blocking Reason

192.168.0.10

49985

66.152.92.92

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:24

NO SESSION DEFENSE

208.71.193.9

80

65.96.224.99

50562

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:25

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50070

64.215.158.18

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:28

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50035

209.62.187.42

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:28

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50028

98.137.80.32

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:29

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50014

66.152.92.199

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:34

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50017

66.152.92.199

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:36

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50015

66.152.92.199

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:36

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50007

66.152.92.199

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:37

NO SESSION DEFENSE

192.168.0.10

50016

66.152.92.199

80

TCP

2009-11-07 12:39:37

NO SESSION DEFENSE

 

[Ian]

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?

 

[auutumn]

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.

 

[davehc]

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)

 

[auutumn]

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"?

 

[davehc]

That's the one

 

[Ian]

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.

 

[auutumn]

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?

 

[davehc]

Do you have the "Hibernate" function in use?

I know, theoretically, that this should not be an issue unless the computer is actually in hibernation, but, I recently had the same problem on one of my laptops. I tried many different options. It eventually occurred to me that the problem had started after staring to experiment with the hibernate facility. I turned it off and the problem was solved. But I am not optimistic in your case. I think this was Bios related, which would vary computer to computer.
Fwiw. The message for the Lan is not associated with this problem.Do you actually have a LAN? It seems that the computer is loking for a second connection. Look in the device manager at the network adapters and see what you have there.

 

[auutumn]

Hibernate is turned off as far as I can tell. I went to Power Options - advanced Setttings - Sleep - Hibernate after - Setting: Never.

Is there another way to check?

I'm not on a LAN, I just have my own PC. When I installed Windows, I let it setup a Homegroup.

I attached two screen shots of my Network from the Advanced and Driver tabs, in case this might help. Maybe one of the settings on the Advanced tab could be changed. I