[etaf]

you can do all in same window and post back all the results together
ipconfig /all
and the three pings

The pings are testing you connections

ping 192.168.0.1
checks the connection from you PC to the Router

Ping Google.com
checks that you can get out onto the internet and see the google server via a Name Lookup feature called DNS (Domain Name Server)


ping 209.191.93.53
this again checks the internet connection but this time to yahoo without using DNS

now when it disconnects
we should find out if

ipconfig /all
you still have a valid IP from the router
if you do

then we can see if you can see the router OK with the ping

next we see if you can get out on the internet and are able to use the DNS

------------

[Samantha_I]

So what would you like me to do now? Im slightly confused ;D

[etaf]

Nothing - you did all the test and got some good results and a reference for the future, when its in a working condition

Just wait for it to fail
and re-do all the tests
ipconfig /all
and the three ping tests

another thing worth noting - the status of the lights on the modem router when its working OK
and compare when it fails

[Samantha_I]

So what exactly am I looking for when I do these tests?

[Samantha_I]

And do these tests speed up the internet connection?

[etaf]

Quite a few things
1) IS the router still connected to the PC - so do you get the same ipconfig /all results

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2

Particularly this address is still 192.168.0.x (x can be any number above 1 - it should stay a 2)
Or has it changed to 169.258.x.x
Or gone altogether
In which case the PC and router are not connected - and we can fault find that

If those results are OK
Then the ping test
If ping 192.168.0.1
produces a timeout - instead of the reply you got earlier then although you are connected by the IP OK you are not communicating - so a firewall or router issue maybe
If that works
Then the other two will tell us if you can get out on the internet
If the name does not work (timeout) , but the number does then it’s a DNS issue, and we may just need to add the DNS to the router settings (I had to do this to my d-link router to get it stable)
If none of them work - then there’s an issue between the router and the ISP - could be modem, could be telephone/cable line

So a process of elimination

[etaf]

And do these tests speed up the internet connection?

No

[Samantha_I]

Originally Posted by etaf

Quite a few things
1) IS the router still connected to the PC - so do you get the same ipconfig /all results

I should have mentioned that my internet is wireless. The router is downstairs and my PC is upstairs so the ethernet cable cannot be connected to my PC.

[Samantha_I]

(Should I mark this thread as solved?)

[etaf]

I meant connected by the wireless - not physically , and we can test that connection with the ipconfig /all and pings

and only mark solved once the disconnects all stop and we have fixed the issue

is this problem you first posted now solved ?

[Samantha_I]

Not really. It works well for a while and then my browers take ages to load (I use Mozilla 3.5.5). I disable all add ons and then restart Mozilla but most times, it works best when I reboot (but I dont want to keep doing that everytime it disconnects). I also go to Run > ncpa.cpl and "Repair this connection". When I hover over the computer icon (bottom right hand corner of the screen), it shows the signal strength is excellend but I cant open any internet pages.

[Samantha_I]

I also thought that maybe my wireless adapter needed updating but I cant find any driver updates on the 2wire website.

[etaf]

As soon as it disconnects I want you to run the tests and save the results - and when reconnected post them here - so we can see the results

It may be a virus or malware - which those tests will also help with - since if you are disconnected with a browser - but all the ping tests produce the same results as the 1st time - then you are still connected

BUT we need to see the results first

[etaf]

also thought that maybe my wireless adapter needed updating but I cant find any driver updates on the 2wire website.

possibly - lets see the results first

[Samantha_I]

Will do

I really appreciate your help.