[Taksraven]

When I try to download large files on my browsers (any file that takes more than a few seconds to load), my computer "loses" its link to the internet. The download stops, I can't browse anymore and I lose my Skype connection.

This happens on a totally random basis and can occur at any point during a download and some downloads work normally at some times. It only used to happen when I was attempting to download using Firefox or IE, and I was able to use the Opera browser as a workaround because files always downloaded normally when I was using that.

BUT, I recently changed to a different account with my ISP and now Opera is experiencing the same problems. I can "reconnect" my internet by going to my Local Area Connection icon in my network connections folder, disabling it (it still says that it is enabled before I do this) and then enabling it again. Then the internet starts to work again.

My computer is hooked up to a wireless router and the laptop I have remains connected to the internet when my PC loses the connection. (This indicates to me that the internet is functioning properly) The same things occurs with my firewall up and down.

This was happening when I had my D-Link 302G modem hooked up to the computer so I switched over to a Belkin high speed ADL2+ modem and I am experiencing exactly the same problem. I am running Windows XP. The problem also occurs if I have the modem running straight into the PC with the wireless router removed.

Has anybody got any ideas on how to solve this? Any help would be appreciated.