Disconnected Network between XP/Windows7

We have a network drive for shared files set up on a Windows 7 desktop in our offices. I'm on a Windows XP (SP3) desktop and connect to it. We have a ubee DDW365 modem and Belkin router. We have wireless turned off and connect through cables plugged into the back of the router.

Every week or so, I get a message the the shared drive is disconnected. We have to restart the Windows 7 desktop and then the connection returns. This sometimes occurs when no one is in the office, and sometimes when I'm in the middle of working on a file. Seems quite random in timing. Oh, and my internet connection does not get lost, just the connection to the shared drive.

I'm looking for ideas on why this is happening and how we can stop it. I'm not terribly techie, so detailed help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

In the Power Settings is the drive set to sleep after a certain amount of time? If it is try clicking Never.

 

Can you tell me how to get to the power settings of a drive so I can check?

 

To save a lot of typing and confusion I posted a link to an easy to follow tutorial. http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/9090/learning-windows-7-manage-power-settings/. Scroll down to the Custom Power Plan heading and follow from there. Hope it helps

 

Thank you so much! I won't be able to access the Windows 7 computer until next Thursday, but I will check it then. I found it on my XP, and it's always on there.

 

The windows 7 was set to always on as well, so that wasn't the problem. Thank you for the suggestion anyway.

 

Is it an external Hard drive or in a computer? Have you tried changing the wires?

 

It's in a desktop computer. Do you mean the cables that connect the computers to the router?

 

And the cables between the drive and the motherboard.

 

We're just a small office with 2 computers so we don't have any extra cables to swap out to see.