The Hindu Business Line : Trouble staying connected to the Net

My system recently developed Internet connection problems. I was told that an overloaded PC could be the cause of this problem. But after I reloaded the system — I switched from Windows 98 to Windows Me — the problem persisted. Many of my files were also permanently deleted. I don't have the Internet connected even for 2 or 3 minutes. I have made a complaint to BSNL, my Internet Service Provider. I have also checked my telephone lines and modem. Everything seems to be okay. I also have a Norton anti-virus software installed in my system. What could be causing this problem? Please suggest a solution.

Rasheed

Very often, a Net disconnection problem is related to hardware issues. It is an IRQ-related problem too. Perhaps, your modem shares an IRQ with another hardware device in your system, which might cause problems. You can think about the IRQ as a hardware ID using which a hardware, to which it is assigned, talks to the CPU to get its work done. If you have installed any new hardware recently, please try removing it and check if this solves your problem. Next you will need to change the IRQ of your modem. You can do it in the CMOS or in the OS. If your modem is an add-on card, then the simplest way is to just pull your card and plug it into another free PCI slot. If you have any unused hardware such as an "Ethernet LAN" card, which you never use, please disable it. And, finally, if you have call-waiting enabled, disable it. You can do it in the properties of the modem.

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Solution by G. Rajah

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