| "I am using XP home with a cable modem connection, | | | | erroneously shutting down ALL network connections. |
| and quite often using while online, I get the error of | | | | You may even have told the firewall to do this without |
| can't find the server. I just lose my internet connection, | | | | meaning to. |
| and it says my TCP/IP needs resetting. How do I do | | | | Open your firewall's configuration screen and check to |
| that and what causes the internet dropout?" | | | | see what programs are being blocked from |
| There are several possible reasons why your Internet | | | | connecting to the Internet. If nothing obvious appears to |
| connection might suddenly stop working. If you were | | | | be erroneously blocked, try shutting down or uninstalling |
| on dialup, the most likely scenario would be noise on | | | | the firewall software, then reboot and see if the |
| the phone line, but since you have a high-speed cable | | | | problem persists. If that fixes the problem, consider |
| connection, we can rule that out. | | | | ditching the software-based firewall, especially if you |
| In a recent Ask Bob Rankin article Do Computers Get | | | | have a router between your computer and the cable |
| Tired? I addressed the subject of electronic devices | | | | modem. Routers have hardware-based firewalls built |
| that fail at random times, and gave some scientific | | | | in, which makes firewall software superfluous for most |
| basis for occasionally turning the device off and then | | | | users. |
| back on. I have a cable modem as well, and have | | | | To uninstall the firewall software, click on the Start |
| found that sometimes a slow or dropped Internet | | | | button, open Control Panel, then Add/Remove |
| connection is restored simply by unplugging the cable | | | | Programs. Find the firewall in the list and click the |
| modem, waiting 30 seconds and powering it back on. | | | | Remove button. Note that your firewall may be |
| Not pretty, but it works. If the problem is happening | | | | bundled with an anti-virus of internet security package. |
| every day, though, it might be better to replace the | | | | If that's the case, click on that package (ex: eTrust |
| modem. | | | | EZ-Armor or Norton Internet Security), and make sure |
| There could also be a software-related issue which is | | | | you select ONLY the firewall for removal, leaving the |
| causing your Internet connection to fail. If you have | | | | anti-virus protection in place. |
| other computers on a home network, and they have | | | | If none of those things helps, report the problem to |
| no trouble getting online, then I'd cast a wary glance in | | | | your Internet provider. If the problem has something to |
| the direction of your firewall. Firewalls are designed to | | | | do with your modem or the cabling in your |
| block certain Internet connections, so it's entirely | | | | neighboorhood, it might be affecting your neighbors as |
| possible that a bug in the firewall software is | | | | well. |