# MS XP OS question:  unplugging my laptop from the network

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-xp-os-question-unplugging-my-laptop-from-the-network/358766>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 30, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-xp-os-question-unplugging-my-laptop-from-the-network/358766 "2006-05-30T18:17:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-xp-os-question-unplugging-my-laptop-from-the-network/358766/1 "2006-05-30T18:17:29Z")

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Ok, so I’m assuming that this is an OS problem, but if it’s not, I welcome any enlightment. I have a laptop for work (Dell D600 if anyone cares). Before, when I unplugged it from the network to go to a meeting or a more private room, I would simply plug back in my network connection and I connected. However, now, if I unplug from the network for even a second, and replug my machine, the computer thinks I’m off line. How do I fix this? I hate rebooting everytime I unplug. It is so annoying and it take 11 mins to fully boot. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-xp-os-question-unplugging-my-laptop-from-the-network/358766/2 "2006-05-30T21:33:48Z")

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It should do it automatically, but you can prompt it by selecting “repair network connection” from the network’s status window.