# Question about DSL connection -- why must I restart computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dsl-connection-why-must-i-restart-computer/264332 "2004-09-13T23:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dsl-connection-why-must-i-restart-computer/264332/1 "2004-09-13T23:47:45Z")
I recently moved, and signed up for DSL service from SBC at my new address. I have found that if I leave the computer unattended for more than an hour or so, I can no longer access the internet when I return to the computer. If I try to load a web page, it says “resolving [xyz.com](http://xyz.com)…” for a while, and then says the host cannot be found. Other applications (i.e., other than web browsers) appear similarly unable to access the internet. The problem is always corrected if I restart the computer. However, I’ve been unable to re-connect to the internet any other way. I’ve tried turning off the DSL modem for a few minutes, or physically disconnecting the modem from the computer and then re-connecting it, but neither of those steps seems to have any effect. At my prior home, I had DSL service through another provider (Verizon) and never had this problem. Does anyone know what might be causing this? And if so, is there any way to re-establish internet access without restarting the computer? I’m running Windows XP home, if that makes any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dsl-connection-why-must-i-restart-computer/264332/2 "2004-09-14T00:20:36Z")
Check your network card settings (I’m assuming you’re connecting to a DSL router or modem by ethernet rather than USB) Open the Device Manager (right-click the ‘My Computer’ icon, then select Properties/Hardware/Device Manager Locate and expand the Network Adapters category Identify your network card, right-click it and select Properties/Power Management Uncheck the box that says ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ Might not even be an available setting on your NIC and might not solve your problem (and if it does, won’t go any way toward explaining why the problem happened here and not at the other place), but worth a try anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dsl-connection-why-must-i-restart-computer/264332/3 "2004-09-14T00:49:31Z")
Click “Start” then “Run” and in the "Open: " entry area type “ipconfig /renew” then hit OK. Wait a few seconds and give it a whirl… ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dsl-connection-why-must-i-restart-computer/264332/4 "2004-09-14T03:35:07Z")
On the screen after you put in the keycode for your gateway, there’s a tiny “register” link. Very small and hard to miss, and if the tech support people even mention it, they’ll say to ignore it. **CLICK THAT LINK** and fill out the registration info. Then it should work. We had the same problem when we hooked up our SBC DSL. Called tech support six times, and finally figured it out on our own. At one point we had an actual technician, not just a customer service drone, and _he_ was completely flummoxed by it. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-dsl-connection-why-must-i-restart-computer/264332/5 "2004-09-15T12:48:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Uncheck the box that says ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ Thanks, Mangetout. That seems to have solved the problem.