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My Internet connection dies if my laptop's on for too long?

This is a weird problem that others may have too: My connection to the Internet (cable) goes dead if I leave my laptop on without using it for some time. The error message says "ARP cache will not clear" when I try to refresh the connection. I have tried it with both a wireless and Local Area Network connection, but both exhibit the same problems. My OS is Windows XP SP2 and I have all manner of security in place. Any help will be appreciated! Tried to read MS help page re:asp but is too nerded for me.

Dave's Answer:

First off, a definition: the ARP (address resolution protocol) cache saves IP addresses for faster loading, ironically enough. Windows supposedly clears the ARP cache automatically every few minutes or so, but if for some reason it doesn't, your ARP cache can fill up and you can then no longer connect. That's what I think is happening in this situation.

Assuming that your network is set up fine - and it sounds like it! - there are a couple of things you could try to sort the problem.

First you need to check if your routing and remote services are disabled (which should be the default setting in XP Home).

To check, go to Start --> Control panel --> Performance and maintenance (skip this if you're in classic view). Now go to: Administrative tools --> Computer management.

Click on Services and applications in the right hand column, and then Services again in the right hand column.

Scroll down the right section of the subsequent window until you find routing and remote services and click to select.

In the middle of the new window that opens select disabled from the drop down menu if it's not selected already. Now just click all the OK buttons necessary to back out of the control panel configuration.

That should work!

If you're still having problems, you could try the following command to tell your computer to delete your ARP cache automatically every five minutes.

First off, open a command prompt by choosing Start --> Run. Now type cmd and click OK.

After the > sign where you see the blinking cursor copy and paste the following command:

SCHTASKS /CREATE /SC MINUTE /MO 5 /TN ARPFLUSH /TR C:\WINNT\system32\netsh\interface\ip\delete\arpcache

Note: this is the command for Windows XP Home edition. If you are using Windows XP Pro you might need to change the "C:\WINNT\system32\" portion of the command to "C:\windows\system32"

If Windows is installed in a drive other than default Drive C: you will need to change the "C" to the letter of the drive in which windows is installed.

Typed it in (or copied and pasted it in) correctly? Good! Now press Enter.

You will be asked for your user login password as a security measure: either enter it, or, if you don't use a login password (which I recommend you do) then just press Enter again to skip this stage.

Hopefully it says SUCCESS after that. Now you can close the command prompt window, and that should have done the trick, at least until the next time you restart your computer.

Good luck to you!

Thanks to Ed Ellis for his expert assistance.

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Comments

I'm having a problem with windows xp. Everytime I use the start button and try to use the run or the search function under start, my machine just sits there. It won't give me a box so I can search for something or run something. help

Posted by: Hilliard H. Wiggins at July 19, 2005 8:31 PM

Hi there,

I have an ARP issue and wondering if anyone could help - It comes up with the standard reply when using the network repair function i.e.

Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following operation could not be completed:
Clearing the ARP cache
For assistance...etc etc

and when I do as suggested:

C:\>netsh interface ip delete arpcache
it comes up Ok,

However when it come to redo the network repair function it still comes up with the above and I fail to connect to get the system to config to the wireless network.

Perhaps there is something here bigger here that I am missing! ie it doesn't recongise that there is a wireless connection. it still thinks that I'm working off line.

cheers,
Mark

Posted by: Mark at September 22, 2006 5:03 AM

When repairing a network connection the "can't clear the ARP cache" bit comes up and ... but If i ignore this I can go on working no prob..
But, would prefer to be able to repair the connection properly.. TNX ... JOhn

Posted by: JOHN ECK at December 16, 2006 1:38 PM

When I follow your instructions...an error message comes up stating that it does not understand "SCHTASKS". As I appreciate you help as it stands...do you happen to have any other suggestions that might be able to try?

Posted by: Charles Donahue at December 30, 2006 8:39 PM

When i ping a machine with a command ping -a it gives me the old computer name of that pc as i had changed the name of the computer how do i refresh cache memory

Posted by: Ansar at May 28, 2007 4:58 AM

Hi,
I'm having a problem with my internet connection too.
After i load some pages in the browser all new pages give me error, the old opened pages are working....same the download in background.
if i give repair to the connection all works fine for another 10-20 internet pages.
During this time my yahoo messenger disconnect from 3 to 3 minutes and singn in automaticly.
If i ping another computer and in the same time i open many internet pages....the browser gives me error but the ping it's ok
I dunno what to do, i scanned my laptop....it's fine...
Teh internet settings are ok
The provider doesn't have any filters, i asked.
PLease, can you help me with some advices?
tY

Posted by: Adi at July 18, 2007 6:49 AM

Trying to follow your fix to flush ARP cache every 5 minutes: The command for "schedule task" is NOT "SCHTASKS" but "SC TASKS".

Posted by: Joerg Menzel at September 13, 2007 4:08 PM

Thanks, my live stream videos were dropping every 1 minute. After disabling the Router and Remote service. It looks like working. Thanks a lot. I hope it continues the same way. A big relief...!!!! :)

Posted by: Raj Doctor at September 14, 2007 10:19 PM

where do I type {c:\>netsh interface ip delete arpcache}???

Posted by: charles at October 28, 2007 10:30 AM

I had the same problem and had tried the above solution. However it didn't solved the internet connection problem.
My own solution is to set my email account to automatically check the mail every 2 minutes and keep the internet connection busy enough so not to drop the line. And it works.

Posted by: guest at November 29, 2007 8:15 PM

run services.msc
shortcut to menu.

Posted by: pk at January 17, 2008 4:04 PM

hey it sounds great but for some reason it does not work, maybe it is the configuration of it this is the laptop of my girlfriend it is a Compaq Evo N800c with Windows XP profesional 2002, it was having the same error about deleting the arp cache, now it does not have it anymore but can not conect to internet it can recognize the internet lan (cable ) but it does not work. Anyone knows what coulb be wrong with the conection?
anyone knows if this laptop have a wireless conection? it seems that it does but it does not show it in anywhere...

Posted by: Zaval at February 5, 2008 7:18 PM

my labtop used to have internet connection throughout my house when it was plugged in, and not plugged in. Then after a while, the interent would only work if it was plugged into an outlet.
Now, it doesn't work at all and the internet works completely well on the other computers. What is wrong with my labtop? does it do this over a certain amount of having it. I have had it for about a year and a half.

Posted by: alex at April 30, 2008 10:50 PM

Hello your problem is easy , just enter in this site http://smart-ip.net/en/tools/speed and check your internet speed. ;)

Posted by: ptgtate at July 28, 2008 12:22 AM

Hi!

I have a problem. I left my HP laptop on last night and this morning when I woke up its off and when I try to turn on nothing happpens. Its just dead. It was connected to a Ac Adapter and quite new (5 months) Does anyone have any idea? Has the ac adapter gone hot and just died? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Posted by: Caslina at September 18, 2008 6:13 PM

Caslina, I would unplug it and pull out the battery (or batteries). Then wait 24 hours. Put the batteries back in. Plug it in, THEN try to restart it.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at September 18, 2008 6:35 PM

Thank you Dave, I will do that...

Posted by: Caslina at September 18, 2008 6:53 PM

yeah i have a problem with my labtop
my internet is wireless it work in my desktop
but in my labtop doesnt its stop 2 days ago

i check everything but still wont work
help me plz

Posted by: richi at November 20, 2008 3:07 PM

i had sorta the same problem. my internett was working fine one day then it quit and when i tried to repair it, it said the arp thing. now after i did the steps above, i cant connect to my wireless connection. please help me!

Posted by: richard at January 8, 2009 1:24 PM

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I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!