Connected but still getting error

Question

With  a Dell Dimension 8200, (aboutr 4 years old, with Windows XP Professional-Home), we are getting a pop-up in the lower right side in taskbar saying that a 'network connection is unplugged' although our Internet connection is working fine.  The Cat 5 goes from the etehernet connector on the computer directly to the cable modem and the connections are snug and tight.  We unplugged and reconnected the cable just to make sure.  Using either Explorer or Mozilla the connection is connecting at high speed, so we are confused to the pop-up message.  No other pop-ups are showing.  The only recent changes have been uninstalling PC Cillin 2006 Anti-Viris/Anti Spam and installing PC Cillin 2007 Internet Security a few weeeks ago, but then Internet Security 2007 was then ununstalled a week ago because it was causing the Internet to load extremely slow, (over two minutes) to connect to the Internet with both Exoplorer or Mozilla.  Thank you for any help with this strange problem. Message Edited by mongoosmike on 11-28-200601:18 AM Message Edited by mongoosmike on 11-28-200601:28 AM

mongoosmike · Answer

Thanks for the info, but there is only one NIC card, (factory installed by Dell) and there is only one LAC listed.  That's what's strange.. We'll check settings againg though.  Thanks for the info though

fixati0n · Answer

Is it possible that you have a second NIC or Wireless NIC that may be disconnected? If you are able to connect I doubt the NIC you're using is dropping connection.   Check Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Network Connections -> see how many Local Area Connections there are.   Also check Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager to look for any conflicts with your NIC and another.

jmwills · Answer

Could be a Bluetooth or Wireless but not a Firewire.

mongoosmike · Answer

No, there ia no wireless or Bluetooth on the computer. Dell factory shipped with only one NIC card.. We'll keep plugging away and checking everything. Thanks again for the assistance again.

jmwills · Answer

At this point, I would check the driver for an update, not form Dell but from the manufacturer.  Uninstall and then point back to the new driver.

mongoosmike · Answer

We apologize to everyone and really appreciate all the great help with this problem, and wanted to mention that after we checked Network Connections in Control Panel, we DID find a reference to an additional Network connection, Network Cable unplugged,
which PROMPTED us to look at the computer again a little more closely, and would you believe that we found another NIC card? (AFTER LITERALLY prying a small cover plate
off the back of the computer!)
The computer was brought from a friend, and they do not remember having a second card installed. It was apparently done at Dell possibly as a back up to the original NIC card.

The first one below is the connection that shows (unpluged) and we UN-checked the box in the properties box that says, "alert when a network plug is unplugged".
That seems to have cleard the problem.
Local Area Conection 4
Network Cable (unplugged), Fire
Broadcom NextExtreme Gigabit E

1394 Connection
Connected, Firewalled
1394 Net Adapter

Local Area Connection 5
Connected, Firewalled,
Intel ® Pro/100 VE Network
THANK you very much for all the great help and reccomendations with this.
WE are pasting the paper on the back of the computer so we DON'T make this mistakek again....
AND we will check for any updates for drives as you suggested just to make sure that we (hopefully) don;t have any other problems down the line.
NOW, can work on the problem of trying to find out why PC Cillin won't re-install because of possibly hidden reg files from the previous version.
Thanks again very much for all the help with this....

jmwills · Answer

Yes, looks like someone installed a Gigabit network card but unless you have gigabit switches and cards on other devices, it's underperforming.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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