connection drops but can still ping

W

Wingreen

New Member
I'm trying to connect an old toshiba laptop to the internet. It runs on Windows98SE but has only 64Mb RAM (I know, its too old really, but I do have a reason). I installed an ethernet card and it now connects to the internet - but just for about 5 minutes, after then I can't use a browser (I've tried Internet Explorer and Opera) - but I can ping places like google.com. If I reboot, it works again, but only for about 5 minutes, then back to same problem. I've checked for Malware (nothing reported). Have I got settings wrong? Could it be a faulty Ethernet card?
I've spent hours trying to sort it out (but not much of a computer expert) and I'm now tearing my hair out! Anyone out there have any ideas please?
 
I think the driver is OK (what would I know though?!) - overheating sounds feasible I suppose but shouldn't a laptop be capable of dealing with it and keeping it cool enough? If it IS overheating, could a different card work? Or is there maybe a way of connecting it so that it doesn't get hot?
 
Do you use any instant messaging programs like yahoo or msn? If so, are you still able to use them? Your problem is just a little weird.

1.Click the Start menu button on the Windows taskbar.
2.Click Run... on this menu.
3.In the text box that appears, type winipcfg and click OK. The "IP Address" field shows the IP address for the default network adapter. The "Adapter Address" field shows the MAC address for this adapter.

Do this when you have internet and when you don't and compare the 2. Are there any differences?
 
Don't think its overheating - when it stopped working (suddenly browser didn't work but could still ping) I quickly re-booted, and it worked again.
I don't use MSN or Yahoo instant messaging. Just visit websites - well, that's the plan (when and if I get it to work for more than 5 minutes)

The IP address stays same for PCI Ethernet Card when browsing working and when browsing not working.
(Does it matter that I can also choose drop down for IP configuration for two other thinhs - PPP Adapter and Microsoft TV/Video connection?)

Not sure its important but, when I installed it couldn't find the telnet.exe file, so I skipped that. Device Manager shows it as working correctly
 
Is there any way I can test the card? I don't really want to go out and buy another and find I have same problem
 
Starting to think its to do with overheating (although it doesn't feel that hot to me). Have discovered that its not the time I'm browsing that leads to losing internet, but time laptop is on. Could that indicate card getting too hot?
 
Could either be the card or the card bus that the card connects to getting too hot. With this machine being that old, I really wouldn't put too much into it and save money for a newer system.
 
I know what you mean, but it seems such a waste. If I could get it to stay connected, it would do just the sort of job I want. Is there something (equipment) that could cool things down? or maybe an "adapter" that would make the card more physically remote (and stop it getting hot)?
 
Not knowing whether its the card or the card bus, I don't know if I would recommend a wireless card or not, and thats if you can find windows 98 drivers for it.
 
Thanks. I've tried a wireless connection and couldn't get that to work - hence the ethernet. Seems that the problem affects the browser, not the connection - because I can ping sites (by name) but IP address in browser doesn't work. Strange that it should work OK for 5 minutes, then need a reboot
 
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