My internet connection repeatedly stops responding for about 2–3 seconds, then comes back. It happens several times a day and is especially frustrating during games, but it also affects the entire computer rather than just one game. The issue occurs both over Wi‑Fi and when I connect Ethernet through a Wi‑Fi repeater. My wireless setup worked normally for years, and this problem only started a few months ago, so I'm wondering whether the repeater, router, network adapter, drivers, or something inside the PC could be responsible. What should I check to find and fix the cause?
3 Answers
First determine whether the problem is limited to this computer. During a dropout, check another device connected directly to the main router. If everything loses access, investigate the router, modem, ISP connection, or interference. If only this PC is affected, update or reinstall its network adapter drivers, disable power-saving for the adapter, and test with another adapter or a direct Ethernet cable to the main router. Also run continuous pings to both your router and an external address: if the router stops responding, the local network or adapter is the issue; if only the external address fails, the modem or ISP may be responsible.
Because it happens across the whole system, start by logging the failures instead of guessing. Open one command prompt and ping your router’s local address continuously, then open another and ping a reliable public address. Note the exact time of each timeout. Check Event Viewer around those times for network-adapter resets, and look for recent driver, Windows, router, or security-software changes. Hardware problems are possible, but testing another adapter and bypassing the repeater will usually identify the cause faster than replacing the motherboard or CPU.
The repeater is a strong suspect. Many basic repeaters use the same wireless channel to receive data from the router and send it to your device, which adds latency and can cause brief dropouts. Try testing with the repeater completely disconnected and connect directly to the main router, or use a proper wired connection from the router. If you need better wireless coverage, a mesh system or a wired access point is usually more reliable.
That makes sense, but the same dropouts happen when this PC connects directly over Wi‑Fi too. The setup worked for years and the problem only began recently, so I’m also wondering whether the PC’s network adapter or drivers could be failing.