Cable Connection Disconnecting Problem

This is on my home computer which many of you think I don't have.       

I'm constantly losing the connection.   This is not supposed to happen.  

Anybody got any ideas about what might be causing this?   

I have a feeling it's because of too many users on the network I'm on but the cable company doesn't want to admit to that it seems.   

Any viruses that I could search for on my computer files that cause this?     

Many times I have done this and do it.     The problem eventually returns in a few minutes usually.       I've had this problem for a long time.   

I've done that a few times too.   

I've had technicians at my place and they always say the connection coming into the wall is strong.    They say it's something on my computer causing it but they don't know what it is.   

It is a pretty old computer.   You think that's what's causing it?   

Why is that?        The old motherboards don't work with todays connections or something?       It's a Pentium 4.   

I have automatic Windows Updates set up.     I was thinking about getting a brand new ethernet card.   You think that might help?  They are only 20-30 bucks I think.  

Grey

It most definitely sounds like an ethernet connection problem causing this issue if you have done all things listed above. It could be as simple as a port issue. Easiest way to determine is to hook your computer up in a different location to troubleshoot.

If it works at that location than it is not your computer, but rather the connectivity you have. That could be the router/modem and or cables. If all the cables have been replaced then you would have isolated it to the router modem. Does the light on your modem go out when it disconnects?

Aare you running a static/dynamic IP. This could also be a common problem if your IP address is conflicting with another one.

If all else fails change everything to DHCP.

The cable light doesn't go out, but the I the Recieve light does nothing when I'm disconnected. 

One of the ways I've been trying to combat this is by running some live streaming video on one of my browser tabs , like a radio station for example, just so I don't have any long pauses where I'm reading something or doing something.    Because it seems like if I don't click on something for awhile then I lose the connection.   The technician called it "dropping off the network".

I think that works a little bit.    

Not sure about the static/dynamic IP thing.   Gonna have to do some research but I think it's static.    Seems to be the same address everytime I look at the ethernet card properties.

I just checked the connection status and it says,

Address Type:        Address assigned by DHCP

There's a place in my ethernet card configuration for a "Network Address" which is blank right now.       If I put either the default IP address or the address that was assigned to me in there does anybody think that would help?      

Grey

Yes. Put it in there. Call the cable company and be sure to get all the congigurations including the gateway.

Keep in mind that if your set up as DHCP they still can change addresses after a while. The cable provider wants you to have a DHCP, but in reality I have seen this cause problems before. Even though your IP address is technically behind that router the router also has specifications that communicates to the ISP. Each will have its own configuration and right now this could be conflicting. Do you have a modem and a router and are their other computers hooked up to the router/modem or is your computer isolated alone. 

I don't have a router.   I just have a cable modem.   And the computer is isolated.

Should I put the default address in there or the regular IP address?  Because they are different.    

shut up  , it's a tough economy 

And they move the thread to No Man's Land.    

That's great.   I got a real chance of getting this fixed now.