What is wrong with my network connectivity/computer?

Question

Sometimes (not every time) I turn my computer on for the last week I get a message that says "A network cable is unplugged." I have unplugged and replugged all cables and made sure that none of them are bad and they are all plugged in tight and there is nothing wrong with them. I discovered (by accident) that when this happens if I only log out of my XP account and then cut the power to the computer without going through the shutdown process, the next time I turn the computer on the problem is gone, but I know this is hard on my system and don't want to keep doing it that way - I would like to find and resolve the problem. I've been told by various people this could be about 4 different things so I'm looking for help/suggestions from someone with computer knowledge.

Answer 1

Check something for me, go to start>control panel>system>hardware tab>device manager button

Then find your network adaptor, click on the little "+" next to it, and right-click on the newly found device, it should have some long name that won't make sense to you, but as long as its right under the network adaptor section, you'll be find. Right click on it like I said, and select properties. Now if it pulls up 5 tabs, go to the power mangement tab, and check to see if theres any checks in the box next to "Allow the computer to turn this device off if not in use" this feature has caused alot of problems and might be causing yours.

If this doesn't help, repost your question with a deeper discription on the network your connecting to, that lan cable goes into something, that ether goes into something, or it stops right their. SO that device could be the problem causer to. A router or another computer. But this error is pretty typical of a hardware layer problem, so check that setting, then check the device your plugin into, check to make sure IT is doing its job, your computer could be fine.....