Belkin wireless NW: internet grinds to halt after 10min

[ruth]

Hello,

New to networking and fooled by promise of easy set up in 3 minutes, please help! Basically just want to use wireless network to share NTL broadband between 2 PCS, not interested in filesharing etc.

I've just set up a Belkin wireless router , F5D6231-4 and belkin wireless USB adaptor, F5D6050. Set up:
A pc (windows ME) is wired to the router.
2nd PC (Dell dimensions XPS T500,windows 2000) has the wireless adaptor.
I used the belkinset up wizard on CD and have not manually configured the router.
internet browser setting on both: internet options /connections/ lan settings: no check marks
Network settings on both: obtain IP address automatically.
This is what it says to do in the manual.
NTL proxy server has not been entered

PROBLEM: Both PCs connect to the internet. I think all hardware is connected properly. However on my wireless PC the internet connection starts off fast but after 5-10 minutes becomes painfully slow and then get 'cannot connect to server' page.
If i then reboot the PC the internet is then fast again even when I connect to the same web pages. It then slows down again and the same thing happens.
Phoned Belkin who said its not a hardware problem but that I should contact Dell and ask them about disabling anything that comes up as the internet runs (sorry for being vague but I don't really understand all this!).
However I have only just installed windows 2000 and at the moment have very little software installed. Not sure if this matters .
Solutions?
Its been suggested that rather than have automatically detect IP adress I should give each PC and the router an IP address.
Its also been suggested that I may have a virus but don't think this is so as only had win 2000 on a week.
If you have any advice please help..I really need this to work.
thanks
Ruth

[gazzababy]

Does your internet connection drop out or is it the wireless that drops out?

[ruth]

it is the internet connection that fails. I still have a signal on the wireless adaptor,

thanks

[Greenstead]

Strange symptoms you have there. There is no normal reason for it.

Does the PC also run slowly after losing the internet connection?

There are some bad virus around recently that cause just this and you can get them as soon as you connect to the internet with no protection. Even my new PC was delivered with a virus on it.

I suggest you do get a virus checker and ensure it is fully up to date. I recommend Norton AV 2004. (~£29).

IF that doesn't clear it come back here.

[ruth]

you're right! Somebody else suggested I had the welchia virus which I checked and I did have.
Its now removed and the network with internet is working fine.

Its amazing as I must have got the virus as soon as I connected it into the internet.

thanks for the post. Its great to get it working after splashing out and spending a week trying to figure out about IP addresses, MAC addresses etc and thinking it was a network problem when afterall it was a virus

cheers!

:D