I have two computers sitting beside each other, one sees the network perfectly. I can switch cables and this one just links back up again.

The one beside it has XP and Win 7 on it. I can prove the hardware works, I reinstall win 7 and the network comes up. Then within a few hours it loses it again - for apparently no reason I can as yet find. Of course Windows doesnt exactly give you much in the way of detail on this.

Ive proded it, deleted drivers and reinstalled them, which usually works eventually, but to no avail. Any ideas?

Network link is via a Wi-Fi print server but a Wi-Fi dongle has the same issue. Windows claims its sending packets but not getting any back.

Bin Windows, install Ubuntu.

Solved.

Are you saying that you have a dual boot machine and the network drops out in both OSes ? Or you have a dual boot machine and the network ONLY drops out in Windows7 ?

Quote from: NimrodAre you saying that you have a dual boot machine and the network drops out in both

This, although why I have no idea. At the moment its up in 7 but not in XP, even when I use a known good backup.

Id have to put my money on a faulty NIC.
If its happening in both OSes but very randomly, its either going to be the NIC or the Port/Switch that the NIC is connected to.

Im suspecting it might be another network out there going on the same channel, probably at the extreme range of Wifi so I cant easily detect it.

Think I solved this, been leaving the power on and it seems the built in networking barfs itself. Turned off the mains power and it worked again :/ *

*Conceivably might still be something else