netwrk cable unplugged....losing internet connection

[tdsteve2000]

Heres my problem:

I use roadrunner via an external toshiba 2200 cable modem connected to a usb port. When my PC sits idle for 15+ minutes and I try to open my browser, I get a "google.com could not be found" error, and if I try to access email I get a connection error also. Theres almost always a "network cable is unplugged" icon in my system tray, and I cant figure out how to fix it. If I disable the network connection it doesnt get my internet connection back. I have to reboot to get online. Heres a screenshot of my network connections folder



Any help on what I can do to get rid of theis problem??? Its annoying because I can be online, then logoff, and 15+ minutes later I cant get on unless I reboot. Im using norton personal firewall, but the problem was there before I installed it. The XP firewall is disabled, and I dont know much about network connections or how to configure them. Any help is appreciated.

[tdsteve2000]

Ok I just noticed in device manager that my cable modem is listed TWICE....once in network adapters and once in USB controllers:



Is this how its supposed to be?? if not, how do I fix it???

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Play_The_0dds]

i ran across several computers last year with the same problem, i found that if i just hooked the network cable from the cable box to the nic card, left the usb connection out and removed the modem from the system it worked perfect.