Router keeps disconnecting

[freespace]

Hi everyone,

My old router died after five years, so I bought a new one. A TP-Link TL-R402M. I plugged both my PCs into it, and the internet, and it all works after setting it up with 192.168.1.1.

Only, it randomly disconnects (the system light will either turn off, meaning error, or stay on without flashing, meaning it's initializing something).

It will disconnect at random intervals between 10 to 60-100 minutes. All I need to do is unplug and replug the router and it's working again.

What can I do?

[Uncle Peter]

Quick wins first: have you upgraded the firmware of the router to the latest level? there may be a utility within the router's setup web gui or on the support CD which helps you to do this.

[freespace]

I have actually found and downloaded the latest firmware from the official site. However, the guide says in order to update the firmware, I need to run a TFTP server, and put the file there. I have no idea how to do that (I've run some Google searches, but this is beyond me). I'm running Win 7 64 bit.

[Uncle Peter]

ok it's not too painful really. First of all you will need to install a tftp server on your PC. Solarwinds do a free and safe one.

http://www.solarwinds.com/products/f...tp_server.aspx

Once you have installed it and started the tftp service just copy the firmware binary file into the tftp root directory and point your router at your computer* at the firmware update page.

*You might have to reference your computer by it's IP address