Strange home networking issue

[Guinness]

our network set up is: wireless router connected to a cable modem. Everything has been working fine, no problems at all. My wife recently started a new job, and on Saturday she fired up her laptop (well, netbook), and we got her onto our home wireless network. About 20 minutes later, our router lost connection to the cable modem, and nothing I did would restore it (full disclosure, I have 15 years IT experience in servers and applications, and while not a hands on networking person, I know a lot about networks ). Finally, I decided that since the router was over a year old, and was cheap anyway, it probably just gave up the ghost.
So Sunday I bought a new router, and it wouldn't connect to the cable modem either. Finally, after phone calls to Belkin and Comcast, each saying it wasn't their problem, I performed some sort of magic with reboots in a certain order,a long with, I suppose, proper acquiescence to the ethernet gods, the router saw the modem. Happy days. My laptop connected. Our daughter's connected. So I went to my wife's netbook, and it connected. 10 minutes later, the router lost connection to the modem. Luckily I was able to restore it, but for the life of me I can't figure out how that netbook was able to shut down my router. Anyone have any ideas?

[HudsonHawk]

our network set up is: wireless router connected to a cable modem. Everything has been working fine, no problems at all. My wife recently started a new job, and on Saturday she fired up her laptop (well, netbook), and we got her onto our home wireless network. About 20 minutes later, our router lost connection to the cable modem, and nothing I did would restore it (full disclosure, I have 15 years IT experience in servers and applications, and while not a hands on networking person, I know a lot about networks ). Finally, I decided that since the router was over a year old, and was cheap anyway, it probably just gave up the ghost.
So Sunday I bought a new router, and it wouldn't connect to the cable modem either. Finally, after phone calls to Belkin and Comcast, each saying it wasn't their problem, I performed some sort of magic with reboots in a certain order,a long with, I suppose, proper acquiescence to the ethernet gods, the router saw the modem. Happy days. My laptop connected. Our daughter's connected. So I went to my wife's netbook, and it connected. 10 minutes later, the router lost connection to the modem. Luckily I was able to restore it, but for the life of me I can't figure out how that netbook was able to shut down my router. Anyone have any ideas?

Your wife is in league with Lucifer.

[Guinness]

Your wife is in league with Lucifer.

I sort of thought that was a given...Well, she would at least qualify as a force of nature, although I'm not sure if that would damage my network.

[homer]

Have you checked for virus/malware on her netbook?

[Lurch]

I'd look for duplicate IPs

[Outlawscotty]

It would warn on the client side.  Duplicate MAC addresses maybe.  Do you remember the networking geniuses that were Boca?

[Gizzmonic]

Disconnect from the Internet and just see if you can connect from the netbook to one of your other computers using the router (turn on file sharing).  If you can send a large file over the wireless from one computer to the other, it's probably the cable modem and the fact that it's manifesting at the same time is a coincidence.  If there's too much signal coming through the cable pipe, it can sometimes disrupt ethernet communications...if it's powerful enough, it can even fry delicate electronic equipment.

I know that's a wild-ass suggestion, but I just don't see how the Netbook could kick everything off the network, even if it is possessed by malware.

[Outlawscotty]

Better yet, two DHCP servers.

[strosrays]

Pour vodka on the cable modem, then reboot.

[Guinness]

Pour vodka on the cable modem, then reboot.

Oddly enough, that worked.
Well, what worked last night was me going into the config for her office's wireless network, and unchecking the box that said 'Connect even if this network is not broadcasting'.  Everything worked fine for the rest of the night after that.
Maybe it was trying to connect to a network that wasn't there and flooding the router/modem with packets?  Kind of like a DoS?  Who knows, but it works.
Thanks to all for the suggestions.

[Limey]

Your wife is in league with Lucifer.

With complete apologies for the creepiness of this post..


Your wife is in league with Lucifer
Her passion will ride, as the cities fly by
And the tail-lights dissolve, in the coming of night
And the questions in thousands take flight
Your wife is a-miles in the waiting
The eyes that just stare, and the glance at the clock
And the secret that burns, and the pain that grows dark
And it's you once again
Leading me on - leading me down the road
Driving beyond - driving me down the road

Your wife is exceedingly vivid
Red-eyed and fevered with the hum of the miles
Distance and longing, my thoughts do provide
Should I rest for a while at the side
Your wife is cradled in knowing
Eyes in the mirror, still expecting they'll come
Sensing too well when the journey is done
There is no turning back - no
There is no turning back - on the run

Your wife is in league with Lucifer
Oh the freeway, and the coming of night-time
Your wife is in league with Lucifer

[Guinness]

Now that's and odd connection...great song tho, one of his best from his solo years.  I've always loved the guitar in it.