Okay, XP shut down my ethernet card to save power.
Then I kicked XP and told it not to do that again.
Now at random my gateway goes bye-bye...

Assuming this is not a laptop.

Go into Control Panel
Next Power Options
(if you have something else handling power, you'll get a warning about that now and have to feel your way through the rest of this)
In the setting for the type of computer, change it to "Always On"

Also check that your NIC does not have specific software loaded that can be controlled, many have a power option available with them.

Turns comcast was missing with local lines...
It was nothing a my end...