unable to connect...

[kid funky fried]

I have this really annoying problem and I cannot seem to fix it.
If i sit idle for like 5 min. then try to do something on internet explorer 7
i get this error message saying.."unable to connect to the internet" or "no connection to the internet is available...Please try again". interestingly, if i use firefox i always have a connection. but if i have both ie7 and firefox open i will lose connection if a do nothing for a few minutes. any ideas?

[Cyber Punk]

Hello. Please open Internet Explorer and select, "Tools" and then select "Internet Options".
Now, in the new window, "Internet Options", click on the tab, "Connections".

1. Select the connection you use and then click on "Settings"(present to the right of these set of options.
2. In the next screen, click on Advanced and then uncheck "Disconnect if idle for : xx Minutes"

Hope this works. I'm not cross checking the fix as I type this, so it is subjected to errors.
But this is the basic idea.

[kid funky fried]

i have a dsl connection. i do not see anywhere a seeting for, "disconnect if idle.."