Ethernet problem

[psp83]

I have a problem

My pc has been fine lately but suddenly tonight after a hours of browsing the net, my computer decides not to want to work with the net.

Rest of the pc's in the house are fine.

I haven't installed anything for ages..

The problem :-

I can't load anything to do with the net.. its like the ethernet is not connected.. but it is.

Setup :-

PC to switch
Xbox to switch
Laptop to switch

Switch to router.

Xbox works fine online, Laptop works fine online, they are going through the same switch..

I've tried changing the cables around on the switch, everything else works and the pc still doesn't,
Put a new ethernet cable from PC to Switch.. Still no luck,
Rebooted the PC, switch and router,
Done a restore to yesterday.

The router doesn't pick the PC up from the control panel. Even though the PC has an IP address set, the one i tell the router to set it.

Any ideas what is going on?

[Simon]

Have you tried letting the router find the IP by itself, Paul?  Failing that, hopefully one of the techies will be along in a bit.

[Steve]

What is ipconfig /all saying

[psp83]

Have you tried letting the router find the IP by itself, Paul?  Failing that, hopefully one of the techies will be along in a bit.

Yeh, still doesn't work.

Have no idea what could be wrong (except for a failed ethernet/lan card)

[psp83]

What is ipconfig /all saying

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Paul
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell Yukon 88E8001/8003/8010 PCI
Gigabit Ethernet Controller
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-16-EC-D5-BD-8F
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 212.69.36.3
                                            212.69.40.3
        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 26 May 2008 22:39:18
        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 27 May 2008 22:39:18

[Steve]

Not a techie, but that looks like its connected to the router

[psp83]

Not a techie, but that looks like its connected to the router

Yeh its connected to the router.. gets the IP address etc and then refuses to do anything with the net. But the router doesn't show the computer is connected to it.

[Sebby]

Have you tried rebooting the router? Often strange things like this are cured by a router reboot.

[psp83]

Have you tried rebooting the router? Often strange things like this are cured by a router reboot.

Yep, rebooted and left it off for awhile aswell. Done everything like that.

[Sebby]

I wonder if it's a DNS issue. Can you get to http://208.69.34.230/ (Google)?

[Simon]

Do you have a software firewall, Paul?  Could it have decided to block your browser for some reason?

[Steve]

If using xp could try

Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

[psp83]

I wonder if it's a DNS issue. Can you get to http://208.69.34.230/ (Google)?

Do you have a software firewall, Paul?  Could it have decided to block your browser for some reason?

Its not only web browsing thats the problem, email, msn etc.

No software firewall, Windows firewall is off.

If using xp could try

Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

Will give it ago when i get home, thx.

[Dangerjunkie]

Have you checked for spyware/trojans or have you just removed one?

Sometimes when you remove scumware it breaks the TCP/IP stack if it was hooked well in there.

Cheers,
Paul.

[psp83]

If using xp could try

Start, Run, CMD to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ip reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

Just tried this, waiting for the pc to reboot. hope it works.

[Rik]

 

[psp83]

Didnt work 

[psp83]

Have you checked for spyware/trojans or have you just removed one?

Sometimes when you remove scumware it breaks the TCP/IP stack if it was hooked well in there.

Cheers,
Paul.

PC gets scanned every night, last night scan didnt return anything.. same with virus scan.

[Rik]

Have you checked the NIC in device manager, Paul?

[psp83]

Have you checked the NIC in device manager, Paul?

Yep.

Says the device is working properly etc.
All the settings seem the same since i last looked at it.

What should i do next? Get a new lan card?

[Rik]

That would be my instinct, Paul, given everything looks right. Might be worth a quick rummage in the BIOS to see if something's changed there.

[psp83]

That would be my instinct, Paul, given everything looks right. Might be worth a quick rummage in the BIOS to see if something's changed there.

If i can remember correctly, i was on the net the other night and the computer rebooted itself.. Neve happened before on this PC and at the time i thought nothing of it. But now maybe it was something failing? the lan card?

[Rik]

It's always possible - certainly worth a look in the BIOS.

[psp83]

Everything in the bios looks fine to me.

Thinking about going for this one : http://www.ebuyer.com/product/83820/show_product_overview

[Rik]

Looks good to me (you're not running Vista are you?).

[psp83]

Looks good to me (you're not running Vista are you?).

Nope. XP on the one with the broken network. Only have Vista on this laptop.

[Rik]

 

Go for it.

[psp83]

Thinking about getting a new switch aswell.. got any you would recommend?

Currently using an old router with the internet side of things switched off.

[Rik]

I've never needed one, Paul, so no personal experience, but I'm sure someone will offer an opinion shortly.

[Steve]

That adaptor according to google  is on the vista hardware compatibility list. I use a engenius switch which I have had no problems with

http://www.solwise.co.uk/networking-copper-based-hubs-1gig-senao-8port.htm

Just wondered whether any signs of activity on the NIC LNK and ACT lights

[psp83]

Just wondered whether any signs of activity on the NIC LNK and ACT lights

They sometimes showed activity.. but now its gone to "limited or no" connection now

[Sebby]

What about on the actual card?

[psp83]

if your talking about the lights on the port then there on aswell.

[Dangerjunkie]

A thought...

If you download the Ubuntu Linux disc and run it off the CD (don't install it so it doesn't change anything on you hard drive) you could see if the net works on that. If it works on that consistently then you know you have a Windows problem. If you get the same symptoms then you know you have a hardware or a network problem.

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Cheers,
Paul.

[Sebby]

Good suggestion.

[doc_holiday]

Any ideas what is going on?

Have you looked under "Device Manager" to see what windows is saying about the state of your ethernet card?  Also, have you installed any Windows updates (or have it set automatically), that might have messed up your card?  I know that new drivers are released from time to time, but I think they are generally put in the "optional" category and don't install automatically.

[Dangerjunkie]

Another thought...

Have you tried unplugging everything else from the router, taking the switch out and plugging the problem machine directly into the router?

I had a machine with a faulty network card a few months back. The machine with the fault appeared to work fine but when you connected it to the switch it caused other machines to fail. I think it was either jabbering continuously or echoing everything it received back onto the network. It seemed to be causing the routing table in the switch to overflow and the switch to fail.

Have you tried swapping the plugs round on the switch and router to make sure you haven't got a duff port on something? Does the cable from the PC to the switch run with mains cables or near any source of interference, like the base of a DECT phone, anything with a motor in it, any kind of radio transmitter?...

I use a Dlink DES1016 which seems to be very similar to the current model http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=71 . It works really well. We've used LG (unmanaged) and  Linksys (managed) switches at work and they seem to be fine too. I had a brief flirt with Netgear but after loads of problems I had to toss it out.

Cheers,
Paul.

[psp83]

Another thought...

Have you tried unplugging everything else from the router, taking the switch out and plugging the problem machine directly into the router?

Done that.

Have you looked under "Device Manager" to see what windows is saying about the state of your ethernet card?  Also, have you installed any Windows updates (or have it set automatically), that might have messed up your card?  I know that new drivers are released from time to time, but I think they are generally put in the "optional" category and don't install automatically.

Check device manager, everything is ok.. Not installed nothing new or windows updates for about a month.

[psp83]

Got a new network card coming tomorrow so hopefully that will fix the problem.

[madasahatter]

 

[Sebby]

Fingers crossed!

[Dangerjunkie]

Good luck

If that doesn't work I have a medium "Ethernet tuning tool" you can borrow

http://www.millsltd.com/productDetail.cfm?PartNo=J53-1005

Cheers,
Paul.

[Rik]

I prefer the heavy-duty pro model, Paul.

[Steve]

Or the network hammer, ask someone else to hit it for you

[Rik]

Better yet.

[madasahatter]

Good luck

If that doesn't work I have a medium "Ethernet tuning tool" you can borrow

http://www.millsltd.com/productDetail.cfm?PartNo=J53-1005

Cheers,
Paul.

[Dangerjunkie]

I just remembered a fault I saw a couple of years back... Have you checked in network connections in the control panel to make sure nobody's accidentally bridged the Ethernet connection with one of the others, like the 1394 connection as this can cause interfaces to become non-functional.

Cheers,
Paul.

[Sebby]

That's a good one, Paul, though wouldn't it still work assuming the router has DHCP enabled? I know it wouldn't work if you assign IPs manually as it becomes a new connection, so is set to obtain an IP automatically by default.

[Dangerjunkie]

Hi,

I didn't look into it much beyond changing what I saw as a "funny" setting and it then starting to work. We use DHCP at work and it caused this XP machine (pre-SP1) to lose connectivity. The mileage may vary with different versions.

Cheers,
Paul.

[psp83]

No luck with the new card.

I followed the instructions..

Installed the drivers.. turnt the pc off.. installed the card.. turn the pc on.. pc picks up the new card, attemps to install and gives an error message saying it failed because the drivers was corrupt or missing..

downloaded new drivers and everytime i try to update the drivers it keeps saying i have the most upto date drivers installed.. even after uninstalling the card..

Might aswell go wireless 

[Sebby]

I think it's sounding more and more like Windows is to blame here. How about a fresh install?

[Dangerjunkie]

Sorry to hear about your pain.

Try putting the card back in, going to the device manager then uninstalling it. Reboot and see if it works the second time.

Suggestion 2... Go to the card manufacturer's website (or the one for the company that made the chip on it if that doesn't work) then download the absolute latest driver and try installing that.

If that doesn't fix the problem, remove it again then look at the files on the driver disc (particularly the inf ones) and do a search for those files under \windows\ and you should find a copy in at least \windows\inf. Move those copies to a junk folder (just in case it goes horribly wrong and you need to put them back) Reboot then install the driver again from the download.

Please note the third operation is not entirely risk free and if you're not comfortable delving into the guts of Windows it may be worth getting someone to give you a hand.

Good luck,
Paul.

Cheers,
Paul.

[psp83]

Sorry to hear about your pain.

Try putting the card back in, going to the device manager then uninstalling it. Reboot and see if it works the second time.

Suggestion 2... Go to the card manufacturer's website (or the one for the company that made the chip on it if that doesn't work) then download the absolute latest driver and try installing that.

If that doesn't fix the problem, remove it again then look at the files on the driver disc (particularly the inf ones) and do a search for those files under \windows\ and you should find a copy in at least \windows\inf. Move those copies to a junk folder (just in case it goes horribly wrong and you need to put them back) Reboot then install the driver again from the download.

Please note the third operation is not entirely risk free and if you're not comfortable delving into the guts of Windows it may be worth getting someone to give you a hand.

Good luck,
Paul.

Cheers,
Paul.

I've tried all this, been at it since 5:30pm and to be honest. i'm sick of looking at the inners of a pc and get my fingers caught lol. why do they make it so hard to put new cards in 

Might aswell go wireless or backup and re format. I do have alot of cr*p on here that i no longer use!

[Sebby]

I'd say a format is your best option, but that's just me.

[psp83]

I've reformatted.

The old network card still didnt work but i've managed to get the new one working.

So hopefully i can get this pc back to where it was tomorrow minus the rubbish 

[psp83]

One thing i have noticed since getting the pc working again.. pings are high one mo and low the next.

Is there any problems or do you think its something to do with the card?

C:\Documents and Settings\PSP83>tracert www.idnet.co.uk

Tracing route to www.idnet.co.uk [212.69.36.10]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.0.1
  2   741 ms   772 ms   752 ms  telehouse-gw2-lo2.idnet.net [212.69.63.55]
  3   778 ms   762 ms   754 ms  telehouse-gw3-g0-1-400.idnet.net [212.69.63.243]

  4   789 ms   752 ms   762 ms  redbus-gw2-g0-1-331.idnet.net [212.69.63.5]
  5   505 ms   376 ms   386 ms  redbus-gw1-fa0-0-301.idnet.net [212.69.63.209]
  6   408 ms   377 ms   386 ms  www.idnet.net [212.69.36.10]

Trace complete.

C:\Documents and Settings\PSP83>tracert www.idnet.co.uk

Tracing route to www.idnet.co.uk [212.69.36.10]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.0.1
  2    16 ms    15 ms    14 ms  telehouse-gw2-lo2.idnet.net [212.69.63.55]
  3    15 ms    15 ms    14 ms  telehouse-gw3-g0-1-400.idnet.net [212.69.63.243]
  4    15 ms    16 ms    15 ms  redbus-gw2-g0-1-331.idnet.net [212.69.63.5]
  5    15 ms    15 ms    15 ms  redbus-gw1-fa0-0-301.idnet.net [212.69.63.209]
  6    15 ms    16 ms    15 ms  www.idnet.net [212.69.36.10]

Trace complete.

[doc_holiday]

No luck with the new card.

This is a mystery. I don't know that I have ever seen this before!   

[Rik]

Have you tried removing the card from Device Manager, Paul, then re-booting the machine and letting it re-discover?

[psp83]

Have you tried removing the card from Device Manager, Paul, then re-booting the machine and letting it re-discover?

The old card is knackered! doesn't even work in a 2nd pc.

The new card is now working, but last night i had a ping problem, up and down all the time (as above) i'll see how it goes and if it keeps happening then i know its the new card.

[Rik]

Well, at least you're half way to solving it, I guess. Can you dump the old card drivers?

[psp83]

Well, at least you're half way to solving it, I guess. Can you dump the old card drivers?

Well windows wont let me uninstall or disable the old card and if its not in the machine i get error message pop up..

When i try to uninstall or disable, windows xp hangs and does nothing.

[Rik]

Remind me, Paul, is it part of the mobo?

[psp83]

no, its an ethernet card. but i do have one on the motherboard that doesn't work aswell that i would like to uninstall/disable but get same problem as the old card that has failed.

[Rik]

Fancy a fresh installation?

[psp83]

I reformatted last night and still get the same problems with both, onboard and old network card, still hangs if i try to uninstall or disable them.

Reformatting was the only way i could get the new card to work.

[Rik]

Weird, I can't think of anything to suggest, Paul. With a clean start, the system should be able to run without the existing cards. Have you double-checked the BIOS settings?

[psp83]

Weird, I can't think of anything to suggest, Paul. With a clean start, the system should be able to run without the existing cards. Have you double-checked the BIOS settings?

Bios is fine.

Something is wrong elsewhere i think.
Maybe the motherboard is on its way?

[Rik]

It's possible. I can't think of a reason why, on a fresh install, you should not be able to remove a card - at that point, the system doesn't know it's there.

[Sebby]

I can only think it's a faulty motherboard now!

[Dangerjunkie]

I could see this kind of thing happening if the drivers for the card that are included on the Windows install media stink and the install was done with the card in. Default driver installed again and you're in the same mess.

I would try a reinstall with the card removed

What is the card make and model?

Cheers,
Paul.