Intermittent Internet connection

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I am having intermittent connection issues. Running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 installed on an SSD (2 partitions, the other has W 8 RP). Both are recent installations .
Intermittently I lose connectivity, (browsers and email client) but Network and Sharing centre shows that Internet access is present (wrong, of course). I have updated the driver (from the Intel site, newer than the one on the ASUS site) for the Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Adapter on the ASUS P8Z68-V PRO motherboard, without any effect on this issue.
I can sometimes restore connectivity by disabling and then re-enabling the Local Area Connection, but that doesn’t always work – the only sure “fix” is to reboot.
This connectivity issue has never appeared while I have been running W 8, so I don’t think it is a hardware problem. Other computers on the same home network do not have this issue, it is confined to this installation on my desktop machine. My laptop, also running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1, is connected to the network through the same switch and connects OK while the desktop is refusing to connect.
I have checked the services as suggested in http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//147115-Internet-Issue-and-WIndows, and set them as suggested there, but that didn’t improve the situation, so I have reverted to how it was before.
I have installed some of my programs on another HDD partition, but have had no issues using them.
I have run both scannow and chkdsk, without any issues being raised by either of those functions.
I hope someone can point me to a solution!
TIA
lmodra

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Hi Imodra, try this 31234-MTU

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Thanks, but my modem/router, a Netgear CG3100, doesn’t appear to have a facility to modify MTU (nor DNS addresses). But running the suggested ping with a value above 1472 loses the packets, so I assume that the router MTU is set at 1500. I have set the computer MTU to 1500, and the ping is OK at 1472, but no higher.

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Thanks, but my modem/router, a Netgear CG3100, doesn’t appear to have a facility to modify MTU (nor DNS addresses). But running the suggested ping with a value above 1472 loses the packets, so I assume that the router MTU is set at 1500. I have set the computer MTU to 1500, and the ping is OK at 1472, but no higher.

Every router has DNS & MTU settings.

31390-1

31391-2

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Not sure if this will help but definitely worth a try.

Within device manager, open up the properties for your network card and select the power management tab. Uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option.

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Thanks for the suggestion. The current Intel driver has several options for power management, none as simple as the one you referenced! I think I have it set so that it doesn’t power down the adapter, which is built in to the mobo.

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My ISP assigns a dynamic IP. When a dynamic IP is selected here is no facility to change the DNS servers, and I haven’t yet found a reference to MTU in the settings. My router (cable) is not the same model as the one you have shown in the screen captures you posted, the settings pages differ.
Thank you for your help!

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Can you post a full page image of what you see when you access your router. 30306-Make-an-Image-and-post-it

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Hi Roderunner,
Capture1 is what appears when I log onto the router, Capture2 is just the Basic settings page without the LH menus31397-Capture231398-Capture-1

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Hi Imodra,

In your image, Capture 2, change the Primary DNS to 208.67.222.222 & Secondary DNS to 208.67.220.220
These are the settings for OpenDNS and can be used without opening an account. In case you have to return to original settings keep note of them.
–
Contact your ISP for information on the correct MTU to use and how to change it in your router. The default on most computers is 1500.

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Thanks for your prompt reply. However the DNS settings are not accessible when Dynamic IP is selected. They do became accessible when Static IP is selected, but the ISP specifies use of a dynamic IP. I have an account with OpenDNS, and used their DNS servers with the previous router supplied by the ISP. So had tried to set them up prior to this intermittent disconnection occurring.

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My IP Address is Dynamic and have no trouble changing OpenDNS

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Yes, I could see from your screen clips that your router allowed DNS changes – mine is a different router – and perhaps a different ISP has a bearing also.

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How long have you been using your current router ? It might be worth trying your older one if you still have it.

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This router was supplied by the ISP to permit an upgrade to the plan we are now on – faster, and a higher data limit than the old, but better pricing. Result of competition, no doubt. I understand that the old router, even if I had access to it, would not be compatible.

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I had a recently had a similar situation. Everything said that I was working via the Network & Sharing center. About 6-7 computers connected both wired and wireless. A simple switch expands to handle all the ports. Everyone working fine expect the problem child. I started to swap everything I had in the office. Switch to different port, other computers to same port, etc. etc. Everytime I came back to the prolem child plugged into a specific port it again became intermittent and yet Network & Sharing said I was connect. Replaced the router and everyone has been happy. Me especially since by the time I got done I was totally confused. Replace the Router.

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Seems your up the creek without a paddle.
Have you looked in your ISP’s web site help or support section for the correct router settings ?

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DNS shouldn’t be an issue if other devices are working on the same network.

Regarding power management, are we on the same page?

Obviously your network adaptor will be Intel rather than my Nvidia adaptor.

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Well, we are on the same page (the Network Connections Properties sheet) but it is more than a little different for my adapter. The Power Management tab has several additional options – I had to take 2 screen clips to show all. I haven’t lost connectivity while running Windows 8 on this same hardware, and the power management tab in that system is very similar to your, and has the 3 boxes checked.

I suspect there is some corruption in my Windows 7 installation. I am unable to install Adobe AIR as a “pseudo” administrator (but can as a full “net user” administrator). Perhaps there is a relationship ??

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Imodra, why have you 2 display adapters showing in Device Manager.

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For some projects I find it very convenient to use a third monitor. I disable the card that drives that monitor when I don’t need it, as you see from that clip.

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Thanks for the report. My router is supplied by the ISP, so not so easily replaced as if it was my property. Strangely, I haven’t had a lost connection while running Windows 8 on this same desktop. While I have had dropouts when not using Chrome, I think that the majority have occurred while I was using Chrome – I completely un-installed that, even to removing all registry references, but still had some drop-outs. I’ve re-installed Chrome. I suspect a corrupted entry somewhere deep in my W 7 installation. I performed a nondestructive re-install of W 7, but that hasn’t cured the issue. Am about to collect and fit a new PCI-e network card to see if that will effect a cure. Not very hopeful, but think it is worth trying. I am psyching myself up to doing a format and clean re-install of W 7 if I still get drop-outs after installing the card. :rolleyes:

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Imodra, what date shows for your Network adapters in Device Manager ?

31438-Capture

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Currently I only have the “built in” (to the motherboard) – I now have an adapter card to install – but still in its package. The Driver Date is 20-Jul-2011, the Driver Provider is Intel, the Driver Version is 11.13.51.0.
I “may” get the other card installed later today, but have other commitments that are higher priority.

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I am having intermittent connection issues. Running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 installed on an SSD (2 partitions, the other has W 8 RP). Both are recent installations .
Intermittently I lose connectivity, (browsers and email client) but Network and Sharing centre shows that Internet access is present (wrong, of course). I have updated the driver (from the Intel site, newer than the one on the ASUS site) for the Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Adapter on the ASUS P8Z68-V PRO motherboard, without any effect on this issue.
I can sometimes restore connectivity by disabling and then re-enabling the Local Area Connection, but that doesn’t always work – the only sure “fix” is to reboot.
This connectivity issue has never appeared while I have been running W 8, so I don’t think it is a hardware problem. Other computers on the same home network do not have this issue, it is confined to this installation on my desktop machine. My laptop, also running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1, is connected to the network through the same switch and connects OK while the desktop is refusing to connect.

Some questions:

[*]When did this behavior begin?
[*]Did you implement any of your “recent installations” or any other hardware or software change right before the problem began?

To be clear about that second question, “hardware” includes anything connected to the computer (e.g., the network cable) or anything that touches the computer or anything that’s connected to it (other desk items, furniture, etc.). For that matter, did you relocate the computer itself, even if only in a small way?

I will admit that your not having the problem in Win8 would seem to indicate a Win7 problem (though perhaps related to one of the “recent installations) rather than an external environmental issue, but it doesn’t hurt to think this all the way through.

All this is based on an old engineering troubleshooting question: If it used to work, but now it doesn’t , what changed?

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Thank you, but I cannot be precise about when the behaviour began. I did attempt to install Adobe AIR in preparation for installing Zinio Reader probably about the time this issue appeared. (I haven’t been able to install Adobe AIR on this installation of W7 except as a {net user administrator}, but it installed OK on W8, so wouldn’t appear to be corruption in the install exe). But I am not certain about the relative timing. I have changed cables – several times – and am now connected directly to the router rather than through a switch. It is possible that the router has been accidentally moved (it is in a different room). Haven’t had a dropout for several hours since making the cable/connection change, but this has been an intermittent problem, so it will have to hold up for longer before I’m satisfied that the cable/connection change has had any bearing. I had a dropout soon after installing the PCI-e adapter card – I didn’t really think the adapter was the problem, but wanted to assure myself that was the case. I’m currently connected through the built in adapter only.

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