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3 Posts
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6893
December 16th, 2004 16:00
Dimension 4700C Losing Internet Connectivity
I recently purchased four Dimension 4700C units for my office, I also have 8 other Dell units of various configurations throughout the office. All 12 units are networked into the same workgroup and attached to an NT Server along with an external connection to a T1 internet line.
The problem is that the 4700C's will not stay connected to the internet. When viewing a site or otherwise trying to contact the internet, the 4700 will return an error message that the internet is not available. It is still possible to browse the internal network, from computer to computer, but all connection to the outside world is lost.
The other 8 computers never exhibit this problem even though they are attached to the same routers and connections. I've even swapped the cables from one machine to another and the problem persists. The issue is definitely in the 4700 somewhere.
If I pull up the Broadcom Advanced Control Suite, It still shows that the NIC is working properly at 100mbps. If I then run the connectivity test, which electronically disconnects the network, then reconnects it at the end, all my internet function has returned. Sometimes it will last for 5 minutes, sometimes for half an hour. But then it will lose that connection again and I have to start over.
I've downloaded the latest driver from the Dell site, (v 4.23) and even gone to the Broadcom site and found a v 4.28 driver, all of which have made no change to the problem.
I'm at a total loss... All four of the 4700's exhibit the same behavior, and none of the other 8 computers have any problem at all. Routers, Cables, Switches have all been eliminated as causing the problem so it has to be in the 4700 box somewhere, either hardware or software. And since it is an on-board network i can't just swap out a card to test it.
Please... does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
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PovHum
123 Posts
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December 17th, 2004 00:00
coffee033
3 Posts
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December 17th, 2004 11:00
Yes, I have. The T1 connection is directed to a switch that then feeds a switch in each end of the building, the computers are about equally balanced on each end including the new 4700Cs.
I've taken one of the desktop units that works sitting at the next desk and duplicated it's settings (or verified that they were the same) on a 4700C all network properties, DNS servers, Flow Control, Network Services, etc. I've even temporarily switched to assigned IP vs DHCP and swapped them, including cables and ports on the switch.
The oddest thing to me is that I can still browse all other network connections inside the building, it is only the connection to the internet that is lost on the 4700C. Also it has nothing to do with "inactivity" as I can be right in the middle of moving from one page to another, or downloading a file, and the connection will be dropped.
When I run the Broadcom utility that electronically breaks the internet connection runs a connectivity test and then recreates the connection, then I can go back to the internet. If, on the other hand, I just remove the network cable from the computer, and get the "a network cable is unplugged" message and put it back in, it does NOT reset the connection. So I'm quite positive that the problem is internal to the 4700C, I'm just at a loss as to where.
Thanks for any input.
haiweigh
8 Posts
0
December 18th, 2004 13:00
I've got the same problem, are your new pc's running XP Service Pack 2 ?
I'm at my wits end, I have 3 other pc's that don't exhibit this issue and have tried countless things.
ebutash
5 Posts
0
March 14th, 2005 21:00
I have that same problem! We bought 40 Dimension 4600's last year...about 12 of them keep losing their connection to the internet!
Strange thing is...the IP Address is stored...the lights are still blinking...but no network connectivity!
Reboot and everything works fine!
HELP PLEASE!!!
coffee033
3 Posts
0
March 15th, 2005 12:00