Ethernet Network cable 'disconnected' (with a plugged cable!)

Question

Hi,

I've an Inspiron 8600 with Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller and Windows XP Pro.

I'm experiencing this problem: while doing my job and working using the network it happens that the network controller stops working and Windows Tray Icon shows a ballon saying "network is down" as in the case of network cable is disconnected (don't know the original message in English as I'm using the Italian version of Windows XP).
This happens when I'm in office and also when I am at home. At home I have a doking station so the network cable is connected to the docking station. So I don't think that's a defect of the socket or cable as I am using different cables: I'm also using different network infrastructure and different network configuration (fixed ip@ job and dhcp @home). I was thinking about advanced power management, but I tried every possible setting and I didn't find anything making it work. It just seems that suddenly the network controller stops working for a while, whithout any warning.
It happens 3/4 times a day. After some minutes the network comes back.
Broadcom Advanced Control Suite diagnostics (Control Registers, MII registers, EEPROM, Internal Memory, On Chip CPU, interrupt, Loopback MAC, loopback PHY, Test Led) for an entire night, but didn't detect anything.
When the problem occurs, the LED of the hub associated to the cable of my PC switches off, as it was physically disconnected (but it isn't). It seems that a certain point the network card just stops working inexplicably.

Does anyone knows about this problem? Any BIOS upgrade can fix this? Is my network cable broken? Does anyone knows about any diagnostic tool for getting any clue?

Thankyou in advance.

Luigi R. Viggia · Answer

More details about patch and fixes installed on my system.

I'm using windows xp pro sp2.

8600 System BIOS ver. A14 (I8600A14.exe)
Chip Set: Intel Mobile Chipset 5.00.1012, A06 (R58370.EXE)
Network: Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller, Driver, v.v4.23 - NDIS5, v3.07 - DOS, A11 (R86360.EXE)

I also have a wireless card, that seems to work fine (but I don't use it soo much)

I've tried to build myself a test with a batch file that pings the router at my home for 1800 seconds, then prints time, and records a text file with results in a text file:

@echo off
echo.> ping.txt
:loop
echo.>> ping.txt
echo -------->> ping.txt
echo time is:>> ping.txt
time /t >> ping.txt
echo. >> ping.txt
ping -n 1800 192.168.0.1 | find /V "Reply from" >> ping.txt
goto :loop

With this batch file i've seen that it happens (but sometimes doesn't happen) that the network adapter stops working suddenly without any explaination, and timeout records shows up in the ping.txt file.

I have also installed on my system the Cisco VPN client, for job reasons, but I don't think this is the problem. (but I don't know...)

Could it be the any tcp-ip stack problem in my windows system? Any idea on how to patch this?

I've also checked about presence of spyware and dialers, with avast antivirus (daily updated), adaware lavasoft and handly with some tools hijackfree and x-raypc.exe. No suspect stuff has been found.

On my pc is installed the netswitcher utility as I often have to switch networks from my customers's settings. I don't know if this could be cause of any problem.

Any advice? How can i patch this?

I know... I should check it out with linux (?)

Please help, I'm gettin' crazy.

Message Edited by Luigi R. Viggiano on 12-05-2005 05:38 PM

Luigi R. Viggia · Answer

I've posted this problem on my blog, with a screenshot of the problem. http://jroller.com/page/jigi?entry=cable_network_problem_on_my regards. Luigi.

Dizway · Answer

I'm having the same problem with a 300m and Broadcom 570x integrated nic.  This is on Windows XP SP2.  On some occasions I get the 'limited or no connectivity' error.  In my situation, some ethernet cable shows connected and a different cable will show disconnected.  It's very flakey and I can't seem to determine whether it's hardware or software that's causing the problem.

Luigi R. Viggia · Answer

Hi.

I'm downloading update drivers from broadcom.
I disabled everything in network configuration, and i just leaved tcp-ip... no change, connection interrupts... no clue.

I try with latest driver for my broadcom 440x:
http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/driver-sla.php?driver=4401-XP32

Let's see...

--- some minutes later... update ---

updating driver at latest release has no effect.

we can write broadcom to ask their help.

it could be an hardware problem, but it's strange... generally, when stuff got broken, it simply stop working... it sounds like some driver bug.

Message Edited by Luigi R. Viggiano on 12-10-2005 10:43 PM

Dizway · Answer

I doubt writing broadcom will help.  If you read some of the network related messages on this board, it seems like a common problem.  Dell doesn't appear to have an answer either.  This is for my coworker, I told him to just get a pcmcia card instead.   I've updated drivers, cleared winsock, reinstalled sp2 etc... I've done everything except reinstall Windows from scratch.  It's not worth my time.

Luigi R. Viggia · Answer

About writing to hw manufacturers, I think *could* help. Message Edited by Luigi R. Viggiano on 12-10-2005 10:45 PM

Luigi R. Viggia · Answer

http://jroller.com/page/jigi?entry=more_on_broadcom_440x_nic

Luigi R. Viggia · Answer

I discovered this: when I move the display the problem occur. I think that there is some electrical contact that is not fully fixed.

Someone does it know how can I unmount the laptop to check electrical connections of the network interface??? Any unmounting instruction is available on the net about how to disassemble the inspiron 8600? I would like to solve this problem without causing damages :)

I'm beginning to think that it could be a problem of the laptop case or electrical contacts.

Luigi.

Message Edited by Luigi R. Viggiano on 01-06-2006 04:45 PM

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Ethernet Network cable 'disconnected' (with a plugged cable!)

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