Intermittent Router Dropouts to Dell Computers Only!

Question

We have a home router (DI-624 rev_c) with wireless which servers as a LAN and a gateway to the internet. Of the three computers on the LAN two of them are Dells.
A Dimension 4550 and a Inspiron 8200. Both of the Dells experience intermittent dropouts - ie. Every 10 to 20 Minutes XP will inform us "A Network Cable has been Unplugged", Immediately Followed by "Local Area Connection is now Connected, Speed: 100 Mbps". The Dropout is only for a few seconds and on a test performed only one packet is dropped from a standard ping to the computer experienceing the issue. The dells are not dropping out at the same time. The remaining computer on the network is not experiencing the dropouts.

We have already taken the following steps:
* Specified the DNS address in TCP/IP Properties of our NIC's
* Turned of UPnP at Router and on Computers
* Disabled power management on both of the NIC's

The NIC's are two different brands (An Intel and a 3com).

Help would be greatly Appreciated.

jmwills · Answer

Why are you specifing DNS addresses?

JamesBerthold · Answer

I have a similar problem with a Dimension 4550 connected directly to a Cable modem or via a router. No difference. Works for a long time then intermittent drop outs. Very similar problem. Any guidence?

Sandyman · Answer

I can't say this will solve your problems but in my case, I lost the connection evrytime my Netgear router was trying to re-establish a connection, which by factory default was set to 5 minutes. I set it to '0', or never reestablish, and I haven't been disconnected since. Good luck.

the3rd · Answer

My Connection is Cable and Constant and there is no option anywhere for reconnections. I am specifying DNSaddresses because I was adviced to by my Router Vendor.

This issue has still not been resolved.

jmwills · Answer

Chnage that setting to obtain DNS Server Addresses automatically, which should be the same for your IP Address.

the3rd · Answer

makes no difference

jmwills · Answer

Have you tried changing connections of the PC's to the router?  There just might be a bad connection within the router.

the3rd · Answer

Id like to think that but the Inspiron experiences the dropouts while connected by wire or wireless.

jmwills · Answer

The only thing I can think of at this point would be an update on the firmware for the router or the Dell NIC drivers. The router only sees software to software commincations so there has to be a driver related issue here.

You've never mentioned the third computer by name or hardware specs and where it sits on the LAN (wired or wireless). That could be helpful here. Also, are the two Dells connecting via wired or wireless connections?

Message Edited by jmwills on 02-06-2005 11:11 AM

the3rd · Answer

Firmware and NIC drivers have already been updated. Both the dells are on a wire however the Inspiron can be removed from the wire and have a wireless adapter plugged in. The third coumputer is an Old Pentium III Gateway on Windows ME (groan).   Also I have tested swapping the LAN cables in the router with no difference.   EDIT: Also considering the wire and wireless on the inspiron use different NIC's and Drivers i hardly think its a Driver problem when the issue is directly replicated. Message Edited by the3rd on 02-06-2005 05:26 AM

jmwills · Answer

Like someone told me the other day, 'I would never buy a Dell because they are more prone to get viruses', I needed a good laugh that day.   This is not a Dell issue and has to be either a driver, firmware, or configuration issue on either side.  I can promise you that speciying DNS addresses is don nothing at all to help you so I would suggest you go with all the default settings issued by DHCP including enabling NetBIOS over TCP/IP in the WINDs section under advanced TCP/IP properties.  I would almost bet it's a setup issue with the D-Link router.  What is the date of the latest firwmare you are running on the router?   Something is screwy here but this is akin to driving a car from the back set blindfolded.

the3rd · Answer

Im sorry if my message came across that way - I have an understanding of the problem at hand and i can assure you I spent many hours with D-Link before coming here, I have investigate every setting of the router. I was lead here only because the third computer (The only non-dell) was unaffected.

The latest firmware for the router has been flashed several times and the DNS setting disabled and as I mentioned before has made no difference. (This problem was occuring before I enabled the DNS setting). I have enabled the NETBIOS setting in the TCP/IP settings and am awaiting any result. Thanks for your time.

jmwills · Answer

The only other thing i can think of is a possible corrupted TCP/IP stack which could be fixed by using winsockfix (freeware) or uniinstalling both adapters, rebooting , and loading the drivers again.  Other than that, I am fresh out of ideas.

the3rd · Answer

Well changing this has improved the problem significantly - which is good. However has not eliminated the problem. Any further advice?

the3rd · Answer

After Downloading and running winsockfix there have been no improvements.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Intermittent Router Dropouts to Dell Computers Only!

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