Internet fails when Ethernet card connected

Question

Inspiron 4300
Windows XP Home Edition
Linksys WRT54G wireless router
Brand new Linksys Etherfast ethernet card

Here's my problem: Wired connection gives very slow throughput, web pages load very slowly. Accessing router's setup page is very slow. Wireless connection is affected in the same way.

But - if I unplug the ethernet cable, everything returns to normal - download speed, web page loading, accessing router's setup page. This is true of the wireless connections on both the "wired" computer and other computers on the network.

If I plug the ethernet cable back in, everything crashes and I have to reboot.

Device manager says the ethernet card is functioning properly.

Any ideas?

volcano11 · Answer

Check the Linksys web site to see if you have the latest drivers for the ethernet card.  If you don't download and install the latest drivers.   Steve

Mitchs4 · Answer

Steve: The router is brand new and I have the latest drivers.

volcano11 · Answer

You may have a faulty network card.  Have you considered contacting Linksys tech support?   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

I'm assuming that this 'ethernet card' is a PC Card - is this correct?  If so, then it suggests you may have a faulty PC card slot.  Perhaps it has accumulated some dust.  Try using a can of compressed air to blow out the slot and see if that helps.   Steve

Mitchs4 · Answer

Actually, I replaced the network card yesterday and it did not change anything. I also did a live chat with Linksys support and the best the guy could come up with is that I should try changing the ethernet cable - which, of course, I'd already tried.

volcano11 · Answer

It makes a big difference that it is a Dimension desktop rather than an Inspiron Laptop.  Try using a different slot first.  If that fails, with the card installed try resetting NVRAM.  This will clear the BIOS and force it to redetect all attached devices.  If you don't know how to do that, please make sure you have given me the correct model of the computer and I'll try to find information on resetting NVRAM.   Steve

Mitchs4 · Answer

@volcano11 wrote:

It makes a big difference that it is a Dimension desktop rather than an Inspiron Laptop. Try using a different slot first. If that fails, with the card installed try resetting NVRAM. This will clear the BIOS and force it to redetect all attached devices. If you don't know how to do that, please make sure you have given me the correct model of the computer and I'll try to find information on resetting NVRAM.

Steve

Yes, sorry about that misinfo.

The model is definitely Dimension 4300.

Mitchs4 · Answer

@ronss wrote:

did you go into device manager and see if you ethernet card is working properly..do it have a light on the back?

Click on menu-control panel-classic view-networking and sharing-click on diagnoise and repair,,see what comes up.

Device Mgr says device is working properly.

I'll try your other suggestion. Thanks.

ronss · Answer

did you go into device manager and see if you ethernet card is working properly..do it have a light on the back?   Click on menu-control panel-classic view-networking and sharing-click on diagnoise and repair,,see what comes up.

Mitchs4 · Answer

I apologize for some misinformation. My computer is a Dimension desktop, not an Inspiron laptop. The card is a PCI card. I don't have an extra slot, but I suppose I can remove something temporarily and try the card in a slot I know is working.

volcano11 · Answer

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&dl=false&l=en&s=gen&docid=A1217BB2A920438A8993FC8B6E235BD4&doclang=en&cs=

Mitchs4 · Answer

@volcano11 wrote:

It makes a big difference that it is a Dimension desktop rather than an Inspiron Laptop. Try using a different slot first. If that fails, with the card installed try resetting NVRAM. This will clear the BIOS and force it to redetect all attached devices. If you don't know how to do that, please make sure you have given me the correct model of the computer and I'll try to find information on resetting NVRAM.

Steve

Yes, sorry about that misinfo.

The model is definitely Dimension 4300.

Mitchs4 · Answer

Thanks. Will let you know what happens in a few days.

volcano11 · Answer

Try removing all other PCI cards except the network adapter and all USB devices except the mouse and keyboard, and see if the problem is still there.   Steve

Mitchs4 · Answer

I have tried all of the suggestions and nothing helps. Plugging in the ethernet cable completely fries my system. Without it plugged in, everything works perfectly, including wireless. I assume there has to be something conflicting with the PCI ethernet card, but I have no idea what it is.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Internet fails when Ethernet card connected

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