Internet Network is going on and off... HELP

Question

Hi,   First of all, i bought this computer and installed it in place, i puted in my 100mbit internet connection to the computer and i got online, but suddendly the network started to go online and offline from time to time... its just switches in a second... this is realy irritating and i want a sulotion of this! I got the latest drivers here from dell...!   This is only if the duplex is puted in automatic or in 100mbit full duplex... if i put it down to 100mbit half duplex the problem stops but also the speed is slower...   It´s no problem with the internet suplyer or the cable... becuse everything works on my other computer...   The computer is a Dimension 9200 and got an built in network giganet card 10/100/1000  intel.   Intel(R) 82556DC Gigabit Network Connection   Help please...   //Micke

Short_Bus · Answer

What is your computer connecting to (wireless router, wired router, switch, etc.) as it sounds like one of two things:

Either the network adapter in your computer is malfunctioning not allowing it to work with other devices in the "auto negotiate" mode or the device that your computer connects to is configured for a half-duplex connection, doesn't support full duplex, or is malfunctioning and in turn not allowing your computer to connect using "auto negotiate" or full-duplex options.

Sundis · Answer

My computer is connected with a lan cable directly to  the wall, no routers or anything between. The connection shall be 100mbit full duplex. eatherway i use the automatic speed or if i put in 100mbit full duplex the card is going up and down from time to time...   On my other comupter its 'automatic' and that one does not have any problems...

Short_Bus · Answer

OK, I would suggest checking Dell's support site (support.dell.com) for the most up-to-date drivers for that network adapter. You can also try deleting the adapter from the Device Manager, restarting the system, and let it re-detect and reinstall the adapter. This should 'reset' the adapter's settings to default according to the drivers.

Sundis · Answer

I tryed all that before... )=

jmwills · Answer

Is each LAN drop pull a DHCP address or Static?  Can you post the results of an ipconfig /all?

JoiseyBill · Answer

This really sounds like a loose cable problem.

Have you swapped your ethernet cables between your working computer and the one with the problems?

Also - physically inspect the ethernet connection on your card. Look for foreign matter or if the pins aren't bent up enough to make good contact.
I have seen a few cases where the copper connector gets bent just enough to cause problems (mostly this was back with telco modems - but ethernet connections work very much like that) It could be at any point on the connection - inside the wall jack, on either end of the cable, or inside the jack on your pc.

See if you can change the problem by jiggling or putting some minor pressure on the cable ends (push, pull).

other things you might want to look at:

while swapping connections - check the config of the known-working machine - make sure that machine is using full-duplex too, so the comparison is accurate.

does your internet supplier have a policy about connecting more than one computer to your network - maybe they are altering the connection?

have you updated the drivers from Intel (not just Dell)?

Sundis · Answer

DHCP is active 'yes'   If i take the LAN connection cable and put into my old computer i dont have this kind of problem, so i must be somthing with this network card or setting but i have also looked at everything and they all match between the computers...

Sundis · Answer

I puted in xxxx by my selve, i dont think that information is needed...

IP-konfiguration för Windows

        Värddatornamn . . . . . . . . . . : xxxxxxxx
        Primärt DNS-suffix . . . . . . . :
        Nodtyp . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Okänd
        IP-routning aktiverat . . . . . . : Nej
        WINS-proxy aktiverat . . . . . . : Nej
        Söklista för DNS-suffix . . . . . : bredbandsbolaget.se

Ethernet-kort Anslutning till lokalt nätverk:

        Anslutningsspecifika DNS-suffix . : bredbandsbolaget.se
        Beskrivning . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82566DC Gigabit Network Con
nection
        Fysisk adress . . . . . . . . . . : xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx
        DHCP aktiverat . . . . . . . . . : Ja
        Autokonfiguration aktiverat . . . : Ja
        IP-adress . . . . . . . . . . . . : xxx.xxx.xx.xxx
        Nätmask . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.128
        Standard-gateway . . . . . . . . : 213.114.19.129
        DHCP-server . . . . . . . . . . . : 172.21.249.88
        DNS-servrar . . . . . . . . . . . : 195.54.122.204
                                            195.54.122.198
                                            195.54.122.200
                                            195.54.122.199
        Lånet erhölls . . . . . . . . . . : den 7 november 2006 21:05:23
        Lånet upphör . . . . . . . . . . : den 7 november 2006 22:05:23

Message Edited by Sundis on 11-07-2006 02:10 PM

jmwills · Answer

ipconfig /all??

bogbog · Answer

U know what i has the same problem, i check all 15 suggesting that support.dell.com give me, i have inspiron 1300 and u know what i discover 'Network interface in Dell R s' bcoz when i use my other laptop and it's a cheap on really called Acer it's just work so properly. u could found alot of paragraphs about dell LAN problem the call it 'intermitty NIC'.

Sundis · Answer

hi, okey. but how do i solve the problem?   Now i have puted in an new network card on a pci slot and have no problems anymore but i whould be fun to use the integreated one...   //Micke

jmwills · Answer

I am not the most educated person in the world, but what did you just post?

bogbog · Answer

I do another Check again, because LANs in dell r not so good, that's make it more sensitve to noise in cables then other kind of LANs in other laptops, so i use noise free cable called STB not UTD, and it's worked for 100 meter lenght.   change ur cable

Sundis · Answer

okey i will try that out!

JoiseyBill · Answer

Just following up in case you don't have this resolved yet.   One note I forgot to mention is making sure that windows doesn't try to power this device off to save energy.  If it does, then every time you re-activate it, you need to re-negotiate and this may cause problems.   I did a search for 'gigabit + intermittent + duplex' and found several sites which document issues somewhat like yours.   Apparently, many 10/100 network devices [routers, gateways, hubs, switches...] have trouble when auto-negotiating a connection with the newer gigabit interfaces.   Ideally, you could just set your gigabit card for a slower rate - but again, that doesn't always work.  If the switch [or other device] is set to auto-negotiate, then your card should also be on auto.   Cisco explains the problem here: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/473/46.html These other folks are talking about OSX, but the principle is the same:  http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-412.html     I see from your ipconfig/all  that you are probably using NAT, as your DHCP server used private address space.  (172.21.249.88).  If you have a local switch that you can control, try a firmware update on that device if one is available, and/or try to reconfigure your auto-negotiation to a manual speed that can match every device on your net.   You may also want to make your DHCP period longer than 1 hour; if you do get a working connection, you probably don't want to risk losing it after an hour.   If you don't have direct control over the network devices, then see if your service provider will look into this issue. It may be a simple as upgrading firmware or a command set for the switch.   I am assuming that your other -working- computer doesn't have gigabit, or at least not the same model gigabit card. I am also assuming you have already updated your drivers wth the latest Intel software: v 11.1, 25Aug2006     Good luck.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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