UNSOLVED
Inspiron 8100 Timeout Problem
I don't feel like retyping everything, so here's just a cut and paste. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
· A Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop, running Windows XP SP-1, has been disconnecting from the Internet when connected through the internal 3Com 10/100 Mini PCI Adapter.
· Every computer (file server, print server, etc.) on the internal network is accessible regardless of the status of the connection to the Internet when using the Internal Mini PCI Adapter.
· Connecting through the docking station works without any problems. The 8100 uses a separate NIC, 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller when docked.
· Connecting to an 802.11B network through a PCMCIA adapter works as well, without interruption.
· This computer uses DHCP to get its IP address from the router and from the wireless router.
· When the Internal Mini PCI Adapter is used and Internet access is down, checking the connection status shows that there is no IP address being assigned to the laptop.
· Pinging any IP address while Internet access is down fails.
· This problem is cyclical. Ten seconds after browsing web pages or downloading a remote file from the Internet, data transfer stops. Ten seconds later, web access is available again.
Also of note is that this port has worked in the past on our network, but for some reason has decided not to work.
I've tried different jacks/wires, checked the connection prefs, deleted/reinstalled the networking connection, uninstall/reinstall IE, tried Mozilla, rebuilt the TCP/IP stack, tried uninstalling the device, installed updated drivers and I think that covers most of what I've already done.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
· A Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop, running Windows XP SP-1, has been disconnecting from the Internet when connected through the internal 3Com 10/100 Mini PCI Adapter.
· Every computer (file server, print server, etc.) on the internal network is accessible regardless of the status of the connection to the Internet when using the Internal Mini PCI Adapter.
· Connecting through the docking station works without any problems. The 8100 uses a separate NIC, 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller when docked.
· Connecting to an 802.11B network through a PCMCIA adapter works as well, without interruption.
· This computer uses DHCP to get its IP address from the router and from the wireless router.
· When the Internal Mini PCI Adapter is used and Internet access is down, checking the connection status shows that there is no IP address being assigned to the laptop.
· Pinging any IP address while Internet access is down fails.
· This problem is cyclical. Ten seconds after browsing web pages or downloading a remote file from the Internet, data transfer stops. Ten seconds later, web access is available again.
Also of note is that this port has worked in the past on our network, but for some reason has decided not to work.
I've tried different jacks/wires, checked the connection prefs, deleted/reinstalled the networking connection, uninstall/reinstall IE, tried Mozilla, rebuilt the TCP/IP stack, tried uninstalling the device, installed updated drivers and I think that covers most of what I've already done.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
- Thanks BobT-
Those are some great instructions, but I have no problems with the wireless connections. :P Do you have any that would pertain to my wired internal ethernet port dropping connections? :)
I have new info, I forgot to check the Event Logs and found to my surprise there was useful information in there for once.
When the connection goes down, a DHCPNACK error is occuring. BobT, I will buy you a beer if you can help me out with this one. I've found instructions on the web, but they all involve switching from a DHCP setup to an designated IP setup, which I don't want to have to do. Anyone have any thoughts? thxdd,
I am led to believe that this may be a driver issue since the connection appears sometimes. An interpretation of the NAK error is that the system is receiving no response from your router. I would update the firmware on the router and if that does not correct the issue, you may need to contact the manufacturer of the router for more troubleshooting ideas.
- A DCHPNAK error results from a DHCP server refusing to issue or renew an IP address.
This computer uses DHCP to get its IP address from the router and from the wireless router.
That makes it sound like you have more than one DHCP server on your LAN. That will always cause problems unless you've intentionally segmented your LAN. Can you describe the configuration more fully? What are the model numbers of the "router" and the "wireless router"? How are they connected to eaqch other? How is your LAN connected to the Internet?
Jim
DELL-BobT
3125 Posts
291
0
Posted July 21st, 2004 20:00
thxdd,
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Suggest the following:
A customer came up with the following items to check for an intermittent connection with wireless: