Random online disconnects "Your Network Cable Unplugged"

howie30 · 08-10-2004, 01:39 AM

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem that I have with my PC's here at home. I am getting random "Your Network cable has been unplugged" every 5 mins or so while using the internet. All 4 of my PCs will have the same message pop up at the same time, the internet connection from all of the PCs will be lost for about 5 seconds and will jump right back up again!

I've checked the Router (D-link DI-624) and the Cable Modem( DCM-202) *I use Comcast Cable* and their power doesn't go off when it happens, so i don't think it's a power problem.

Thanks!

Howie

Volt-Schwibe · 08-10-2004, 01:59 AM

if all 4 of the pc's do it at the same time, i would be suspecting the router first.

(the network cable unplugged message will pop up if the networking card does not see a link established, and since they are connected to the router, i don't see the cable modem being the cause. also, if it was a networking card, i don't see that disturbing the entire network either.)

that said, see if you can borrow a different router, or try running one pc to the cable modem for a few hours.

then, you will possibly be able to say for sure if it is or isnt the router.

other than that, i dont know, unless your house is being seriously saturated with some sort of intermittent RF signal. (which, if it was strong enough to interfere with your network cables, you and anyone else in the house would probably want to go see a doctor soon.)

howie30 · 08-10-2004, 02:11 AM

I'll go test out plugging my main PC to the modem and see what happens. Thanks a bunch! I'll post to see what happens

Howie

Volt-Schwibe · 08-10-2004, 03:33 AM

we will be here.

:)

Benjboyle · 10-25-2004, 05:17 AM

Hi guys.

I'm experiencing a similar (if not the same) problem.

Current config is
- 3COM Office Connect WE754G72E Router/ADSL Modem/WLAN.
Set as DHCP server, with leases assigned forever (was daily but I changed it while trying to solve this problem)
- PC XP SP2 with Realtek RTL8139 onboard LAN.
- Laptop XP SP2 with 3COM 54Mbps WLAN PC Card.
- Laptop XP SP2 £Com EtherlinkIII PC Card.

All machines upgraded to SP2 simultaneously, and indeed possibly foolishly :p

I'm not sure if this started happening directly as a result of installing SP2 but it was around that time.

Every 10 minutes or so on the wired connections, the network notification balloon pops up telling me that the cable is unplugged. If I go into the event viewer there are three events:

1) INFO - TCPIP - 4201 - The system detected that network adapter \DEVICE\TCPIP_{4F313558-8338-4E25-A690-C3F4DBE75CEE} was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter.
2) As 1.
3) WARNING - DHCP - 1003 - Your computer was not able to renew its address... yada yada yada

The connection picks back up again within a few seconds but it's enough to throw out one or two more "sensitive" pieces of sotware that have to be restarted to pick up the link again.

OK - I've just run a couple more tests, I initially thought it was only the wired connections that drop but it's not, the difference seems to be that the WLAN doesn't throw the DHCP warning event and doesn't trigger notification.

As an added bonus, in my case it seems that the one "sensitive" piece of software is also the cause of my woes or at least the catalyst :( If I don't start eDonkey, no problem, with it running and a list of files to download, the LAN trips.

I would guess that my router doesn't like the throughput or the number of connections it's being asked to handle.

I'll play some more and update if my situation changes.

B.

Rorie · 05-13-2008, 12:00 PM

Hi

I had this problem, and eventually fixed it today!

I've no idea why it started happening, but the Dell (with XP SP2) PC physically connected to my wireless broadband router via an ethernet cable started disconnecting and then reconnecting every 1-2 minutes.

It was driving me nuts so I;

0) Looked at the XP event viewer. It didn't really help.
1) Changed the ethernet cable - didn't fix it.
2) Fixed the IP address and DNS server of the PC (and laptop connecting via wireless) in case it was caused by IP address conflict - didn't fix it.
3) Upgraded the firmware of the wireless router - didn't fix it.
4) Upgraded the device driver of the NIC card (from the manufacturer's site) - fixed it!

If this is helpful, please visit www.saveonetreelane.com and sign my online petition! Thanks just in case.

08-10-2004, 01:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
howie30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2 OS: WinXP Pro	Random online disconnects "Your Network Cable Unplugged" I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem that I have with my PC's here at home. I am getting random "Your Network cable has been unplugged" every 5 mins or so while using the internet. All 4 of my PCs will have the same message pop up at the same time, the internet connection from all of the PCs will be lost for about 5 seconds and will jump right back up again! I've checked the Router (D-link DI-624) and the Cable Modem( DCM-202) I use Comcast Cable and their power doesn't go off when it happens, so i don't think it's a power problem. Thanks! Howie

08-10-2004, 01:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,211 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	if all 4 of the pc's do it at the same time, i would be suspecting the router first. (the network cable unplugged message will pop up if the networking card does not see a link established, and since they are connected to the router, i don't see the cable modem being the cause. also, if it was a networking card, i don't see that disturbing the entire network either.) that said, see if you can borrow a different router, or try running one pc to the cable modem for a few hours. then, you will possibly be able to say for sure if it is or isnt the router. other than that, i dont know, unless your house is being seriously saturated with some sort of intermittent RF signal. (which, if it was strong enough to interfere with your network cables, you and anyone else in the house would probably want to go see a doctor soon.) __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? New Members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. Power Tip: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature> Last edited by Volt-Schwibe : 08-10-2004 at 02:01 AM.

08-10-2004, 02:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
howie30 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2 OS: WinXP Pro	Thanks for the fast reply! I'll go test out plugging my main PC to the modem and see what happens. Thanks a bunch! I'll post to see what happens Howie

08-10-2004, 03:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,211 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	we will be here. :) __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? New Members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. Power Tip: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

10-25-2004, 05:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Benjboyle Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1 OS: XP SP2	me too Hi guys. I'm experiencing a similar (if not the same) problem. Current config is - 3COM Office Connect WE754G72E Router/ADSL Modem/WLAN. Set as DHCP server, with leases assigned forever (was daily but I changed it while trying to solve this problem) - PC XP SP2 with Realtek RTL8139 onboard LAN. - Laptop XP SP2 with 3COM 54Mbps WLAN PC Card. - Laptop XP SP2 £Com EtherlinkIII PC Card. All machines upgraded to SP2 simultaneously, and indeed possibly foolishly :p I'm not sure if this started happening directly as a result of installing SP2 but it was around that time. Every 10 minutes or so on the wired connections, the network notification balloon pops up telling me that the cable is unplugged. If I go into the event viewer there are three events: 1) INFO - TCPIP - 4201 - The system detected that network adapter \DEVICE\TCPIP_{4F313558-8338-4E25-A690-C3F4DBE75CEE} was connected to the network, and has initiated normal operation over the network adapter. 2) As 1. 3) WARNING - DHCP - 1003 - Your computer was not able to renew its address... yada yada yada The connection picks back up again within a few seconds but it's enough to throw out one or two more "sensitive" pieces of sotware that have to be restarted to pick up the link again. OK - I've just run a couple more tests, I initially thought it was only the wired connections that drop but it's not, the difference seems to be that the WLAN doesn't throw the DHCP warning event and doesn't trigger notification. As an added bonus, in my case it seems that the one "sensitive" piece of software is also the cause of my woes or at least the catalyst :( If I don't start eDonkey, no problem, with it running and a list of files to download, the LAN trips. I would guess that my router doesn't like the throughput or the number of connections it's being asked to handle. I'll play some more and update if my situation changes. B.

05-13-2008, 12:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rorie Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP SP2	Re: Random online disconnects "Your Network Cable Unplugged" Hi I had this problem, and eventually fixed it today! I've no idea why it started happening, but the Dell (with XP SP2) PC physically connected to my wireless broadband router via an ethernet cable started disconnecting and then reconnecting every 1-2 minutes. It was driving me nuts so I; 0) Looked at the XP event viewer. It didn't really help. 1) Changed the ethernet cable - didn't fix it. 2) Fixed the IP address and DNS server of the PC (and laptop connecting via wireless) in case it was caused by IP address conflict - didn't fix it. 3) Upgraded the firmware of the wireless router - didn't fix it. 4) Upgraded the device driver of the NIC card (from the manufacturer's site) - fixed it! If this is helpful, please visit www.saveonetreelane.com and sign my online petition! Thanks just in case.