Strange network troubles

EasyCake · 11-06-2009, 12:14 PM

Computer:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
Intel Xeon E3110 3.0ghz (oc'd to 3.6ghz) - been stable for over a year
EVGA 780i nforce motherboard
EVGA 8800gtx
4gb Corsair XMS2 RAM
1 main HD and 1 backup

I don't have a network card, I use the one that's on my motherboard.

I built this computer in May of 2008 and I've never had any Network issues that were not isp-related. This is my only PC so I don't use a router, I have the cable modem connected directly to my PC. Everything was fine until I woke up this morning and noticed my Network Status was X'd out in the bottom right corner. My modem was fine, internet appeared to be on and all. I called Time Warner and they said my connection was fine except my modem could not detect my PC. I switched the connector cable just to make sure but it still didn't work.

I tried disabling and then re-enabling my network connection but for some reason it would not disable. I went in my device manager and looked at both my network ports and they both were working correctly and lit green. I tried my other ethernet port on my motherboard (EVGA 780i) and my connection came back. My connection was fine from then on out until I rebooted my PC. When I rebooted it no longer recognized the new connection exactly like the last time. So I re-connected back to the original ethernet port and something strange happened. It recognized the connection but it only listed a "Local" connection so I couldn't connect to the internet. I tried repairing the connection but that didn't work.

I rebooted my computer again and this time neither connection worked, both were X'd out when I tried them. I couldn't even get the "Local" connection anymore. So I decided to reinstall my network drivers, when I attempted to do that my computer froze and I had to do a hard reboot. I tried uninstalling the drivers manually and tried re-installing them from my motherboard dvd... both times my computer froze.

Next, I ran a full virus scan with Avira AntiVir and there were no detections. Then I started fiddling around with the network connection, I tried disabling and re-enabling the connection again.. but when I tried to disable it my computer froze. When I hard rebooted again my network and internet connection suddenly worked again and that's where I am. I'm afraid if I reboot again I will lose my connection.... I am very close to formatting the drive and re-installing Windows.

Does anyone have any clue what the hell is going on?

**johnwill** · 11-06-2009, 12:29 PM

Actually, this sounds more like the ports are the problem, not the software. You'll have to reboot sooner or later.

aurelius2000 · 11-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Ok this is what i would like you to do. Check the line for kinks, bends, or breaks. If the cable appears to be fine i would still try a new cable. Ask Time Warner (considering they should be able to make a service call for that) if they can come take a look. It could be something on their end. Tell them that if they don't come out that you will switch providers (unless there are none where you are located).

Honestly, it may be the cable itself but i hated time warner when i lived in NY and switched to Verizon. Better customer service in my opinion.

EasyCake · 11-06-2009, 12:46 PM

I tried 3 different cables to no avail. However, after googling this problem for an hour I may have found the culprit, i'm using Vista SP1 and a few days ago I installed Virtual PC in order to play an older game. Apparently, Vista SP1 + Virtual PC has a lot of problems. I saw this thread:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...7-a534e036a641

I uninstalled Virtual PC (took a couple tried because it froze my comp) and have yet to have any of the aforementioned problems. Obviously I'll need to monitor my computer for a while longer to make sure this did it, but so far it looks like it worked.

**johnwill** · 11-07-2009, 12:36 PM

Try SP2 for your Vista installation.

EasyCake · 11-09-2009, 01:11 PM

I did, installed SP2 and all other updates. Still have the same problem, just not going to be able to use Virtual PC I guess.

**johnwill** · 11-09-2009, 05:35 PM

I used Virtual PC on my Vista machine with no issues, but perhaps I was just lucky?

11-06-2009, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
EasyCake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista 64	Strange network troubles Computer: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Intel Xeon E3110 3.0ghz (oc'd to 3.6ghz) - been stable for over a year EVGA 780i nforce motherboard EVGA 8800gtx 4gb Corsair XMS2 RAM 1 main HD and 1 backup I don't have a network card, I use the one that's on my motherboard. I built this computer in May of 2008 and I've never had any Network issues that were not isp-related. This is my only PC so I don't use a router, I have the cable modem connected directly to my PC. Everything was fine until I woke up this morning and noticed my Network Status was X'd out in the bottom right corner. My modem was fine, internet appeared to be on and all. I called Time Warner and they said my connection was fine except my modem could not detect my PC. I switched the connector cable just to make sure but it still didn't work. I tried disabling and then re-enabling my network connection but for some reason it would not disable. I went in my device manager and looked at both my network ports and they both were working correctly and lit green. I tried my other ethernet port on my motherboard (EVGA 780i) and my connection came back. My connection was fine from then on out until I rebooted my PC. When I rebooted it no longer recognized the new connection exactly like the last time. So I re-connected back to the original ethernet port and something strange happened. It recognized the connection but it only listed a "Local" connection so I couldn't connect to the internet. I tried repairing the connection but that didn't work. I rebooted my computer again and this time neither connection worked, both were X'd out when I tried them. I couldn't even get the "Local" connection anymore. So I decided to reinstall my network drivers, when I attempted to do that my computer froze and I had to do a hard reboot. I tried uninstalling the drivers manually and tried re-installing them from my motherboard dvd... both times my computer froze. Next, I ran a full virus scan with Avira AntiVir and there were no detections. Then I started fiddling around with the network connection, I tried disabling and re-enabling the connection again.. but when I tried to disable it my computer froze. When I hard rebooted again my network and internet connection suddenly worked again and that's where I am. I'm afraid if I reboot again I will lose my connection.... I am very close to formatting the drive and re-installing Windows. Does anyone have any clue what the hell is going on?

11-06-2009, 12:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Strange network troubles Actually, this sounds more like the ports are the problem, not the software. You'll have to reboot sooner or later. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-06-2009, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
aurelius2000 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 199 OS: Windows XP SP3/Windows Vista SP2	Re: Strange network troubles Ok this is what i would like you to do. Check the line for kinks, bends, or breaks. If the cable appears to be fine i would still try a new cable. Ask Time Warner (considering they should be able to make a service call for that) if they can come take a look. It could be something on their end. Tell them that if they don't come out that you will switch providers (unless there are none where you are located). Honestly, it may be the cable itself but i hated time warner when i lived in NY and switched to Verizon. Better customer service in my opinion.

11-06-2009, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
EasyCake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista 64	Re: Strange network troubles I tried 3 different cables to no avail. However, after googling this problem for an hour I may have found the culprit, i'm using Vista SP1 and a few days ago I installed Virtual PC in order to play an older game. Apparently, Vista SP1 + Virtual PC has a lot of problems. I saw this thread: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...7-a534e036a641 I uninstalled Virtual PC (took a couple tried because it froze my comp) and have yet to have any of the aforementioned problems. Obviously I'll need to monitor my computer for a while longer to make sure this did it, but so far it looks like it worked.

11-07-2009, 12:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Strange network troubles Try SP2 for your Vista installation. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-09-2009, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
EasyCake Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista 64	Re: Strange network troubles I did, installed SP2 and all other updates. Still have the same problem, just not going to be able to use Virtual PC I guess.

11-09-2009, 05:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Strange network troubles I used Virtual PC on my Vista machine with no issues, but perhaps I was just lucky? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience