DSL Connection fails, Error 638

Vertex · 04 Jul 2013

Hello, since the other day, my DSL connection continues to fail on my desktop PC but it is working on my netbook which I'm using right now, hooked towards my monitor.

I have tried everything I could to fix it. I ran the troubleshooter, unplugged my network cable, reset the adapter, deleted and recreated my connection and it fails. It would show up ERROR 638. I even reformatted my PC and the network continues to fail. It did manage to connect for a few minutes earlier today and would just automatically disconnect a few moments later. It continues to fail in connecting right now. Could it be a physical hardware problem with my built-in LAN adapter?

I have a screenshot to help explain the situation and also a zipped diagnostic log which I have initiated after running the "diagnostics" link on the ERROR 638 message. Any ideas?

OvenMaster · 04 Jul 2013

When this connection fails, the first thing that I would do is to go into Device Manager, expand Network Adapters, right-click on your LAN adapter, and check its status.

Is it still Installed? Working? Disabled? Any error condition? It does sound to me as if the motherboard's LAN adapter itself is intermittent or failing, as you suggest, or perhaps the cable is faulty.

I would also check the rear panel LAN socket indicator lights to see if they're lit and flashing like they should be, according to your mobo manual.

Vertex · 04 Jul 2013

I have checked the Device Manager many times and the LAN adapter's driver is installed. I even uninstalled it and clicked on Scan for hardware changes so that the computer will reinstall the LAN. I also disabled and enabled it but still, it has no avail.

The lights are flashing when I plug the cable on the PC and I'm it now on my netbook, the connection is working here with no problems. I even cleaned the port and the inside of my system unit and still it fails.

There's also another hardware issue besides the LAN adapter. Since I reformatted the PC yesterday, Windows Media Center won't detect my analog TV tuner even when I installed the correct driver and the needed components and the TV tuner was showing up on the device manager anyway. This PC rig is 5 years old by the way.

OvenMaster · 05 Jul 2013

Okay then, if you are moving the same cable between the netbook and the suspect desktop machine and it works fine only with the netbook, and you've reformatted and reinstalled Windows and your LAN drivers as you said in your original post, then the only logical conclusion that I can come up with is motherboard hardware failure, either the LAN adapter itself, or taking your tuner card into consideration, a northbridge or southbridge chip failure.

If I were in your shoes I'd be shopping for a new motherboard.

Vertex · 06 Jul 2013

I really wish I do. Internet and cable TV make up the reason why I take my desktop for granted. Many times I have both of them running like watching TV while waiting for a download to complete. Its the only time I have had both of these issues at the same time. If I can't get the money for a new mobo, I might as well shop for a new LAN adapter and try to plug the TV tuner on another PCI slot and see if I'll be into any better luck.