Windows 7: New Windows 7 keeps dropping Internet

Hey all,
Really aggravating. Second computer connected (wire) to the same linksys router as working Windows 7 box. First Windows 7 box connects flawlessly. Installed Windows 7 on the second box and no internet. (worked minutes before when running XP). All connections good. Windows 7 detects card, but thinks the cable is uplugged or something. Troubleshooting (as expected) doesn't help ("Ask a friend" - that's rich).

Device manager shows card. Disabled, enabled, no effect.

Crawled back behind the computer and unplugged the cable from the Lyksys card and into the onboard MB jack. Internet worked!

Rebooted later... no internet. Updated drivers and all that. VERY aggravating. Several reboots and replugging later internet is working again, but next reboot it doesn't

Anyone have any clues why Windows 7's internet connectivity is so flaky? Thanks for any pointers to get this resolved.



(again, Windows 7 computer in the next room connected to the same hub/modem works flawlessly)

Check your firewall and/or Antivirus ... either one could be disabling the connection. Also, if you have Windows Defender running, go into Services and disable it to see if it could be the problem.

Well, here's what I found so far:

Windows 7 wasn't even recognizing the Linksys card and I think there must have been a conflict, because when I unplugged the Linksys card and rebooted (with the cable in the MB slot) everything works.

Went to device manager and there was still one other unrecognized Ethernet device so I disabled that also.

I'll reboot a few times and check back with results...

Edit: Rebooting usually still looses internet. Go to Devices, UN-enable and RE-enable Ethernet device and usually get internet back.

Can't figure out why Windows 7 won't hold onto the connection. It's fine until you reboot...