Really odd networking problem

[Pleb5919]

I've started having a really weird networking problem in the last month and a half.

I've got a Netgear WNDR3700 router that I purchased in January, and am using it with several devices in the home:

• Win7 64-bit laptop with wireless N
• Win7 64-bit desktop connected by wireless N
• DLink WAP-1522 access point connected by wireless N
• 2 iPhone 4's connected by wireless N

Everything was working fine, originally. Sometime around 6 weeks ago, I started experiencing problems with the connection between the router and the Win7 laptop. That's the only device having the problem.

I *think* that the problem started one day when I was logged into the router with the laptop, and the Netgear prompted me to download the latest update. I started that process, and, while I was in the middle of it, I got a notification that Windows had downloaded an update and was rebooting. I had walked away from my computer to get a glass of water, and didn't see the Windows notice in time to override it.

So, the laptop rebooted while in the middle of overseeing an update to the router's firmware.

The problem manifests as follows:

With the laptop, when I connect wirelessly to the router, I might intermittently have a problem where I lose network connectivity. A little yellow exclamation mark appears at the bottom in the taskbar. While that's there, any site I was trying to go to becomes inaccessible. If I don't try to access any websites at all, and just leave the computer, eventually, it'll go away. But if I try to go to any website while that exclamation mark is there, from that point on, *any* time I try to access that website *ever* afterwards, the computer will not be able to go to that website, and trying to go there will result in losing network connectivity immediately.

For example....in troubleshooting this, when I originally experienced the issue trying to go to www.toyrrus.ca and www.futureshop.ca, the computer wouldn't access those sites. So, I tried going to www.hotmail.com.... now whenever I go to any of those three sites, the yellow exclamation mark appears, and I lose connectivity.

The list of sites that cause the computer to disconnect is gradually growing, and it's becoming a real pain in the butt. I can no longer access Google Apps or Gmail either, as a result.

I originally thought maybe this was an issue with my network card in the laptop. But I've taken the laptop to multiple locations and connected to about 5 other routers, and have not had these problems with *any* other router. Similarly, I have not had these problems with my Netgear connecting to any other device in the house.

Troubleshooting Steps I've Taken

1-Disabled wireless networking, connected Win7 laptop to router via RJ45. Works perfectly.

2-Done Windows troubleshooting. Consistently, whenever this problem occurs, Windows Troubleshooting finds that my laptop has lost access to the default gateway. Windows then restores access to the default gateway.....and the laptop will then work fine UNTIL I try going to any of those sites like Future Shop, Hotmail, etc. Then it loses the default gateway again.

3-Reset the router by depressing the pinhole button for 5 seconds.

4-Set up a new name for the wireless network that the laptop connects to.

5-Deleted the old wireless network from the laptop's memory.

6-Uninstalled the device drivers for the wireless network card in the laptop, and installed an old version of the driver (can't seem to find the newer versions online anymore, even at the manufacturer's website).

Despite all these measures, none have worked, and I'm running out of ideas.

I've had someone suggest reverting the firmware on the router, but I'm not sure how to do that.

At this point, I'm frustrated enough that if I actually knew it would fix matters, I'd buy a new network card to replace the one in the laptop....but, given it works with other routers, I don't see it being the network card.

Pleb5919

 

[Shadowjk]

Okay First of all Could you please Follow this Tutorial then Post back your results

http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/144365-network-posting-tips.html

Many Thanks,
Josh

 

[DustSailor]

Perhaps you could, after following Shadow's tutorial, try re-connecting to the router via cable and then update the router once more, or whatever you were doing before hand.

 

[Pleb5919]

Here's the information I got by running IP Config..

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /all
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Lambent-Mobile
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-5F-E2-F0-5A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8192E Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI
-E NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-5F-E2-F0-5A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::93e:2d92:ace2:5489%14(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.10(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : May-16-11 10:54:52 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : May-17-11 11:28:04 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 201335391
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-12-15-F6-AD-00-26-22-2E-16-56
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8102E/RTL8103E Family PCI-E Fa
st Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-26-22-2E-16-56
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{96C39CEA-5EC0-46CA-AEDA-E10420BFFE96}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{3C6DFBF9-F484-4A02-A330-FD3C3C65039A}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{228A6A78-8033-47F2-838C-F9C85811704F}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:8ba:1464:5231:7bca(Prefe
rred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::8ba:1464:5231:7bca%16(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
Tunnel adapter isatap.{C89ADDAC-D084-4E81-B497-272CE53A6ECA}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
C:\Windows\system32>

 

[Pleb5919]

Ok, I followed Shadowjk's instructions, and have posted the contents from IP Config.

I also ran the FlushDNS.bat file that he attached. I couldn't actually see the information about what happened, because the screen went by so quick, but it did reboot the PC. On reboot, my network connection for the laptop was still not working.

Was it supposed to give any kind of a report?

Pleb5919

 

[Pleb5919]

I've also reconnected to the router by cable, and re-applied the latest firmware.

No change. The problem is still occurring.

Pleb5919

 

[DustSailor]

First uninstall the wireless adapter's software on your computer through the control panel. Then connect through the cable to download the software off of the manufacturer's website. Go through the step by step process of reconnecting wirelessly that appears after the install of your wireless card adapter. There is also a windows diagnostic utility that you could use to "diagnose connection problems", and I'd use it after unplugging the cable so that it is forced to use wireless diagnostics only.

If all else fails, then I wonder if you could reconnect to the router via another computer and entering the laptop's ip address into it. Have you tried reconnecting to the router and deleting previously stored wireless profiles, and reentering the password to the router? Or is it that you just cannot see the router? You could also manually enter the router's name in order to search for it, but I really would try re-downloading and installing your wireless card's software first.

 

[Shadowjk]

Ok, I followed Shadowjk's instructions, and have posted the contents from IP Config.

I also ran the FlushDNS.bat file that he attached. I couldn't actually see the information about what happened, because the screen went by so quick, but it did reboot the PC. On reboot, my network connection for the laptop was still not working.

Was it supposed to give any kind of a report?

Pleb5919

No It is a Batch file and a report will not be Generated it is just resetin a few bits and bobs

 

[Pleb5919]

Ok. Sorry about the lag....usually I get your responses in the morning, but don't have an opportunity to try out your suggestions until the evenings.

I uninstalled the wireless nic in device manager, then connected to the router via RJ45, and downloaded the drivers from the manufacturer's website.

I'm using a Realtek RTL8192E.

I installed the new driver, saw that my list of networks was flushed out, and so I disconnected the cable, then tried to connect wirelessly to the router again. It connected. As soon as I tried to go to Sign In, the little exclamation point appeared again, and I was no longer able to get anywhere on the Internet.

I waited 20 minutes, and the exclamation mark went away, and I was able to surf to *other* websites....but as soon as I went to Hotmail and Gmail, the exclamation mark appeared again, and I was disconnected again.

I then uninstalled the NIC, downloaded the drivers again, reinstalled, and the same thing happened.

I ran the Windows Diagnostic Utility (right click on the network bars icon in the taskbar, click "Troubleshoot Connection Problems", then followed the instructions), and Windows couldn't find any problems, even though I was not able to get any data.

I then opened my command prompt and ran a traceroute to Sign In, and it timed out on the first hop.

I then went upstairs to my desktop PC and logged into my router, saw the assigned IP address of my laptop (the one having the problems) and ran a traceroute to it, and that timed out as well.

When that little exclamation point appears I can see my router in the list of nearby wireless networks, and I can connect to it...but if I mouse over the icon showing my 5 bars of signal strength, it says "Netgear-24 No Internet Access".

Several times I have deleted the wireless profile in the laptop. I don't know if it's possible to do that within the router. But I've done it on the Windows laptop....but it doesn't alleviate the problem.

On previous instances, when I run the Microsoft Troubleshooting Wizard, it tells me "Default Gateway not assigned" then "Fixed"....and I get an internet signal again. But, as soon as I try going to Hotmail, Gmail, Future Shop.ca, toysrus.ca, or a few other sites, the internet connection is lost again.

To be clear....when these problems are occurring, the router itself is still connected to the internet. I can have the laptop telling me there's no internet connection, and meanwhile my desktop is connected to the same router wirelessly, and I'm surfing away, without a single problem.

Pleb5919

 

[stevewillette]

this solution was so simple

I fought with the same exact issue for 2 days. I tried even loading windows 7 clean 2 times. I tried a different router and still nothing. I then set my wireless card to use only one band.

Under the properties settings I went to configure then advance then wireless mode. I then switched it from 802.1b/n/g to just 802.1b and it is working fine. Have not dropped a page since. Network connection is stable.

Good Luck
Steve

 

[Pleb5919]

Thanks for the tip. I tried that, switching it from b/g/n to "b only", and the problem went away.

However....that slows down everything on my network, since everything else is N.

If I switch the laptop back to b/g/n, the problem comes right back. It's like turning a light switch on/off (in terms of how reliable is).

Is this an indicator of a hardware problem with the router or the laptop?

Did yours do this with *every* router you connected to? Or just to one router? Mine functions with b/g/n with *every* router except the one in my house.

Pleb5919

 

[DustSailor]

You could try disconnecting your router, uninstalling any software you've installed with the router, and reinstalling it as brand new (I'd follow the manual). You would again have to make a new profile on each computer connecting to your router in order to connect to the internet. Other than that, I've never had this problem before, I would suggest looking it up on google and see other threads of people having the same problem. Someone may be able to share their experience in solving this issue.

 

[blibbka]

stevewillette, thanks for this. I came across this thread after a Google search and steve's suggestion fixed it right away.

Like Pleb I found that my speed was significantly (but not to a problematic extent) slower once I'd switched to b only instead of b/g/n.

I switched to b/g and then I found speed was back to normal but without the drop-outs and upload problem.

To summarise my problem for the benefit of other Google searches:

I have a Samsung R620 laptop computer, with a Realtek RTL8192E Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E NIC wireless adaptor.

I have just had O2 broadband setup in my flat. I find that connecting to the O2 v5 router via an ethernet cable, all is good.

But when I connect using the laptop's built-in Realtek wireless adaptor, uploads fail and the connection is lost intermittently. If I go to speedtest.net, the upload test does not take place, and this is also noticeable when trying to upload an image to facebook, for example.

I have two Samsung R620 laptops, and both exhibited exactly the same behaviour.

After a few calls to O2 tech support, changing the wireless channel, the wireless network SSID, restarting the router, the problem persisted.

Eventually I tried using a USB wireless adaptor on my laptop and the problem dissapeared, which narrows the problem down to the laptop's built-in wireless adaptor.

I changed the adaptor settings to "b only" from "b/g/n", problem goes away but speed is down. Changed adaptor settings to "b/g" and now it works perfectly.