Windows7 32bit Disables NIC

[lrenard]

I support a user who is using a Dell OptiPlex 760 on a LAN. They work in the company’s Shipping and Receiving Department and were recently migrated to Windows 7 SP1 with IE v9.0. The user now states that, “My Internet connection is lost at random on the computer. Upon rebooting the computer the internet returns, but then it will drop out again hours later.”

The scenario is that the user access the Internet during the morning hours, leaves their office area to make pickup/deliveries and returns to their office after several hours only to discover that the network card on the computer is no longer working (network connectively icon has a red x – also, the NIC’s link light no longer shows any activity). In order to re-establish a network connection, they must reboot the system.

I have been attempting for several days now to resolve their issue. The things that I have done are:
1. Ensuring that the computer has the most recent critical Windows updates.
2. Downloading and installing the most current driver from Dell’s website for the system’s Intel Pro 100 NIC and Windows 7 32 bit
3. Downloading and installing the most current driver from Dell for the system’s Intel chipset and Windows 7 32 bit
4. Changing the Device Manager settings for Power Management of NIC to disabled
5. Ensuring the Windows Power Options are set for
a. Sleep after 30 minutes
b. Allow hybrid sleep on
c. Hibernate never
d. Wake up timers enabled
e. PCI Link state Moderate Power Saving
f. Turn display off after 20 minutes

Short of replacing the NIC or network cable, I have applied/ tried all the known fixes for this issue. I hesitate to replace the cable or the NIC as a fix because upon reboot the computer is able to establish a network connection.

I am looking for a solution to this problem based upon something that I may have over looked and not tried. Information I have gleaned from Internet research indicates that is a known problem, but it apparently has no definite solution.

If you have one, please reply.


References:
a. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itpronetworking/thread/60ec6b74-6cc3-4e02-bb2c-d0d26149d64f/
b. http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/32186-ethernet-connection-lost-found.html
c. http://forums.newsbin.com/viewtopic.php?p=158954
http://superuser.com/questions/96998/windows-7-intermittently-drops-wired-internet-lan-connection

 

[WebMattR]

Have you examined the BIOS? Given that you knocked off the first few things on my list, I'd check in there for power saving options?

 

[richnrockville]

My vote would be for the sleep option turning off the power to the card and not waking it up when you resume.

Try it without the sleep option, blank the monitor and see what happens.

Rich

 

[lrenard]

No, I did not check the BIOS for power saving for the NIC. I do have the Wake-on-LAN enabled in the BIOS; so, thank you. I will give that a go and let you know.

 

[lrenard]

My vote would be for the sleep option turning off the power to the card and not waking it up when you resume.

Try it without the sleep option, blank the monitor and see what happens.

Rich

I am not understanding what you are recommending. Where in the Power Options of Windows 7 Pro do you turn off the sleep option to the on-board NIC? I only have a listing for the wiresless NIC.

 

[lrenard]

Have you examined the BIOS? Given that you knocked off the first few things on my list, I'd check in there for power saving options?

No, I did not check the BIOS for power saving for the NIC. I do have the Wake-on-LAN enabled in the BIOS; so, thank you. I will give that a go and let you know.

 

[TCG]

My vote would be for the sleep option turning off the power to the card and not waking it up when you resume.

Try it without the sleep option, blank the monitor and see what happens.

Rich

This is surely plausible and I'd suggest this as well. There are issues currently with SP1 on Win7 and sleep states which would support Rich's suggestion also.

I've read that disabling Hybrid Sleep helps with some people's issues after the SP1 install, you could always give that a whirl as well.

 

[richnrockville]

My vote would be for the sleep option turning off the power to the card and not waking it up when you resume.

Try it without the sleep option, blank the monitor and see what happens.

Rich

I am not understanding what you are recommending. Where in the Power Options of Windows 7 Pro do you turn off the sleep option to the on-board NIC? I only have a listing for the wiresless NIC.

Maybe I was not clear, Sleep option is credited with causing problems with network cards as they sometimes/always will get discombobulated when their power is reduced and then when restored not do what they are supposed to do. The wake on lan also has created problems. My suggestion was not to use the sleep or hybernate option but to blank the screen after so long of non-use. The newer machines don't use all that much power and your savings will not be that much by using the sleep option.

Rich

 

[lrenard]

Hello Rich,

Okay, the light is on now, but I already have hiberate set to disabled. Also, the display is currently at 20 min, which is 10 min before sleep is involked. In addition, I have changed the device properties for the NIC not to use Power Options.

 

[lrenard]

Have you examined the BIOS? Given that you knocked off the first few things on my list, I'd check in there for power saving options?

No, I did not check the BIOS for power saving for the NIC. I do have the Wake-on-LAN enabled in the BIOS; so, thank you. I will give that a go and let you know.

No, I did not check the BIOS for power saving for the NIC. I do have the Wake-on-LAN enabled in the BIOS; so, thank you. I will give that a go and let you know.

I checked the BIOS. It is has the most current version and I am not able to find any related power saving options. Thank you. It was worth a shot.

 

[lrenard]

My vote would be for the sleep option turning off the power to the card and not waking it up when you resume.

Try it without the sleep option, blank the monitor and see what happens.

Rich

This is surely plausible and I'd suggest this as well. There are issues currently with SP1 on Win7 and sleep states which would support Rich's suggestion also.

I've read that disabling Hybrid Sleep helps with some people's issues after the SP1 install, you could always give that a whirl as well.

Although I am hesitate to disable the Hybrid Sleep because it is my understanding that its purpose is to write cache to the hard drive, your response did get me to looking at some of the other Power Options listed. Since the NIC is on-board that makes it a PCI device and I am going to test turning off the option for power saving for the PCI Express, Link State Power Management. I will post how that works out. Thank you.