Network Adapter Problems

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

Been having this problem for a while now, and initially thought it was a Windows 10 problem. But I've tried going back to Windows 7, and it still happened there. I'm now back on Windows 10 as shown in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGroN_pWfyg

The drivers are up-to-date. The problem happens whether I'm on Wifi or LAN directly to the modem/router.

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

Does this occur everywhere or only on this particular local area network? Have you tried resetting the router (power it off for a few minutes and restart)?

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

I've never taken this laptop anywhere except between rooms, so I've no way to test if it happens elsewhere. Yes, I've tried rebooting the router when this problem first started happening back in mid-October.

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

Well, I'd say it could be a network chip in the system but if it happens both on the wired and wireless that becomes a lot less likely (needing two chips to have the same problem). You seem to have ruled out a software issue. That leaves the router as the one part that's been constant. What router is it - is it provided by your ISP? If it's your router, get a replacement and if it's from your ISP give them a call. They can do a diagnostic from their end and you can ask for a replacement.

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

SchizTech :

Yep, it's a router that's provided by the ISP. If it's the router though, wouldn't that mean that other devices connected to it should be having the same problem?

It's one of these two, not sure which: Hitron CGN3ACR and Hitron CGNM3552

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

What other devices do you have? Also, what's the laptop model? If it's a problem in the laptop, it sounds like you effectively ruled out a driver/OS problem and it's unlikely the wired and wireless network chips independently failed. That means the problem could lie deeper in the system with the PCIe bus that runs both. Are there any other issues the laptop is having?

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

SchizTech :

PS3, PS4, Smart TV, Phone, my sister's Macbook. No other devices have acted up. No other problems since the last time I reformatted. Except for the one time that I had to completely uninstall and reinstall the Hotkey driver.

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

OK, so the possibilities are narrowing. If there is a software issue in the laptop it's well hidden.

Let me suggest running an Ubuntu live CD. It's free to download an image of the Ubuntu software from ubuntu.com, which can be either burned to a DVD or copied to a flash drive (a program like http://www.linuxliveusb.com/en/download can do that). Use this media to boot the PC and there's an option to run Ubuntu off the external media without installing to the HDD. If there are network issues here, there's a hardware issue. Otherwise, if it runs with no issue over a convincing period of time, it's software.

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

SchizTech :

How long should I test it on Ubuntu? Asking because there have been instances where the laptop has been fine for up to three days.

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

At minimum, longer than the longest you recall it going without trouble in the past. Browsing should work with modern websites as the most recent version of Ubuntu contains a recent release of Firefox. If you're able to run it without needing to do anything that'll be hard to do outside of Windows just keep running it and observing it for maybe a week. You can access files on the HDD from the live CD and Ubuntu has media players and an office suite so all common file types should be able to be accessed.

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

SchizTech :

Hmm, that'll mean I won't be able to record, edit or render any videos during that time. I'll see what happens, sometimes the problem happens overnight, like I go to sleep everything fine, wake up find that the thing happened. At least that's when it usually happened. Last night, when I tried playing and streaming Dead by Daylight with some friends, it just kept happening.

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

Just keep in mind the longer you can see it go without trouble in Ubuntu the more convincing the result. On the other hand, if it doesn't take long to see there is a problem there too the time problem becomes moot.

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

SchizTech :

I hear ya. Hopefully that Ubuntu Live will fit in a 8GB USB stick.

SchizTech · Dec 11, 2016

larghaz :

Sure, 8GB is more than enough

larghaz · Dec 11, 2016

SchizTech :

Alrighty, Ubuntu downloaded, USB stick loaded up, I'll start trying it out tomorrow.

larghaz · Dec 12, 2016

Ok, so before I made this thread yesterday, I disabled and enabled the wifi adapter after a fresh reboot. The problem has not happened since just yet. I think I'm gonna go see how this turns out first before trying out Linux.

larghaz · Dec 13, 2016

It eventually happened again today. Think I may be noticing a pattern. It usually happens when I'm rendering a video, or when I'm streaming myself. I usually leave the laptop to render a video before going to sleep, probably why I find that it happened again when I wake up.

It's the reason I initially thought it was an overheating issue. But the laptop itself isn't hot to the touch, and should shutdown by itself if it was overheating. Luckily, it hasn't happened while I'm recording yet.

Or at least I don't remember it happening when I'm not rendering a video. It may have and I just don't remember since it's so rare.

larghaz · Dec 13, 2016

Ok, I'm posting this right after I just restarted the laptop. The problem happened again just now. This time I was simply watching a Youtube video. Will definitely try Ubuntu tomorrow to see what happens.

Question though, what's the most intensive thing that I can do with Ubuntu to try and make it happen on purpose as a test?

johnbl · Dec 13, 2016

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/
I would make sure you have the lastest network driver.
I would also update the firmware on your router.

when the network driver detect a problem with a packet it receives it will ask for the packet again, after 3 times the adapter will give up and try to reset in order to fix the problem.
if the problem is being caused by special BIOS support for networking, the packet will just be corrupted over and over. (happens a lot on certain laptops) the corruption can also happen as the packet passes thru a router. The only real way to tell is to run a packet sniffer and look for connection reset requests.

Microsoft network analyzer can do this but it takes a bunch of effort if you have never used it before.
I would just apply the potential fixes (update the network drivers and the router firmware)
I would also check my machine for network packet injectors (windivert) they tend to cause this type of problem. Packet injectors are often used as game cheat software or as malware to steal data from machines (passwords and accounts)

SchizTech · Dec 13, 2016

larghaz :

Ubuntu can do many of the same things as Windows. The default software configuration may not have anything really stressful in it but you can install other utilites from the package manager. Look for a stress tester, like this one http://www.hecticgeek.com/2012/11/stress-test-your-ubuntu-computer-with-stress/.

larghaz · Dec 13, 2016

johnbl :

The drivers and firmware are definitely up-to-date.

If it's a BIOS thing, what should I be looking for there?

Never heard of Microsoft Network Analyzer before. Is it built into Windows, or a separate download?

larghaz · Dec 13, 2016

SchizTech :

The link they gave for Ibench seems dead. The iBench that I eventually googled led to a Mac application. Can't find the download link to the one the article is talking about though. Is it built into Ubuntu?

I'm trying to open the Terminal, but it seems to just close by itself.

larghaz · Dec 13, 2016

Turns out that I didn't need to stress the system at all for it to happen. The problem persisted on Linux, while I was just browsing and just sitting on the Youtube subscribe page. Guess it really is a hardware problem. Gonna go looking for a Wireless AC Dongle now, unless there are other suggestions anyone may have.

SchizTech · Dec 13, 2016

Well any app with a name starting with 'i' has a good chance of being an apple app of some kind. I'm not sure what exactly you'll find but there's a graphical package manager built into Ubuntu with a search box. I'd bet there's something there to stress that system

SchizTech · Dec 13, 2016

larghaz :

Ah, ok then. There must be something going on in that motherboard, so yes a USB dongle would be my suggestion

Network Adapter Problems

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