dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
| [net] PC periodically loses wired network connection to Actionte
I have a very simple network: one PC hardwired and two PCs with wireless connection to the Actiontec MI424WR router, along with three STB units for video.
When I first joined FIOS in June, my wired PC would lose internet connection nearly every night, sometime after 12 AM. The wiresless was not affected. After literally months of trying things with Verizon (multiple router replacements, new ONT, etc) I finally found the PC had two network connections shown - unsure how it happened, but probably something one of the kids did... Anyway, I deleted all network services, rebuilt to the basic essentials and everything was fine.
Until late last week. Now, the same problem is back - losing connection between the wired PC and the router, only this time - no contaminated network connection setup. Still, I rebuilt the network connection just in case. No luck.
Full system spyware and anti-virus scans turn up nothing and the only thing I know that is scheduled is a daily anti-virus update at 3 AM (which is not correlated to the problem). I did do a Windows XP update and loaded WMP 11 about the time the problem started to recur.
There's something amiss with my PC that's causing this. has anyone else here run into this problem? |
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AVITWeb
join:2002-01-11
Trenton, NJ | Re: [net] PC periodically loses wired network connection to Acti
are you leaving it unattended, unused, for an extended amount of time? |
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GeekGirl1
The Medium IS the Message
Premium
join:2007-01-28
Morrisville, PA
| reply to dpd
You might not be aware of this, but both the router and your PC have built-in logging that can help you.
If you are using Windows XP, there's an event viewer that can be used to tell you about network problems. Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer.
The router's logger is called "System Logging".
In any case, look for events that occurred around the time of your problem and maybe you will see what caused it. My bet is something triggered on the PC, since reconfiguration of the drivers fixed it.
Interpreting content of these files is not easy. If you need help, just post what you find and hopefully someone will respond. |
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buckingham
Buckingham Pa
join:2005-07-17
Buckingham, PA | reply to dpd
Check the power management options in your PC to be sure it's not shutting down your Ethernet port. |
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dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to GeekGirl1
said by GeekGirl1  :You might not be aware of this, but both the router and your PC have built-in logging that can help you. If you are using Windows XP, there's an event viewer that can be used to tell you about network problems. Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer. The router's logger is called "System Logging". In any case, look for events that occurred around the time of your problem and maybe you will see what caused it. My bet is something triggered on the PC, since reconfiguration of the drivers fixed it. Interpreting content of these files is not easy. If you need help, just post what you find and hopefully someone will respond. I've have looked at the Event Viewer (System) and I haven't yet been able to correlate anything with the problem since it occurs when no one is logged in so I don't have an exact time, only a gross time range. Anything specific to look for? |
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dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
1 edit | reply to buckingham
said by buckingham :Check the power management options in your PC to be sure it's not shutting down your Ethernet port. The only power management feature I am using - as far as I can tell, is to turn my monitor off. I don't see anything that would turn off a network adapter. Perhaps something in the BIOS? |
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destroyah
join:2005-04-20
Norwalk, CA
 ·Verizon FIOS
2 edits |  You'll find the power management settings for your ethernet card under your network settings.
If you have a "My Network Places" icon on your desktop, you can right-click it, then select properties. Now open up your "Local Area Connection" to show its properties. Now, click on "Properties", then where it says "Configure", click on that.
Now, navigate over to "Power Management", and un-check "Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power", and then click OK, and close all the windows that you opened, then restart your computer to make sure the settings take effect.
Hopefully that helps a little.  |
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dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
| said by destroyah :You'll find the power management settings for your ethernet card under your network settings. Sure enough, it was checked to allow the ethernet card to be turned off. Let's see what happens - that's the best cue yet.
Thanks! |
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GeekGirl1
The Medium IS the Message
Premium
join:2007-01-28
Morrisville, PA
4 edits | reply to dpd
said by dpd :I've have looked at the Event Viewer (System) and I haven't yet been able to correlate anything with the problem since it occurs when no one is logged in so I don't have an exact time, only a gross time range. Anything specific to look for? As long as the system is booted, processes are running. Logging in just means that a human is using it. Also, some system processes are called applications, so you should also check Event Viewer -> Applications just in case.
Add to dpd's comment: Why wait? Just set your PC's time to just before you think it will happen. Sneaky  . Try it in the original "problem" state. Then, try the fix. That'll confirm everything.
Update: After thinking a bit more, power management works on time since last activity. Changing the clock might not work because you are still using the PC over a relative time, not absolute time. However, it's still a good technique if the problem is triggered by absolute time of day. |
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dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
2 edits | reply to dpd
Nope - The ethernet power idea didn't solve the problem. I re-loaded the Intel Pro100 drivers today from Dell. Also, downloaded Intel's diagnostic for this card - no problems found.
It's still something that happens after an unknown period of time when no one is logged into the system.
Any other ideas??? |
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dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
| Well, early indications are that my Zone Alarm client is the culprit. I enabled Windows Firewall and disabled Zone Alarm last night. Logged in about 11 hours later, Zone Alarm was running at login (I forgot to disable that at user login) and no connection to the internet. As soon as I shut off Zone Alarm manually, the internet connection was working fine.
If this works multiple times overnight, I think I have my basic cause. Now, I just need to understand what in Zone Alarm may be the root cause. |
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buckingham
Buckingham Pa
join:2005-07-17
Buckingham, PA
| reply to dpd
said by dpd :said by destroyah :You'll find the power management settings for your ethernet card under your network settings. Sure enough, it was checked to allow the ethernet card to be turned off. Let's see what happens - that's the best cue yet. The reason I mentioned that is my new work machine from Dell had some issues with that particular "feature"...drove me nuts! |
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dpd
join:2007-12-26
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to dpd
^^^ Scratch that, it hung this morning, so it's not Zone Alarm. Back to square one, I'm afraid. I did see a note that W32Time couldn't synchronize at 5 AM. My anti-virus updated at 3 AM, so it looks like it takes 3-4 hrs before the network card loses connection to the modem. |
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