issue driving me insane

[wayliff]

Ok...I have an issue with my internet connection that is driving me nuts.

I have Business FIOS and initially run my computer using Win XP Pro...no problems.
It used the onboard nvidia LAN (nforce 4 board) and the Verizon router is a DI-604.

I have upgraded to Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit. It started working fine but after sometime, the internet connection is not consistent and it does not always aquire an IP address but instead it goes for an APIPA address. It sometimes would take 2 or 3 reboots to get it to connect.

I looked it up in the internet and noticed people with the same issue that recommended the NIC settings from autonegotiation to 100mpbs full duplex. I changed the setting as recommend and I think the situation has improved until about 6 days ago where it is refusing to connect most of the time.

I suspected a winsock issue but I have reset it using netsh winsock reset with no better results.
I suspected a NIC issue so I went ahead and purchased an Intel Pro/1000 GT and this one has never connected it just refuses to aquire an IP address from the router.
I thought the router was an issue so since I had a router standing around I replaced the DI-604 with a WBR-2310 (both are D-link by the way). That did not improve the situation.

I can say that the nvidia adapter will always work in safe mode with networking.

I am not sure where else to look and what for...but I have read that maybe IPV6 is the suspect but dont know how to address it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[spidey07]

First thing I would do is replace the cable with a good store bought one and set the NIC to autonegotiate speed/duplex. It's very possible you have a cabling problem even if one NIC works and another one doesn't.

 

[wayliff]

definitely something to consider - I have replaced the cable going from the computer to the wall twice but perhaps is the one from the wall to the router.

Would not a software test like the one that comes with the Intel adapter tell me if the cable went bad?

 

[wayliff]

ok I just used a 50 ft cable, that i know works well, to test the connection and the issue is still there. So at this time I am bypassing the cable inside the wall with a 50ft cable that I use for troubleshooting.

 

[wayliff]

one thing I forgot to mention when neither adapter work or one fails...and I try to renew the IP address through the command line this is the message i get

"The operation failed as no adapter is in the state permissible for operation."

 

[Redfoot]

wayliff,

Sorry to hear about your plight.

I was having similar issues when my Comcast modem went out. Multiple systems and cards plugged directly in to the modem would not gen an address. It eventually required a hard reboot from Comcast. It sound like you have tested everything, but do you have a cheap SOHO router laying around? See if the system can connect to the SOHO router consistently. If it does not, then something in Vista 64 is up to no good. Perhaps a reinstall of the chipset drivers? If it does, then maybe the FIOS router needs to get replaced (again).

Do you have a laptop to try that is running XP? That way maybe we can isolate the connection problem to the system and not the networking hardware or vice versa.

Good luck!

-Chris

 

[wayliff]

Thanks Redfoot for your ideas...all right since the last time I posted I have replaced the DI-604 with the WBR-2310 and with updated firmware but the results are the same.
I currently do not have an extra system to test with XP.

I will begin by reinstalling the chipset drivers and will post again with results.

 

[wayliff]

I have replaced the chipset drivers and the Nvidia controller seems to be behaving for the moment which it has in the past...but the Intel one still refuses to get an IP.

 

[najames]

I have an Asus A8N-E Nforce4 board with Intel Pro 1000 x1 card and it works fine. I am using it all in Linux, but the idea is the same. I have also tested a Pro 1000 PCI card in an Nforce3 board w/o any problems.

I'd go into the BIOS and disable the onboard NIC so you don't have any confilicts and download the latest Intel driver here, install it, and you should be good to go.

http://www.intel.com/support/network/sb/cs-006120.htm

 

[wayliff]

I tried that several times at the beginning of my problem with latest intel drivers with no solution. Now that I have replaced the chipset drivers it may be worth another try. I will do that and let you guys know.

Right now the finger points at vista...

 

[Kelemvor]

Have you tried checking with the router manufacturer to see if there's just something regarding 64 bit Vista and their equipment?

 

[wayliff]

I have not actually talked to the manufacturer but I did do some research on the internet regarding the two routers I have tried.
I was not able to find anything related. But considering these are both from the same manufacturer it could be a possibility.

I will check with them.

 

[wayliff]

I dont seem to find on the internet issues related to these routers and vista 64-bit. I have sent an email to DLINK support to see if they know something.

 

[wayliff]

D-link support is mute...not a comment on the issue. It is nice to know they are there for you.
It has been a few days since I sent the support request...probably 6 days.

 

[wayliff]

I did not receive anything I did not know from Dlink support but I do have to mention that at the time my internet connection seems to be behaving...

 

[wayliff]

About 4 days ago, I discovered that my Parental Control feature in Vista did not work at all.
I reviewed my computer files by using the System File Checker and it found corrupt files in my system. I can't say whether this was the issue or not as my nvidia lan started to behave properly like 8 days before the findings.

In any case, I was unable to fix the corruption using the SFC command in safe mode. So I uninstalled SP1, did an in place upgrade and reinstalled SP1. Everything seems to be behaving properly since then. (Since then being like 5 hours ago)
I am yet to try the Intel NIC to see if it works but I will report later.

 

[wayliff]

nope - intel nic refuses to acquire an IP address...oh well. I will keep looking.