So I went to three different stores today to find out no one carries wired networking stuff in store because it cost to much to have the stuff. I was recommended to get a USB Network adapter, which is nice, but I didn't feel like dropping money on it.
I've been following your thread. Good to see all the excellent member suggestions and glad you got the 5350 eliminated as a source of the problem. A wireless NIC for your PC would be nice to have, but I'm in agreement with ketchup79 regarding a wired ethernet NIC.
With that in mind, I'm doubtful that there's anything physically wrong with your integrated Realtek Gigabit adapter. What I am doubtful about is whether the Realtek driver may be corrupt. If it was me, I'd download the newest version available from Asus, then open Device Manager, uninstall the Realtek adapter and reboot. When I was back to the desktop, I'd install the new Realtek driver, reboot, then test the connection.
That won't cost anything but a little time and with all the diagnostic work you've already done to eliminate possible causes, including reinstalling the adapter and installing a fresh driver, if the connecton is still crap then the only two things left in the equation are Windows itself, or the integrated Realtek gigabit adapter. First eliminate Windows from the equation by fixing it.
One of the simplest and most effective methods I use to fully restore Windows 7, is to perform an 'in-place upgrade installation'. Technically, an upgrade installation is the procedure used when upgrading from Vista to 7. But an in-place upgrade installation will repair and restore your existing Windows 7 installation to like-new condition without losing any of the programs that you've installed, custom user settings, or any of your personal data like documents, music, pictures, and videos.
Here's the procedure I use:
1. Click Start, type Disk Cleanup in the search box, then right-click the Disk Cleanup icon and select Run as Administrator. Cleanup all the junk.
2, Click Start, type CMD in the search box, then right-click the CMD icon and select Run as administrator. At the command prompt type this command:
chkdsk C: /x /v /r /b (then press Enter)
(Chkdsk will tell you it can't lock the volume, then ask if you would like it to run the next time Windows restarts. Type
Y, press Enter, close the command prompt and reboot.)
3. Now that Windows is cleaned up, you're ready to perform the
Win7′s no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall.
This will tell you for certain whether the integrated Realtek gigabit adapter has actually gone south, and I'd suggest trying all of the above before plunking down your money for a NIC that you didn't need.
EDIT: If you're still using your old RJ45 CAT5 cable you should replace it with a RJ45 CAT5e or
CAT6 cable if you want a solid gigabit connection.
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