Unstable network connection WinXP

B

bobor86

The problem is with Relatek PCIe GBE Family Controler, which is network card.
We have used driver from MSI web sites and then we have replaced with newer
driver from Realtek web sites, but with both of them we have observed same
problem. After some time of running of network connection incoming packets
stops coming through network adapter. Outgoing packets are going alright. We
have observed there is no relationship between amount of packet received or
sent and malfunction. Sometimes it helps to disable and enable the network
adapter, but usually after few of this "restart" it stops working definitely.

For now we have driver version 5.754. Power management is switched off,
automatic deactivation disabled, jumbo frames disabled, WOL disabled, Green
Ethernet disabled, VLAN disabled, LSO disabled. The inteface is connected to
100Mbit switch port.

After installation of all drivers from MSI web sites, there still miss
driver for device with ID: ACPI\ENE0100\5&1E4EF203&0. But I think there is no
relationship between this mising driver and malfunction of ethernet.
 
J

Jack [MVP-Networking]

Hi
Hi
As a rule, if there is No real reason that involved the Network topology in
general changing the parameters of a computer's NIC drivers is Not a good
idea.
There seem to be problems with some of the Onboard Network cards. Some time
updating with the newest drivers from the OEM solves it.
I.e., do not use the MSI Drivers, log to Realtek Support and download the
latest OEM Drivers from there.
Otherwise, let go of the onboard NIC (switch it Off in BIOS) and get a
regular PCI NIC (100MB/sec.NIC are usually less than $15).
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).
 
B

bobor86

Hi Jack,
there is same problem with and without change of NIC configuration.
I've already tried the newest driver from realtek with no change.
There could be problem with off board NIC, because the machine is
All-in-One PC, with no PCMCIA slot, so only possibilities to connect
something is
mini-PCIe in the box, or USB, which is not very good possibilities.

I've got similiar behavior on my laptop, with Attansic L2 on board NIC, also
WinXP full updated.
Is some win parameter possible to be cause of the problem?

Regards!
Joe
 
J

Jack [MVP-Networking]

Hi
If you have the same behavior with a Second computer than it is unlikely
that a Win problem (unless you "played") with both computer parameters. If
you can disable the NIC (onboard NIBs can be disabled in the computer's
BIOS) and boot he computer one time with No NIC.
Then enable the NIC and boot again loading the latest drivers. Leave the
Network parameter at default and try to connect.
Use IPconfig /all to see if you have a valid IP (
http://www.ezlan.net/ipcfg.html ) and IP that starts with 169.xxx.xxx.xxx is
Not a working valid IP.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).
 
B

bobor86

Hi,
The second computer (my personal) have same behaviour, but it was observed
in another net (my private) than the MSI pc (company box), which I'm trying
to solve.

I've reinstalled Win completely with the choice of formating of HDD to be
sure, that some old stuf remains. I used the newest driver, no parameter
changed, DHCP works fine, so I've got IP in the right pool (192.168.1.31/24)
with gateway 192.168.1.20 (which is right), but the problem remains. I've
also tested direct connection between the MSI and another PC (linux box) and
load the connection with iperf utility, the MSI serves as server and LinuxBox
as client. The connection failed usually with up to 100 000 packets recieved
at the MSI side. The MSI NIC stopped recieving packets, but sends them right
(tried with ping and wireshark).

After tests with no change in parameters of NIC, I've tried manually set the
connection bandwidth and mode. I've found that the NIC with setup 10Mbit
full-duplex is running stable, but 100Mbit half or full duplex is not stable,
neither 1Gbit(which tested with another Linux box).

Regards!
Joe
 
J

John Wunderlich

After tests with no change in parameters of NIC, I've tried
manually set the connection bandwidth and mode. I've found that
the NIC with setup 10Mbit full-duplex is running stable, but
100Mbit half or full duplex is not stable, neither 1Gbit(which
tested with another Linux box).

Usually when 10 Mbit works fine and 100 Mbit doesn't, it points to a
hardware problem. Most of the time it is the internet cable. 10-Base-
T will work on almost any wire but 100-Base-T requires at least Cat5,
preferably Cat5e, cable -- especially if you have a long cable run. It
is also possible that your hardware NIC has a weak driver as well.

HTH,
John
 
B

bobor86

Hi all,
it seems the problem was solved by update of BIOS, even if there was no note
in changelog about the NIC. I haven't done it before, because i've no manual
which could do funcional usb bootable pen with msdos, which was needed for
this update.

Thanks a lot for all advices!

Joe
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top