network failure EVERY morning

[devildog93]

Hi all.

Hopefully someone can help me with this.

Every morning I wake up, I have to re-start my computer in order to get Firefox or Internet explorer to work. Have tried all below with both wired and wireless connection. All other functions, icons and various do-dads work, just connecting. If I happen to pass out and forget to logout of either Mozilla or IE, the screen I was on stays up but when I hit re-fresh(IE) or reload (mozilla) the problem pops up.

1. Wake up and touch mouse, desktop comes up, no problem

2. Check network connection, all seems good. Network icon shows full connection, you see the globe symbol, all good.

3. Try to access either Internet Explorer, or Mozilla Firefox.

4. I.E. says it cannot connect and Mozilla says, well it says nothing at all except for "done" in bottom left corner of screen, but leaves a blank screen.

5. Have checked my power settings, and have made sure that both plugged in and on battery that the computer is not set to sleep. Never sleep.

6. I never close the lid, and even if I do it is set to "do nothing"

7. If I am downloading something over night, the downloads always finish or at least continue working.

8. When IE does not connect, it gives you the option of "diagnose and repair"
I take that option, and it says "problem resolved" I close the window, hit IE again, and it does not connect. Moxilla has no repair option. None of my favorites load in either Mozilla or IE.

9. Make sure that no updates have happend overnight. Not so. If they had, my screen would be at the login point.

10. Have tried disabling the network connection, both when wired or wireless, then re-enabling, so as to avoid having to re-boot the computer. Does not work.

11. Step 11 is losing my frigging mind, and that is the only thing that seems to be working now!

If someone has a suggestion, I would greatly appreciate it. I feel as if I am missing something that is probably so basic, but cannot figure it out for the life of me.

Vista forums, you have been so helpful, I hope you can help me now.....please.

Sincerely,
Losing M. Ymind


If someone can help, I think I will......... lol

 

[Chase]

Try updating your driver for your network connection.

 

[devildog93]

Try updating your driver for your network connection.

K tried tried updating both network adapters, and it says that the best driver is installed on each.

Can I uninstall the network adapters, and have them re-install when I re-boot like when I do that for my DVD drive. I have had DVD drive problems before and after uninstalling it then re-booting, the driver is automatically re-installed. I accidentally uninstalled my
Teredo pseudo-tunnelling interface and it DOES NOT re-install, and I have not figured out how to get it back.....not that it really matters, but just worried I may not get the current adapters back if I do an un-install.

 

[Chase]

Try updating your driver for your network connection.

K tried tried updating both network adapters, and it says that the best driver is installed on each.

Can I uninstall the network adapters, and have them re-install when I re-boot like when I do that for my DVD drive. I have had DVD drive problems before and after uninstalling it then re-booting, the driver is automatically re-installed. I accidentally uninstalled my
Teredo pseudo-tunnelling interface and it DOES NOT re-install, and I have not figured out how to get it back.....not that it really matters, but just worried I may not get the current adapters back if I do an un-install.

As long as you have access the the original driver installation files, you can try.

 

[CrucialHoax]

Hello,

Is this a wireless connection, or wired? Either way, go into the device manager, and expand the network adapters drop down. Click on either one of the adapters and click on driver properties. In this window there should be a power tab. Make sure the machine never turns off the adapter to save power...

Another option is to disable -- do NOT un-install, just DISABLE -- IPv6. This protocol isn't exactly developed yet, and if it is, its definitely not in full use yet. So disable that.

Since the machine is sitting for so long this makes me think the computer is turning it off to save power, usually the only way to fix it is by rebooting. So hopefully that fixes the problem

Hope this helps

 

[devildog93]

I very much appreciate the ideas. Will give them a try, and will post in the morning, as this seems to be the "dead time" of my network. Thanks all and will let you know.

Quick edit: I checked the properties in each, wireless adapter, and wired adapter and both were set to "allow this device to turn off to save power"....so you may be onto something CrucialHoax. ( I have never set this before, or had this problem, but it very well may be why it is doing this)

Hopefully that is all I need to do....tomorrow will tell.

 

[devildog93]

Hello,

Is this a wireless connection, or wired? Either way, go into the device manager, and expand the network adapters drop down. Click on either one of the adapters and click on driver properties. In this window there should be a power tab. Make sure the machine never turns off the adapter to save power...

Another option is to disable -- do NOT un-install, just DISABLE -- IPv6. This protocol isn't exactly developed yet, and if it is, its definitely not in full use yet. So disable that.

Since the machine is sitting for so long this makes me think the computer is turning it off to save power, usually the only way to fix it is by rebooting. So hopefully that fixes the problem


Hope this helps

K I tried your suggestion of making sure the devices are NOT set to turn off to save power, both wired and wireless adapters. I really thought it would work, but unfortunately it did not. I woke up and neither I.E. nor Mozilla allowed me to browse the web and I had to re-boot the system.

Now, the only things I can see that have changed since these problems arose, are that I added my X-box 360 to the network, and that both the 360 and the laptop in question have been placed into an entertainment center with a closing glass door, and maybe the heat from both sytems is triggering a shut down of the adapters., THOUGH it really does not seem to be that hot in the enclosement, and the problem arises even when I have made sure the 360 does not run at night, and it is not set to continue downloading content if turned off.

When I look at properties of both adapters, both say, "device is working properly" and the there are "no conflicts".

Regarding the IPv6, I accidentally uninstalled that quite a while ago, and have not been able to figure out how to get it back, but these current problems never arose until just recently.


Still stumped.

Sorry for long post, just trying to cover all aspects of what I have tried.

 

[CrucialHoax]

Whats the manufacture of the machine? Are the network your using 3rd party? Or did they come with the computer? If they are 3rd party i.e. Linksys, dlink, rosewill. please provide brand and model.

 

[devildog93]

hey Crucial.

Here is a list of my specs/devices.

I am on Shaw Cable High Speed internet using a D-Link WBR-1310 wireless router.
My laptop is in same room as router, within 5 feet, BUT currently running wired connection to router. D-Link is broadcasting wireless now, for Toshiba lappy upstairs.
The X-Box360 is running wired to the router, and is set up in the DMZ so as to have unrestricted access to the internet. Did this because I was having problems with lag on some online games. Have since discovered lag was common problem and not because of my network, but left it in DMZ anyways.


Product Name
Aspire 6930
Operating System
Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium , Service Pack 2
Processor
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6400 @ 2.00GHz
System Memory
3072 MB
Hard Drive
WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0, 298.09 GB
CBM Flash Disk USB Device, 15.83 GB
WDC WD16 00BEVE-00UYT0 USB Device, 149.05 GB
WDC WD50 00AAVS-00G9B1 USB Device, 465.76 GB
CD/DVD Drive
Slimtype DVD A DS8A2S
Video
Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio
High Definition Audio Device
USB PnP Sound Device
Network
Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller
Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN
HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
BIOS Version
v0.3204
Battery
4400mAh, LI-ION


I have a 32" inch HDTV connected to the laptop, via VGA and 3.5mm Jack to back of TV from the Realtek HD Audio device

Of the network adapters I am currently using the Atheros AR8121.......... wired

I have a powered Nexxtech USB hub to run all the external HDD's and various peripherals.

A Lite-On LDW-451S external DVD burner connected to the hub. Slimtype still acting up.

 

[CrucialHoax]

Please verify that the version of your wireless driver is correct here:

Acer Support - Download Drivers

 

[devildog93]

Hey Crucial.

My version of my Atheros WIRED LAN is: (currently in use and enabled)
1.0.0.45
but the ACER support page is showing:
1.0.0.30

So I don't know if ACER's page has not been updated, but by my reasoning I would assume that I have a newer version. Don't know if this is bad or the problem.
Maybe I have to roll back the driver??

My version of my Intel WIRELESS LAN is: (though currently disabled and not in use)
12.4.0.21
Acer support shows:
12.0.0.73

Again, maybe their website is not keeping up with current driver configs, as I have recently used device manager to update both adapter drivers, using the "automatic" settings, ie. "auto" look for best driver software.

So I am not sure what the previous versions were before getting into this conundrum. (ie. was it 12.0.0.73 previously and I changed it to 12.4.0.21)
I wish I had paid attention to the versions....


Please tell me if I went about this all wrong, and if I did it right, what I should do with these driver versions.

Side note:
I have set up this Acer with a static ip address, and have made sure that I still have the power management setting of the Atheros Wired LAN adapter to NOT shut off to save power. The static setting seems to be working as I have re-booted this Acer lappy 3 times now since setting it, and each and every time she seems to have no problem connecting and browsing (and maybe I'm crazy but it even seems to connect faster now)
I don't know if this will help my situation, but I figured if I could eliminate "wandering" ip address, it is one less "X" factor.

 

[CrucialHoax]

Hey Crucial.

My version of my Atheros WIRED LAN is: (currently in use and enabled)
1.0.0.45
but the ACER support page is showing:
1.0.0.30

So I don't know if ACER's page has not been updated, but by my reasoning I would assume that I have a newer version. Don't know if this is bad or the problem.
Maybe I have to roll back the driver??

My version of my Intel WIRELESS LAN is: (though currently disabled and not in use)
12.4.0.21
Acer support shows:
12.0.0.73

Again, maybe their website is not keeping up with current driver configs, as I have recently used device manager to update both adapter drivers, using the "automatic" settings, ie. "auto" look for best driver software.

So I am not sure what the previous versions were before getting into this conundrum. (ie. was it 12.0.0.73 previously and I changed it to 12.4.0.21)
I wish I had paid attention to the versions....


Please tell me if I went about this all wrong, and if I did it right, what I should do with these driver versions.

Side note:
I have set up this Acer with a static ip address, and have made sure that I still have the power management setting of the Atheros Wired LAN adapter to NOT shut off to save power. The static setting seems to be working as I have re-booted this Acer lappy 3 times now since setting it, and each and every time she seems to have no problem connecting and browsing (and maybe I'm crazy but it even seems to connect faster now)
I don't know if this will help my situation, but I figured if I could eliminate "wandering" ip address, it is one less "X" factor.

What security are you implementing for the wireless encryption? WEP, WPA, WPA2?

 

[devildog93]

the wireless encryption is in WEP, 128bit shared key, but I am not currently using the wireless adapter on this Acer. It has been disabled both in the device manager, and on the keyboard. Both the keyboard button and the device have to be enabled for me to receive incoming connections and connect to the internet and LAN via wireless

Note:

Since doing the ip thing, I woke up and the connection held, I maintained connection all day, BUT I decided to try putting the computer to sleep, and WHAM, it disconnected, and I re-booted. I tried this several times today, and after the third or fourth time, I tried to just repair instead of re-booting and it repaired itself, and allowed me to continue, something it would not do before (re-boot was always required).

 

[devildog93]

Update:

I decided to use "Network Magic" that came with D-Link WBR-1310. It is only a 30 day trial version, so I used it to get all devices.....Xbox360, Toshiba lappy(XP SP2 I believe), desktop (XP, Sp2) and Acer Aspire lappy (Vista SP2), all talking to eachother. I then took down all info, ie. ip's, mac addresses etc. of each device. I used relevant info to setup extra security using mac filtering on router.

I then uninstalled "network magic" and all seems good. I have kept the Xbox360 in the DMZ on the D-Link router, again, to give it free range access to the internet, thus avoiding the constraints of the router firewall.

The 360, Acer lappy and the desktop are all running wired to the router , with the Toshiba lappy on it's own upstairs running wirelessly. I can get printer sharing, with the Acer to the desktop (printers connected to desktop) have not tried Toshiba to the desktop as of yet but will.

Now, this is how I figured out that the suggestion of the adapters possibly going to sleep is probably right. Since setting network by this means, I no longer randomly lose internet connectivity, or over night on the Acer.

I do, however, lose connectivity on the Acer lappy, if and ONLY if, I put it to sleep, or hibernate it. (when I do either of these, I can physically hear them shut off, then when I take it out of sleep or hibernation, connection is lost) If I do a system re-boot on Acer, it connects fine, or if I shut it down then re-start it next morning, it connects fine, all the while it is maintaing the same subnet address of 192.168.0.100

My question, is there anyway to solve this? Maybe the files that store sleep or hibernation state under control are corrupted, and maybe I can "reset" or restore them. I make sure that my "hibernation state" files are NEVER deleted when I do a disc cleanup (about a 2 GB file), so the file is still there, just thinking maybe it has been corrupted.




Another question, is there a user friendly network managing program out there, that is free? Have tried ANT. was not friendly for someone like me. I found "network Magic" easy to use, but after reading reviews, it becomes a pain in the ass after 30 day trial is up if you do not pay for full version. ie it randomly drops connections after trial is up, and sounds like customer support is useless


Any links to "user-friendly" freeware network managers would be appreciated. Easy to find using google, just thought if someone has a suggestion for "best" one to use, I could start there.

I appreciate all help given so far, and this problem, while frustrating, has helped me get a little bit more of a grasp on network functions, but we all know, "sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing" .......LOL