Dropping network connections with Windows XP

[larrybe]

Just reposting problem from below. I am having an awful time keeping a Windows XP workstation from dropping its network connection. A windows 2000 machine was at the same node before the new machine and never lost a connection.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[camidon]

From other post:

I think I have it fixed. If you goto the properties for your network connection and click on the configure button for your adapter. Under the properties for the adapter click on the Power Management tab. Uncheck the button to allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Let me know if this works for you. So far it's working for me.

 

[larrybe]

Can not find Power Management Tab for adapter.

 

[rjkrash]

Some things to look at...

Have you checked your Event Viewer( Start > Run > "eventvwr.msc /s&quot logs to see if any errors are being reported?

If your Network Connections service (Start> Run "services.msc /s&quot is started automatically at reboot (if it isn't, set it to and make sure it's dependencies are set to start as well) and it doesn't start an error event might be triggered. The error might help ID where the problem is coming from.

Also in services double click the Network Connections service, on the properties page select the recovery tab and change the First Failure to Restart the Service.
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[rjkrash]

I'm sorry I thought I was responding to a post about losing Network connections after a reboot. The above info is in regard to that problem tho in some sense if the Network Connections service is getting stopped it would cause a problem. Also a check of the events might still provide some clues.

Anyhow, the problem you are talking about may be related to DHCP. You may be losing your lease on your IP address.
This is a known problem with XP being discussed in other forums I visit.

Before going into all the things you might try to fix such a problem may I suggest you disable DHCP, if it is enabled on the XP machine, and set the IP address etc. manually and then see if the problem persists.
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[larrybe]

I will try this. One thing, I do know is that when it happens, i can pick the connection backup immediately by using the fix this connection on the properties for the Network Connection. Does this fix connection do the same thing as restarting the service.

 

[rjkrash]

I have never used the Repair option, didn't even know it was there, but I just tried it. My system responded that it failed to :Refresh all DHCP leases and reregister DNS names. Not surprising since I have DHCP disabled though I'm not sure what the story is with DNS. I've never had the problem you are experiencing but I have never enabled DHCP either. Don't see the need for DHCP on a 4 computer network, why waste the overhead?

Anyhow, the response indicates to me that what repair tries to do is just that - Refresh all DHCP leases and reregister DNS names. So the problem may indeed be in DHCP leasing.

Good Luck ...
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[larrybe]

I don't have DHCP enable here either. It's a 5 computer network. I do have two other. I do have two other IP address in my DNS search order which are used to gain Internet Access. I have tried to see if these are causing problems or not.

 

[rjkrash]

any errors/messages in the event viewer that may apply?

How long does it take to lose the connection?
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[rjkrash]

I Had another thought about this...

Are the drivers for the NIC in the XP machine the latest and greatest?

Can you swap out the NIC and try a different type?

One way the OS knows the network is there is a something called Media Sensing. This feature is used on a Windows-based computer using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to detect whether or not your network media is in a "link state". A "link state" is defined as the physical media connecting or inserting itself on the network. For example, assuming a 10bt or 100bt physical media, Ethernet network adapters and hubs typically have a "link" light to indicate the current connection status. This is the same condition in which Windows can detect a link. Whenever Windows detects a "down" state on the media, it removes the bound protocols from that adapter until it is detected as "up" again.

When you "lose" the connections is the link light out on the card and/or the Hub?
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[MechMan]

Interesting thread.... So why do you suppose I lose my network connection after using my dialup connection to my corporate VPN??

 

[rjkrash]

MechMan,

On a hunch, from what little info you provided, I'd say the IP protocol and stack gets mucked with by your VPN client sw and the OS/drivers can't figure out what your connection is after you disconnect from your VPN. I'd also guess the cause is an issue with the VPN client software not behaving or cleaning up properly.
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[MechMan]

rjkrash
I think your correct about the client software. Trouble is that the software vendor (Citrix) doesn't agree but they aren't aware of many customers using WinXP yet...

 

[Pingc]

Hi, I've been running Internet Explorer on my Windows XP for months. It's not working any more. I narrowed down the problem to when i do IPCONFIG /RENEW, i get msg error occurred while renewing interface local area connection 3 : the system can not find the file specified. My network connection configured to obtain an IP address automatically an an IP address 0.0.0.0, I was trying to start the DHCP client service (right click My computer, then Manage, Services and Apllications, Services, then DHCP client) the service status remains STARTING, but never gets started ! I don'T know how to repair the registry for this DHCP client service ? Also, when i do NETSH INT IP RESET, i get Initilization function INTHELPERDLL in IPMONTR.DLL failed to start with error code 1010. I need help !!!

 

[FatFingerTony]

Pingc,
It's less a problem with IE and more a problem with your network settings/files.
Try removing all networking clients, protocols and drivers, and reinstall them. Sounds nasty, but your getting missing and corrupt file errors, and save a OS reinstall, this might get those files back that you need. Remember if it asks to overwrite files, tell it YES.

If that doesn't work, maybe your nic is fried? Try a new NIC and see what happens.

 

[Pingc]

Hi FatFingerTonny, I already tried to remove and reinstall networking clients, etc, I also reinstalled Windows XP, this problem has not been solved. It looks like a software problem more than a hardware, I have to be sure before I try a new NIC.

 

[FatFingerTony]

What boggles my mind is that you reinstalled WinXP and the problem still exists? Then it has to be hardware, right?
When you reinstalled, did you do a full format of the hard drive first? When formatting hard drives, use the /U switch so it can scan and flag down bad sectors.
I'd agree that the errors you are getting are more software related, but with a complete reinstall of the OS, my guess is either a bad hard drive (software is getting corrupt from it) or a bad NIC.
Is the NIC a 3COM? If so, you can download their drivers from their web site which contain pretty good diags and it includes a packet send/receive test, but you need to pc's for that.