Question Computer loses Ethernet connection some time after being powered on (among other issues)

[jmpt14]

So I've been given an old work PC (an HP 290 G1 Microtower), and I've been using it as a makeshift NAS. However, recently it's been giving me trouble.
Earlier this week I was transferring files over it, when suddenly it stopped being connected to the network. Now, when I say it wasn't connected, I mean the Ethernet port was dead. Windows told me that "no network cards were detected, check drivers" (for reference, the Ethernet port is on the motherboard). I did everything I could; checked if the cable or the router were busted (they were fine), installing HP's network drivers from their site, reinstalling Windows all together - no luck.
I gave up and tried again the next day. Lo and behold, it was connected... for like 5 minutes, and then the problem resurfaced. I left it completely unplugged yesterday, and today it maintained a connection for almost 30 minutes.

What can I do to fix this?

Other notes:
- Yesterday, it gave me CMOS checksum problems. I put in a new CMOS and updated the BIOS just in case. No more CMOS/BIOS complaints, network problems persist.
- Just this afternoon, one of the USB ports died on me, and I only know this because it was the port where my keyboard was plugged in, ergo; the PC wouldn't detect a keyboard and warn me. Keyboard works, the other ports work, but given that both the USB port and the Ethernet port are bugging out, I fear the I/O might die out completely.

>inb4 get a new motherboard/power supply
Can't, they're specific to this chassis+mobo combination. Business PCs, am I right?
>inb4 get a network card
The only avaliable PCIe slot is currently occupied by a graphics card. Unless the inbuilt Ethernet port dies for good, I'd like to keep it.

 

[Lutfij]

You could see if the prebuilt is pending any BIOS updates. You could look into this;
https://www.tp-link.com/bd/home-networking/computer-accessory/ue306/#overview
if your Ethernet adapter conks out.

 

[jmpt14]

You could look into this;
https://www.tp-link.com/bd/home-networking/computer-accessory/ue306/#overview
if your Ethernet adapter conks out.

This prebuilt doesn't have USB 3.0, but there is a (slower) USB 2.0 version. Might put this in Plan B.

 

[jmpt14]

You could see if the prebuilt is pending any BIOS updates.

Tried updating the BIOS again. I don't think it actually updated. The file on HP's site is from Feb 2024, but even after "updating", the BIOS is dated to Dec 2023. Will report back if the Ethernet port cuts out again.

 

[jmpt14]

Will report back if the Ethernet port cuts out again.

It did.

Sidenote: This PC originally came with a 500GB hard drive and an optical drive. Now I'm running it with that same 500GB drive, another 1TB drive and a SSD with a 2.5" drive caddy in place of the optical. Is it possible I'm pushing the PSU too far? It did have spare SATA power cables.

 

[jmpt14]

okay, weird update. I left the PC unplugged for the weekend, and the Ethernet worked for a full afternoon yesterday. It was working today as well, until Windows 10 made a sound and played it through the inbuilt case speaker. After that, no Networking. Shot in the dark here, is it possible that inbuilt speaker is affecting the networking somehow? I won't be around near the PC until next week, so I'll try to unplug it when I have access to it (it's kind of annoying to have regardless)

 

[js2]

So I've been given an old work PC (an HP 290 G1 Microtower), and I've been using it as a makeshift NAS. However, recently it's been giving me trouble.
Earlier this week I was transferring files over it, when suddenly it stopped being connected to the network. Now, when I say it wasn't connected, I mean the Ethernet port was dead. Windows told me that "no network cards were detected, check drivers" (for reference, the Ethernet port is on the motherboard). I did everything I could; checked if the cable or the router were busted (they were fine), installing HP's network drivers from their site, reinstalling Windows all together - no luck.
I gave up and tried again the next day. Lo and behold, it was connected... for like 5 minutes, and then the problem resurfaced. I left it completely unplugged yesterday, and today it maintained a connection for almost 30 minutes.

What can I do to fix this?

Other notes:
- Yesterday, it gave me CMOS checksum problems. I put in a new CMOS and updated the BIOS just in case. No more CMOS/BIOS complaints, network problems persist.
- Just this afternoon, one of the USB ports died on me, and I only know this because it was the port where my keyboard was plugged in, ergo; the PC wouldn't detect a keyboard and warn me. Keyboard works, the other ports work, but given that both the USB port and the Ethernet port are bugging out, I fear the I/O might die out completely.

>inb4 get a new motherboard/power supply
Can't, they're specific to this chassis+mobo combination. Business PCs, am I right?
>inb4 get a network card
The only avaliable PCIe slot is currently occupied by a graphics card. Unless the inbuilt Ethernet port dies for good, I'd like to keep it.

Are you checking the lights to see if the port is actually "dead" when it goes? Could be a dodgy cable or connection rather than port being bad.
If it is the port then start machine in safe mode with networking to see if it still goes off.

 

[jmpt14]

Are you checking the lights to see if the port is actually "dead" when it goes? Could be a dodgy cable or connection rather than port being bad.
If it is the port then start machine in safe mode with networking to see if it still goes off.

The lights do go out when the connection fails. I know for a fact the cable works because I hooked it up to my laptop, and it works. AFAIK, the cable is on the Ethernet port correctly.

Tried Safe Mode with Networking, still not working.

At this point, I give up on trying to fix this port. Gonna go with Plan B (getting a USB to Ethernet adapter) and hope that works out.