Question Ethernet disconnects randomly every few seconds, but Wi-Fi doesn't

[kschneider729]

Hi!


I'm having a slight issue that popped up randomly a few days ago. I have always used an ethernet cable for my desktop, and have never had any issues before this. Every twenty seconds or so, my internet will disconnect and reconnect back in about 5 seconds. After a day of this, I had enough and managed to find an old USB WIFI adapter and tried that. For some reason, I didn't have any disconnect problems while on WIFI for a while.

At that point I figured it was the ethernet cable, only to find that when I plugged the cable into my laptop for several hours, I didn't disconnect once. I then thought it must have been that the ethernet port built into my motherboard, so I purchased a PCIe internet adapter and plugged the cable into that. For a second I thought it had fixed the problem, only to be overwhelmed with disappointment

My MOBO is an ASRock B350M and I'm using Windows 10

Thanks!

 

[rgd1101]

could be the ethernet port failing on the mobo.

 

[bill001g]

What do you mean "failing". Does it actually go to a disconnected state or is it losing a IP address. What does IPCONFIG /all say.

If it is actually disconnecting that is hardware issue but since you have already replaced the nic card it is unlikely 2 are broken.

It is most likely the cable. It is not a valid test to try it on another machine and if it works it means the cable is good. Some machines tolerate damaged cables better than others. Sometime the cables to do not fit well. You also have to be sure you are not using fake cable, many people buy that flat cable because it is cheaper but it is not a certified cable because the wires are too small.

 

[kschneider729]

When I say failing it's literally just disconnecting and reconnecting. The ethernet symbol disappears and is replaced with the unconnected symbol. After running a ping test in the CMD prompt, it continued to disconnect and reconnect. I'm going to try a new ethernet cable, but I really don't think it's a problem with my cable or router or ISP, I am pretty sure it's my computer. I used my ethernet cable on my laptop for several hours and it didn't disconnect once, I was watching live streams so I would have known if it did. However, my ethernet cable has always blinked an orange-yellow color when plugged in rather than the normal green, but I have always had optimal/maximum speeds when connected to ethernet. I always max out whatever my ISP provides.

 

[USAFRet]

Is there ANY possibility of something pulling on the cable, at either end? Even a tiny bit.

 

[kschneider729]

Is there ANY possibility of something pulling on the cable, at either end? Even a tiny bit.

Not that I can notice, plus there is a lot of slack on both ends.

 

[USAFRet]

Not that I can notice, plus there is a lot of slack on both ends.

OK.
I asked, because exactly this happened to my wifes system.
Momentary LAN disconnects.

I was all ready to replace components, drivers, or do a full OS reinstall.
A piece of cardboard had slid down behind her desk, and was pulling on the cable just a teeny bit.
Not enough to pull it out, but enough to momentarily cause connection loss.

 

[kschneider729]

One thing I just noted was that in the network connectors list in Windows Network settings, it updates a status message for the network live. When the internet is not working, it switches that status message from my router name to "Network cable unplugged". This could definitely mean that it is simply my cable unplugging from time to time, however, I don't know if that is just a standard message that Windows puts if the internet disconnects. So I'm wondering if it would say it is unplugged regardless of whether or not it's plugged in all the way.

 

[USAFRet]

One thing I just noted was that in the network connectors list in Windows Network settings, it updates a status message for the network live. When the internet is not working, it switches that status message from my router name to "Network cable unplugged". This could definitely mean that it is simply my cable unplugging from time to time, however, I don't know if that is just a standard message that Windows puts if the internet disconnects. So I'm wondering if it would say it is unplugged regardless of whether or not it's plugged in all the way.

Could be a failing ethernet cable.

Can you try a different cable?
Is this a single cable, direct to the router? Or are there wall ports and other devices involved?