Question Internet stops working randomly until I restart the device ?

olat_dragneel

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Sep 25, 2016
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Hello Team!

I'm experiencing a really frustrating issue on my Windows 10 PC.

I lose internet access randomly during the day on my wired connection (Wi-Fi works just fine).
When this happens, the internet icon in the lower right corner remains the same, shows "Internet Access" and I get no error messages.
But when I try to open a website in a browser, it just hangs and after a while shows the following error: https://prnt.sc/11wuumx

I've tried this in several browsers, including Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Brave and Vivaldi. No browser works, but Firefox is the only one showing an error message after a while - the other ones just hang.

One interesting thing I have noticed is that whatever game service I have running and downloading stuff when this happens, it can continue to download without issues. Most of the time this issue happens randomly, so regardless if I have any programs open or downloading anything, but for example if I'm downloading a game through Steam or Battle.net, I am able to pause and continue that download even after this issue happens. Interestingly enough, if I log out and try to log back in into any of those programs, I can't.

I've recorded the whole process with all the symptoms and error messages visible and uploaded to YouTube:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7M2OmggW4o


I tried using the ipconfig commands in CMD to fix this, namely release, renew and flushdns, as well as commands like: netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset, but these did not make any change.

Under Device Manager > Network Adapters I found my network adapter (Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller), clicked on Properties and disabled the following: Energy-Efficient Ethernet, Green Ethernet and Wake on Magic Packet (as suggested in another post I found online). Again, this did not prevent the issue from happening.

I'm on Windows 10 Version 10.0.19042 Build 19042
My motherboard is: B450 TOMAHAWK MAX (MS-7C02)

I removed the network driver completely while in Safe Mode without network and installed the latest network driver and chipset driver from the official website for my motherboard, which is a B450 Tomahawk Max, and this did not change anything as well. I also tried the Windows built-in feature "Update Driver" and let Windows automatically install it's own driver after removing the old one, to no avail.

Finally, I tried using that same wired connection on my Linux powered laptop, using Pop OS. I've used the laptop for 2 days without disconnects.
This might mean something, but I want to point out that there have been periods when this issue did not happen for a few days at a time, but lately it's been happening 3-5 times a day.

When this happens, I'm able to access my router settings at 192.168.1.1, so I'm guessing communication is being established correctly there. Also, Wi-Fi works all the time, which makes me thing that there's nothing wrong on my ISP's side.

The only thing that fixes the issue is if I:
a) restart my PC
b) go into the Device Manager and then disable and enable my network adapter.

I've spent weeks browsing all kinds of different forums and pages trying to fix the issue, but could not find anything that solved it for me.
I also called my ISP and they sent over a technician who tested everything out, concluded there are no issues on their side and replaced my router with a brand new one, for good measure.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Please let me know if I can provide any further information.

Thank you so much!

- Armin
 

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
New router: make and model?

On your computer are you sure that only one network adapter (either wired or wireless as desired) is enabled?

Does your ISP provide IPv6? If not disable on the network adapter.

Look in Reliability History for any error codes, warnings, etc., that correspond with the loss of internet access.

Run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt. Post the results.
 

olat_dragneel

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Sep 25, 2016
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New router: make and model?

On your computer are you sure that only one network adapter (either wired or wireless as desired) is enabled?

Does your ISP provide IPv6? If not disable on the network adapter.

Look in Reliability History for any error codes, warnings, etc., that correspond with the loss of internet access.

Run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt. Post the results.

Hi there! Thanks for replying!

My router model is ZTE H276N. These are given away by my ISP and I can't change them.

My ISP does not provide IPv6 and I already disabled it, sorry for not mentioning that.

I'm not sure where to find "Reliability History"? Could you please explain?

I guess that posting "ipconfig /all" results would make sense once I experience the issue again, which should not take too long. I'll make sure to attach that as well. :)
 

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
Double check "ZTE H276N. " That model is coming up as a mobile device..... ???

In the Windows "Type here to search" box" , type "View reliability history" (without quotes).

Go ahead and post the results of "ipconfig /all". The results could prove immediately helpful and/or likewise helpful when used as a baseline for future runs and comparison purposes.
 

olat_dragneel

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Sep 25, 2016
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UPDATE: I was trying out tips and advice I got on 7 different forums and nothing helped solve my issue.

I ended up buying a dedicated network card. I don't have this issue anymore, but another one appeared. Ethernet only connects and shows up in device manager every other time I turn my PC on.
Since this issue seems to be unrelated, I'm going to open a new thread for that.

Thank you!