PC Loses Network Connection After Sitting Idle

[cceller]

I use a self-built machine at work and have had no issues up until recently. I leave the PC on 24/7 and I have started to notice that if I leave it idle that it will lose it's network connection. I have even lost it while working on it. I get the yellow triangle in the notification area. If I try and disable and enable the NIC the machine freezes up and I have to do a hard reboot.

I thought the onboard NIC was going so I replaced this with an Intel-based PCI-E NIC and it does the same thing.

Some info on the machine:

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.140303-2144)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: GA-78LMT-S2P
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD FX(tm)-6100 Six-Core Processor (6 CPUs), ~3.3GHz

I am on a domain and have admin access. I do not have network admin access.

And I apologize ahead of time if there is a double post, I had password issues.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[cceller]

I guess everyone is as baffled as me - - - this is driving me bonkers.

 

[christinebcw]

It sounds like a SLEEP mode issue. And I wonder how the nearest router/switch is handling it? If those are "green" and go to sleep, too, then they might be disconnecting your ethernet cable's signal from that end. Any equipment changes on that other end?

 

[cceller]

We did undergo a network changeover, new equipment, but the PC worked fine for about a month. My port is green on the switch (tested more than one port).

I do have a need for a static IP on this machine (whereas most everyone else runs in DHCP). I can remove the static settings and the thing kicks back in.

 

[christinebcw]

Are you able to plug your Ethernet-at-Switch to a different device? Or at least a different port? (It would be ideal to use a different switch but, if I only had one switch, then I might even swap ports with another slot - particularly if you know whose computer that is so IF they now have a lost-connection, you might be more certain to pin this on the Switch's Port.

Oooh... just reading your final note there - "off Static and everything works fine then" - is that correct? Hmmm... so someone hates you! It's merely personal-!

 

[cceller]

So ... last night I switched to DHCP ... came in this morning, same issue, so we can rule out the network guys messing with me. It has to be some sort of sleep or power setting I am missing. Guess I will start with the BIOS, move to the PC power settings, then look at the NIC settings.

UGH.

 

[christinebcw]

I think I'd start with Control Panel's power settings before going into System BIOS power settings. I'd probably alter 'software settings' first and then look at hard-coded BIOS type changes for them. (I'd be afraid that, if I disabled some power-setting in BIOS that Windows would no longer display that option but it might still be set "ON" in the Registry. This would require Windows to work 100% perfectly, all the time... ugh... I'd much rather a change be reflected in all places - registry, then BIOS, therefore.)

 

[cceller]

BIOS is set at the default right now, I changed the power plan to High Performance (assuming this will keep everything on), no sleep, etc.

We shall see.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[cceller]

I finally gave up and backed up and reformatted. So far everything has run without a hitch. Thanks for all of your time and assistance.

 

[cceller]

Actually, what I finally found was that a piece of software that we use to monitor our network printers was causing the issue. Removed it, bang, all is well.